A family of four needs more than 1,900 euros a month

Crna Gora is the most expensive country to live in the Balkans, with the exception of Slovenia and Croatia, which are members of the European Union, as the cost per four-member family per month is estimated at 1,917 euros, according to the website "Numbeo".

According to this website, our country ranks 85th among the most expensive countries in the world. Consequently, according to this website, an average four-member family needs 1,917 euros a month to live a normal life, not including real estate rental costs, and rental prices have increased by about 40 percent since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, due to the arrival of more affluent residents of these Eastern European countries.

Rent prices in our country currently range from 350 to more than 1,500 euros, depending on the area and location of the property. To live a single person in Montenegro you need about 550 euros per month, also not taking into account the cost of renting real estate. The minimum consumer basket exceeds 800 euros, and the average salary in March was 781 euros.

Buying real estate on the coast is out of reach for the average citizen. When it comes to real estate, the Montenegrin coast has actually become unaffordable for most citizens with average incomes. Regional media reports that it is almost impossible to find a seaside living room below 100,000 euros. The price per square meter in Podgorica varies from 1500 to over 2000 euros, and on the coast, depending on the area and proximity to the sea, from 100,000 to over 200,000 euros. Some apartments in Budva, which are close to the sea, sell for sums of around one million euros.

When it comes to individual living expenses, about 130 euros should be allocated for monthly utility bills such as electricity, water, garbage collection and internet, and between 20 and 50 euros will be needed for sports, including training at the gym. A visit to the movie theater costs on average about five euros per person, not including drinks and snacks. When it comes to going to a restaurant, the average price of a meal is between five and twelve euros, and coffee prices usually exceed 1.5 euros. The prices for clothing and footwear in our country have also increased significantly, so, except for the promotions that are often offered by local chains, it is almost impossible to find sneakers for less than 55 euros, and for jeans you will have to spend from 25 to 90 euros.

The extent to which prices in Montenegro differ from region to region is best shown by the fact that living costs in Serbia are lower by 7.5 percent, and rental property prices are lower by almost a third, 27 percent to be exact, with the exception of Belgrade. A four-member family in Serbia needs about 1724 euros per month, not including rent expenses, and to pay the bills per month you need to allocate about 150 euros, which is 20 euros more than in our country. Doing sports in Serbia usually requires about 25 euros on average, and a movie ticket costs about four and a half euros on average.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is much cheaper to live in compared to Montenegro and Serbia, but salaries there are also much lower. For a decent life, a four-member family in this country requires on average about €1,673, and for a single person about €500. Living expenses are lower by about 12 percent than here, and the price of rental property is as much as 60 percent lower depending on location. The average salary in BiH in February was about 602 euros, and the minimum consumer basket, or as it is called there, syndical, was 1,532 euros. The average salary in BiH is 532 euros, while in Republika Srpska it is 622 euros. The monthly utility bills are more than 160 euros. The price per square meter of an apartment for purchase ranges from 1,100 to 1,600 euros.

The cheapest country to live in the region is North Macedonia, where a four-member family needs about 1,500 euros per month to live. Living expenses for the average resident of this country are 20 percent less than in Montenegro, and rental prices are lower, as in BiH, by 60 percent. The average salary is 537 euros and the consumer basket is around 800 euros.