Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Montenegro
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: $28-92 per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Montenegro
Accommodation
$12-35 per night
Dorm beds in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget private rooms, camping where available
Food & Dining
$8-20 per day
Local bakeries, street food, grocery stores for self-catering, traditional kafanas in residential areas
Transportation
$3-12 per day
Public buses, walking, hitchhiking, occasional shared taxis between cities
Activities
$5-25 per day
Hiking national parks, free beaches, self-guided walking tours, occasional museum entries
Currency: € Euro (EUR) - Montenegro uses the Euro despite not being an EU member
Budget/Backpacker Activities in Montenegro
Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style
Money-Saving Tips
Stay in apartments with kitchens for self-catering - typically 40-60% savings on food costs
Visit during shoulder seasons (May-June, September-October) for 25-40% lower accommodation rates
Use local buses instead of taxis - generally 70-80% cheaper for intercity travel
Eat at family-run kafanas away from coastal tourist areas - usually 50-70% less expensive
Book accommodations directly with properties to avoid booking fees - typically 10-15% savings
Take advantage of free hiking in national parks rather than paid guided tours
Shop at local markets and grocery stores rather than tourist-area shops - generally 30-50% cheaper
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Staying only in coastal resort towns during peak summer - typically 100-200% more expensive than inland areas
Relying entirely on taxis for transportation - usually 3-5x more costly than public buses
Eating exclusively in tourist zones near major attractions - generally 80-150% markup over local areas
Not researching free activities like hiking trails and public beaches - missing 30-50% of experiences that cost nothing