Average Rent in Montenegro by City (2026)

TL;DR: The average rent in Montenegro is about €570 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in a city centre and about €420 outside it. Tivat is the most expensive city at around €16 per m² a month, and Podgorica and Bar are the cheapest of the main cities at around €10.

The average rent in Montenegro for a one-bedroom apartment is €569 a month in a city centre and €422 outside the centre. A three-bedroom averages €1,057 in a centre and €825 outside. Where you live matters more than the size of the home: the same apartment costs about 60% more in Tivat than in Podgorica or Bar.

This guide compares rents city by city, shows what a one-bedroom costs in 13 places, and explains how renting compares with buying.

What is the average rent in Montenegro?

Across the country, a one-bedroom apartment averages about €570 a month in a city centre and about €420 outside it.

These figures are reported by people living in Montenegro and collected by Numbeo, updated in October 2026.

Asking rents on the property market tell a similar story. The Estitor market report for the second quarter of 2026 puts the national average at about €11 per m² a month, which is roughly €700 for a 64 m² apartment.

Average rent in Montenegro by city

Tivat has the highest average rent in Montenegro at €16 per m² a month, followed by Budva at €14 and Kotor at €13. Podgorica and Bar are the lowest of the six main cities at €10.

The rent per m² comes from the Estitor market report for the second quarter of 2026. The apartment figures multiply it by a typical size, so treat them as a guide and expect to pay more for a sea view or a new building.

The pattern is simple. The Bay of Kotor and Budva cost the most, Herceg Novi sits in the middle, and the capital and Bar cost the least.

What a one-bedroom costs in 13 places

A one-bedroom apartment costs from about €450 a month in Kolasin to about €1,200 in Lustica Bay.

Three groups stand out:

• Under €600: Kolasin, Ulcinj, Bar, central Podgorica and Herceg Novi.
• €600 to €800: Podgorica’s City Kvart, Becici, central Budva, Kotor Old Town and central Tivat.
• Above €800: Dobrota, Kumbor and Portonovi, and Lustica Bay, where most homes are new and by the water.

These figures come from our guide to rental yields by city, which looks at the same market from an owner’s side.

City centre or outside: how much you save

Living outside the centre costs about a quarter less. That holds in the capital and on the coast.

Source: Numbeo pages for Podgorica and Budva, September and October 2026.

On the coast, “outside the centre” often means ten minutes’ drive uphill, where you gain a view and parking and lose the walk to the beach.

What our own listings show in Tivat and Kotor

Homes we list for rent ask more than the city averages. A one-bedroom apartment in our Tivat listings asks about €950 a month and a two-bedroom about €1,100. A two-bedroom in Kotor asks about €950.

The gap has a reason. More than half of our Tivat homes and most of our Kotor homes have a sea view, and most come furnished. Our guides to apartments for rent in Tivat and long-term rentals in Kotor break the prices down by area.

Homes for rent right now, close to the city averages:

• One-bedroom apartment in Mazina, Tivat, 40 m², €700 a month
• One-bedroom apartment in the centre of Tivat, 52 m², €1,000 a month
• Two-bedroom apartment in Kava, Tivat, 63 m², €900 a month
• One-bedroom apartment in Dobrota, Kotor, 47 m², €680 a month
• Two-bedroom apartment in Dobrota, Kotor, 50 m², €1,000 a month

See everything available: homes for rent in Tivat, homes for rent in Kotor and homes for rent in Lustica Bay.

Rent or buy: how the numbers compare

At average prices, it takes about 20 years of rent to equal the purchase price in Budva, and 22 to 24 years in the other main cities.

Prices and rents are from the Estitor market report for the second quarter of 2026. The years are before taxes, fees and upkeep, so the real figure is longer.

If you plan to stay a year or two, renting is the simpler choice. If you plan to stay much longer, compare the rent you would pay with homes like these:

• One-bedroom apartment in Donja Lastva, Tivat, 40 m², €170,000
• One-bedroom apartment in Muo, Kotor, 40 m², €189,000
• One-bedroom apartment in Topla, Herceg Novi, 92 m², €165,000
• Three-bedroom apartment in Maine, Budva, 107 m², €260,000

Browse homes for sale in Tivat, Kotor, Budva and Herceg Novi. Before you decide, read can foreigners buy property in Montenegro and the hidden costs of buying property in Montenegro.

What could move rents in 2026 and 2027

No new law sets or caps rents in Montenegro, but three recent changes affect how many homes are available and who is looking.

• Homes must be legal to be rented. Under the 2025 legalization law, a building that is not legalized cannot legally be rented, and owners have until August 2027 to start registering (Investitor). Some homes may leave the market until their papers are in order.
• Building is paused in Kotor. A March 2026 law froze new construction in Kotor to protect its UNESCO status (Radio Tivat). New rental supply there will be limited. Sale prices in Kotor rose 14.8% in a year, the fastest of the six cities.
• Residency rules are tighter. Since January 2026, residence through property requires a home with a tax-assessed value of at least €150,000 (BDK Advokati). This may reduce demand from foreign residents, though no figures show an effect yet.

Average rent in Montenegro: FAQs

What is the average rent in Montenegro?

The average rent in Montenegro is about €570 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in a city centre and about €420 outside the centre. A three-bedroom averages about €1,060 in a centre.

Which city in Montenegro has the cheapest rent?

Of the main cities, Podgorica and Bar are the cheapest at about €10 per m² a month, or about €500 for a one-bedroom. Kolasin and Ulcinj are cheaper still, at €450 to €480.

Which city in Montenegro has the most expensive rent?

Tivat, at about €16 per m² a month, or about €800 for a one-bedroom. New waterfront developments such as Lustica Bay cost more, at around €1,200 for a one-bedroom.

Is rent cheaper outside the city centre?

Yes, by about a quarter. A one-bedroom in Budva averages €744 in the centre and €535 outside it.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Montenegro?

Renting is cheaper for a short stay. At average prices it takes 20 to 24 years of rent to equal the purchase price, before taxes and fees.

Do rents in Montenegro change with the season?

On the coast, yes. Many owners switch to daily tourist rates in July and August, so long-term homes are easiest to find between October and April. Our guide to finding rental properties in Montenegro explains how to time your search.

Key takeaways

• The average rent in Montenegro is about €570 a month for a one-bedroom in a city centre and €420 outside it.
• Tivat is the most expensive city and Podgorica and Bar are the cheapest of the main six.
• Living outside the centre saves about a quarter.
• A one-bedroom ranges from €450 in Kolasin to €1,200 in Lustica Bay.
• It takes 20 to 24 years of average rent to match the average purchase price.

Ready to look? See our current homes for rent, or contact us with your budget and the town you prefer and we will send you homes that match.