EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-16
Albania vs Montenegro: taxes, salary and cost of living
Albania and Montenegro present two different cost profiles: the first question is whether the salary gap compensates for housing and daily expenses.
Albania vs Montenegro at a glance
| Indicator | Albania | Montenegro |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 20% | 21% |
| Income tax | 23% | 0% / 9% / 15% |
| Social contributions | 11.2% | 21.5% |
| Tax burden | 31% | 21.5% |
| Average monthly salary | €753.15 | €1,225 |
| Studio rent | €406.5 | €490 |
| Monthly food estimate | €245 | €230 |
| Gasoline | 1.76 €/L | 1.49 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.11 €/kWh | 0.11 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
Montenegro records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €471.85, approximately 38.5% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Albania ranks 26 of 27 for salary and Montenegro ranks 24 of 27. That ranking is useful context, but gross and net labels must be checked in the source record.
What recurring living costs reveal
Albania has the lower listed studio rent by €83.5, a 17.0% difference relative to the higher rent. Albania sits 4 of 37 and Montenegro 9 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Montenegro also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is partly offset by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €101.65 in Albania and €505 in Montenegro. This leaves €403.35 more in Montenegro, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
Tax profile for employees
Montenegro has the lower listed tax burden by 9.5 percentage points. Standard VAT is 20% in Albania versus 21% in Montenegro. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Montenegro has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.27 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €13.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For Albania and Montenegro, short stays are influenced heavily by rent and restaurant prices; permanent relocation adds payroll, healthcare and administrative costs. These figures work best as a shortlist, not a final decision model.
Final view: Albania or Montenegro?
Montenegro produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Albania leads on listed rent. That split explains why there is no universal winner.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Albania comparisons · Explore Montenegro comparisons