Find out how much food costs in Montenegro: prices in cafes, restaurants and shops in 2024. What you can eat on the streets and which national dishes are worth trying.
What to try in Montenegro
Montenegrin national cuisine is mainly a mixture of dishes from neighboring countries:
- Veshalitsa is a grilled chop, can be with or without filling.
- Pljeskavica is a cutlet stuffed with butter or cheese.
- Lamb from under the net – stewed for 5 hours under the lid of the lamb.
- Njeguš steak is a stuffed beef steak with a side dish.
- Razhnici – veal and pork skewers.
- Cevapchici , or cevapi, are fried minced sausages that can be wrapped in prosciutto or bacon.
- Prosciutto is like jamon or prosciutto. Thinly sliced smoked-cured pork.
- Sarma are unusual cabbage rolls made from sauerkraut leaves with minced meat and rice.
- Moussaka is a casserole with potatoes and meat.
- Riblya chorba – fish soup.
- Popeke is a mussel dish.
Prices in cafes and restaurants in Montenegro
Food in Montenegro is not too expensive. The cafe offers visitors ready-made breakfasts for 3.5-5 €. A three-course lunch for two in an inexpensive restaurant will cost 18-25 €. Often cafes offer set lunches for 4-10 € per person.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Montenegro in 2023:
- salad – 4.3 €
- chorba soup – from 2.5 €
- Njeguši steak – 7.3 €
- cevapchichi sausages – 3-6 €
- goulash – 3 €
- Pljeskavica – 1.5 €
- Muchkalitsa – 6-8 €
- lamb with potatoes Montenegrin style – 15.9 €
- scoop of ice cream – 0.7 €
- natural freshly squeezed juice – 2.8€.
The portions are large, so don’t order too much at once! They don’t skimp on meat, and it happens that one dish can be shared between two people. If you want to try several different meat dishes at once, order Meshano meso for two – a meat plate with a side dish.
If the receipt you received does not include a service charge, leave a tip of 5-10% of the order amount.
Want to spend less or just get hungry during your excursion? Grab some street food! Like all over the world, Montenegrin fast food is inexpensive. A portion of pizza costs 1-2 €, a hamburger – 1.7-2 €, baklava – 1.2 €, muffins – 0.5 €, and sandwiches – from 1 €.
Grocery prices in Montenegro
It is useful for vacationers who rent apartments with a kitchen to know how much food costs in supermarkets and markets. Prices in Montenegro are all-European. Fruits and vegetables are cheaper than in Russia. Many products are brought to Montenegrin markets from neighboring Serbia, and some from China. In season, 1 kg of apples costs less than 1 €, citrus fruits – 1.1-1.5 €, peppers – 0.6-0.7 €, and onions – 0.5-0.7 €.
In Montenegro, it is convenient to buy groceries in supermarkets and chain stores Franca, Aroma and Idea. According to reviews, the lowest prices are in the Voli hypermarket. Many tourists recommend HDL365 and Maxi Market supermarkets. Products there are more expensive, but the choice is very large.
Prices for groceries in shops in Montenegro differ in different resorts. In more prestigious places, like Kotor, they are higher, and in affordable resorts, like Budva , they are lower. In coastal cities and towns, prices rise in the summer and fall in the low season.
We recommend buying fresh bread and pastries from pekers – Montenegrin bakeries, and meat products – from butchers . It is curious that, by European standards, meat in Montenegro is inexpensive. For vegetables and fruits, go to the bazaar or shop in small shops that are located away from tourist centers and hotels.
Prices for products in supermarkets in Montenegro in 2023:
- meat, 1 kg – 5.5-7 €
- sausages – from 3 €
- Pechenitsa (boiled pork), 1 kg – from 11 €
- prosciutto, 1 kg – 16 €
- milk, 1 l – 0.9 €
- yogurt – 0.25-0.8 €
- eggs, 10 pcs. — 1.2 €
- cheese, 1 kg – 9-12 €
- olive oil, 1 l – 4 €
- pasta, pack – 1.1-2 €
- muesli, 0.8 kg – 3-4 €
- cookies, pack – from 1 €
- chocolate bar – 0.5 €
- water, 1.5 l – 0.5 €
- tea bags – 0.8 €
- juice, 2 l – 1.25 €.
Seafood prices
Montenegro is a maritime country, so fish and seafood dishes are found on the tables of Montenegrins themselves and in restaurants for tourists. In restaurants, pasta with seafood costs 8 €, grilled squid – 10-13 €, fish – 8-13 €, tiger shrimp – 9 €.
If you have a kitchen, we recommend buying fresh seafood and cooking it! Prices for seafood and fish in stores in Montenegro in 2023:
- mussels, 1 kg – 2.5 €
- oysters, piece – 2 €
- scallops, 1 kg – 12 €
- squid, 1 kg – 12 €
- octopus, 1 kg – 10 €
- tiger shrimp, 1 kg – 25 €
- king prawns, 1 kg – 13-15 €
- blue crabs, piece – 5 €
- sea bream, 1 kg – 9 €;
- tuna and trout, 1 kg – 10 €
- sea bass and flounder, 1 kg – 25 €.
Alcohol in Montenegro
Thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate, a lot of grapes and fruits are grown in Montenegro. Local residents have long been involved in winemaking, and from kiwi, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, cherries and berries they make a strong national drink – rakia.
Dry and tart table wines are mainly produced on an industrial scale. Sweet wines are rare on Montenegrin shelves. Tourists like local alcohol. Particularly popular are the white wine Krstac (“Cross”) and the red wine Vranac (“Black Horse”).
Prices for strong drinks in bars and restaurants are usual: a glass of rakia or vodka – 2 €, a glass of wine – from 3 €, a glass of beer – 1-2 €, whiskey – from 2.5 €, liqueur and brandy – 1.5 €, and “Martini Bianco” – 2.5 €.
Montenegrin wine is sold everywhere – in supermarkets, wine shops, small shops and bazaars. We recommend buying rakia from market traders and not from supermarkets.
Prices for alcoholic drinks in stores in Montenegro in 2023:
- Montenegrin beer, 0.5 l – 0.8 €
- imported beer, 0.33 l – 1.2 €
- rakia, 1 l – from 30 €
- young Montenegrin wine, 1 l – 2-3 €
- aged wine, 0.7 l – 5-6 €
- medun, 0.5 l – from 11 €
- Martini and tequila – 4.5 €
- cognac (vinac) – from 7 €.
The simplest and most inexpensive wine is Vranac, a little more expensive is called Vranac Pro Corde, the best and most mature is Vranac Premium.