Taipei
Accommodation
Good · #24 of 62
7.8/10
If booking out of peak season you should have no problems getting a great deal on a good quality apartment. Even during peak summer months the cost shouldn't be prohibitive compared to other summer destinations.
This guide was written 5 years ago
Prices, opening hours and recommendations may have changed since my visit, so double-check anything important before you book.
A coastal town in Montenegro, Budva is celebrated for its sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.
The well-preserved Budva Old Town, nestled on a small peninsula, stands in stark contrast to the burgeoning skyline of new buildings emerging on the town's coastline.
A nice holiday if combined with Kotor, but not enough activity year-round to justify working from there. Too quiet.
At a glance
Coworking
Good · #54 of 62
6.2/10
Not a great deal of dedicated options for coworking, with a good looking option having opened a year after my visit. Plenty of coffee shops towards the centre.
Value
Good · #38 of 62
7.5/10
Even though it is a predominantly tourist destination, restaurant prices are great value whilst compared to Western European destinations. Great deals on accommodation outside of the tourist season.
Excitement
Ok · #51 of 62
5.2/10
Unless you plan to spend a lot of time at the beach, there’s likely not enough to keep you entertained in Budva for more than a couple of days outside of work. While the old town is picturesque, it primarily serves as a tourist attraction, and there is no central urban hub to justify a longer stay.
Plan
Summary
As part of a tour in the Balkans in 2021, Montenegro was the next natural destination after a few weeks in Tirana. Budva hadn't been somewhere I was too interested in visiting but appeared a better option than the rather sombre capital of Podgorica.
Cost of living
$920a month, before rent
Basic living costs, rent not included
Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.
Very Affordable- Meal in a casual restaurant$8.10
- Speciality coffee$2.53
- Pint of local beer$2.53
- Cocktail$6.08
- Taxi for 2 miles$4.05
- Men's haircut$10
- Women's haircut$25
- Gym membership, monthly$59
- Coworking, monthly$152
Prices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: low (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, travelcostcalculator.org. Always check locally before planning around them.
Duration & season
The weather wasn't quite warm enough during April to be consistently on the beach but did prove to be a great period for exploring the outdoors. If planning on making the most of the beaches you'd be best off heading for the peak summer months.
One week was plenty and I would have been in no hurry o stay longer.
By month
| Month | Low °C | High °C | Rain mm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 13 | 252 | |
| February | 8 | 14 | 183 | |
| March | 8 | 18 | 355 | wet month |
| April | 10 | 23 | 102 | |
| May | 14 | 23 | 216 | |
| June | 22 | 32 | 75 | peak season |
| July | 24 | 35 | 70 | peak season |
| August | 24 | 34 | 167 | peak season |
| September | 18 | 28 | 201 | peak season |
| October | 13 | 22 | 261 | wet month |
| November | 8 | 18 | 332 | wet month |
| December | 8 | 14 | 163 |
Wettest months Peak season
Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.
- Visitors a year
- 800k2024
- Crowds
- Very High
- Peak season
- Jun–Sep
- Low season
- Nov–Mar
Remote work visa
Digital nomad visa coming soon
Montenegro plans to introduce a 2-year renewable Digital Nomad Visa by 2025, exempting holders from income tax to attract remote workers and improve digital infrastructure. Program rollout starts this year, but requirements are still forthcoming.
Working hours
Montenegro operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with Western Europe.
Live & work
Where to stay
The entire town is easily accessible by foot, with more residential neighbourhoods to be found going back from the beach.
Gospostina
If you're only in town for a couple of nights then it would make sense to stay as close to the centre as possible.
Rozino
RecommendedMore of a relaxed neighbourhood feel with a few options for eating out. 10 minute walk to the beach and 20 minutes to the old town.
Where to work
Not a great deal of dedicated options for coworking, with a good looking option having opened a year after my visit. Plenty of coffee shops towards the centre.
Umbrella PBSSO
A small coworking office is offered by a local company specialising in overseas business registrations. Internet was stable, and it was comfortable week, but by no means somewhere you would consider basing yourself for a prolonged period. Day rates were very affordable, around €5.
Since I visited two more coworking offices appear to have opened with AdriaHub looking like a good option for anyone passing through the town.
83500 Zavod za izgradnju Budva 4, Trg Sunca, Budva
Food & drink
Food
Restoran Sarajevo
Some of the best Börek i had sampled in the balkans. They also served a range of other regional dishes.
Taste of Asia
Great thai food at very reasonable prices.
Off the clock
Off work
Explore the Old Town
Encircled by a fortress wall, the Budva old town provides a refreshing contrast to the wave of new construction high rises cropping up throughout the city.
Visit Slovenska Plaža
The main draw of Budva is it's beaches. Plenty of bars and resutraunts along the front.
Exercise
Run
Beach Loop
The Budva beachfront is an ideal place for runs, venture either side and you're likely to encounter sizeable gradients.
People
My visit coincided with the COVID period which perhaps painted an unfair reflection on how quiet the area was, but the lack of coworking spaces at the time were an indication that there wasn't much demand for such services. That appears to have changed recently with two new offerings having opened up in the last couple of years.
In the summer it is a popular draw for people across Europe, so expect there to be high seasonal differences.
Notes
Positives
Beaches on your doorstep.
If are you are looking to be by the beach no matter where you are staying you can be there within 10 minutes.
Good value for a European destination.
Outside of peak season some good deals can be had on accommodation and restaurants are cheaper than you would expect in Western Europe.
Outside of the Schengen Zone.
If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, Montenegro is an alternative.
Negatives
Very touristic.
It's a resort town unless you are visiting during peak season, it's likely to feel a little anti-climactic.
Small old town.
There isn't a great deal to explore there and it is noticeably smaller than in Kotor.
Tips
Give Podgorica a miss.
Having ventured through the capital on a couple of times and it may be the most underwhelming cities in Europe.
Planning a trip to Budva?
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