If the headline caught your eye, there’s probably a thought quietly turning over in the back of your mind: “Could I move abroad?” You have two tabs open on your computer. One shows the sea, the mountains and the striking Bay of Kotor; the other, orange trees, late dinners and the sense that winter only happens somewhere else. Spain and Montenegro: both warm, both familiar to Russian speakers, and neither an exotic choice any more.

Let’s look at the latest figures from Numbeo alongside what we see in practice, and lay out the differences clearly. There will be some numbers, but only as many as you need to help you make a considered decision rather than follow a passing impulse. The rest is about everyday life.

What Does Everyday Life Cost?

Montenegro is cheaper. That’s the plain truth. Excluding rent, living costs there are roughly 17% lower; including rent, the difference reaches about 20%. Groceries cost around 22% less, and a meal at a mid-range restaurant about 15% less.

But here’s what’s interesting. Look at individual prices and the idea that everything costs “half as much” quickly falls apart. A McDonald’s combo costs €10 in Spain and €9.95 in Montenegro. Half a litre of beer is €3 versus €2.80. Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant comes to €50 versus €45. A simple meal at an inexpensive restaurant is where the difference becomes more noticeable: €15 in Spain and €10 in Montenegro. In other words, the familiar “tourist” expenses don’t differ that much. Montenegro’s biggest savings are usually on rent, but more on that shortly.

What Are Salaries Like?

This part is often overlooked in glossy relocation videos, and it shouldn’t be. The average monthly net salary is €1,754 in Spain and €913 in Montenegro – almost half as much. The purchasing power index tells a similar story: 109.84 for Spain compared with 71.57 for Montenegro. Numbeo estimates that local purchasing power in Montenegro is 34.8% lower.

If you arrive with an income of your own – from remote work, a business, savings or passive income – this difference may matter less. Montenegro could work out better for you: you spend at local prices while earning from abroad. But if you plan to look for a job locally, the picture changes. Spain has a broader labour market and higher salaries, making it more realistic to save for a holiday or a down payment.

Where Is It More Affordable to Rent or Buy?

Rent is cheaper in Montenegro, with no surprises there. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs about €569, compared with €899 in Spain. Outside the centre, the figures are €425 and €708. A three-bedroom apartment in the centre costs €1,060 versus €1,407. A difference of 25%, or even 40%, is certainly noticeable.

But let’s look at those figures from the perspective of someone earning a local salary. A central one-bedroom apartment in Montenegro takes up about 62% of the average net salary. In Spain, it’s around 51%. Rent may be lower in euros, yet it can weigh more heavily on your budget. That paradox tends to get lost in comparison tables.

Buying a home makes the comparison more interesting. A square metre in the city centre costs €3,648 in Spain and €2,847 in Montenegro. Outside the centre, it’s €2,298 and €2,047. There is a price gap, but in quieter areas it narrows to around 10%. The price-to-income ratio, however, is 8.47 in Spain and 13.39 in Montenegro. Put simply, a local resident would need about 8.5 years of income to buy an apartment in Spain, compared with more than 13 years of income in Montenegro.

Mortgages add another piece to the picture. The rate on a 20-year fixed-rate loan is 3.30% in Spain and 5.38% in Montenegro. Mortgage payments account for about 58% of the average income in Spain and 109% in Montenegro. Yes, more than 100%. That means an average local resident would struggle to afford a typical apartment without family support or income from abroad. The loan affordability index also favours Spain: 1.73 compared with 0.91.

If you view property as an investment, Spain has maintained its lead for another year. Gross rental yield in city centres is 5.06% compared with 4.43%; outside the centre, it is 6.25% versus 4.69%. A difference of one and a half percentage points in the suburbs is more than a statistical blip – it could mean an extra holiday each year.

What About Healthcare?

This is the section where we’d ask you to put the calculator aside and think seriously about your quality of life. The gap between the two countries in Numbeo’s healthcare index is substantial, and it reflects several factors. Staff competence: 80 points versus 40. Modern diagnostic and treatment equipment: 85 versus 41. Speed of examinations: 66 versus 39. All favour Spain.

Even waiting times for medical services – a familiar headache in any healthcare system – are rated more favourably in Spain: 52.6 versus 36.3. And there’s another positive: satisfaction with the cost of treatment is 84.5 in Spain and 61.5 in Montenegro. People are satisfied not only with the quality of care, but also with what they pay for it.

Of course, when you’re 25 and full of energy, medical care may not be top of mind. But if you have older parents, a young child, or you need access to specialist care yourself, it can become the deciding factor. Many people who move later in life say their decision in favour of Spain was made in a doctor’s office, not on the beach.

Read more about health insurance in Spain in our dedicated guide.

Which Country Is Safer?

To be fair, Montenegro scores somewhat better on safety. Its safety index is 66.76, compared with 61.82 for Spain. People generally feel safe walking around during the day in both countries (79 versus 85), while the difference is more noticeable at night: 57 in Spain and almost 73 in Montenegro. Montenegro also has a lower crime index.

One caveat is worth mentioning. Spain is about 36.5 times larger than Montenegro, and both countries vary considerably from region to region, geographically and socio-economically. The nature of that variation differs greatly because of the countries’ very different sizes. In Montenegro, some sections of the data are based on only a few dozen respondents and others on a couple of hundred; in Spain, the numbers run into the thousands. In a small country, the sample is small, so the resulting estimate is approximate. Still, Numbeo’s general picture matches what we see: in Spain’s resort towns, it pays to take the usual precautions you would in any tourist destination; Montenegro tends to feel calmer. In either country, though, the chances of ending up in a crime report are not particularly high.

Which Has the Better Climate and Environment?

Both countries score highly for climate: 92.96 for Spain and 89.21 for Montenegro. The difference is barely noticeable. Those sunny days are, after all, one of the main reasons people consider moving in the first place.

The environmental comparison is more nuanced. Spain’s pollution index is 32.38 (low), while Montenegro’s is 43.54 (moderate). It’s not a dramatic difference, but it is there. On the other hand, commuting takes less time in Montenegro: the commute-time index is 19.56 compared with 26.21. That makes sense: it’s a compact country with smaller cities, and most places are within easy reach.

How Do the Countries Compare Overall?

Spain’s overall quality-of-life index is noticeably higher, but let’s not turn the comparison into a football match. Montenegro comes out ahead on cost of living, safety and shorter distances. Spain scores better on salaries, healthcare, air quality, mortgages and property investment potential.

Put simply, Montenegro may suit people looking for a quiet, close-knit life by the sea, who earn their income abroad – especially from the EU or the United States – and value short journeys and a slower pace. It feels like a cosy home you’re glad to return to.

Spain offers more in the way of opportunity. You can work, raise a family, access healthcare with greater peace of mind, take out a mortgage at a more manageable rate and buy property that may hold its value over time. You don’t have to choose between the sea and good infrastructure: Spain’s coast has both.

One final point: Numbeo’s figures are collected from users, so they shouldn’t be treated as definitive. They do, however, offer a useful picture of the broader trends.

At Alegría, we see the appeal of both countries, and we’re not trying to drag you to Spain by force – although, we’ll admit, we’re pretty good at making a case for it. Just be prepared: after a couple of weeks on our coast, the question “Montenegro or Spain?” may answer itself over a long dinner on a terrace at sunset, with a glass of local, full-bodied wine and a view you won’t want to take your eyes off.

If you’d like to think it through without rushing, get in touch. We can work out a budget, suggest areas, show you properties and tell you when it might be better to wait. Bring your questions and an open mind; we’ll take care of the rest. See you on the sunny side!