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Best countries to work remotely - why choose Montenegro?

When considering the best countries to work remotely, Montenegro should undoubtedly be your number one choice.

Numerous aspects make it a great place for remote workers. To name a few: Montenegro’s great climate, low living expenses, beautiful nature, active lifestyle and proximity to other popular tourist destinations.

Additionally, Montenegro has recently announced that it will soon introduce visas for digital nomads, allowing them to reside in this beautiful country for several years.

In this article, we will explore the many advantages Montenegro offers to remote workers and how you can benefit from them. Continue reading to find out why this humble haven on the Adriatic coast is considered to be a great country for remote work.

The crucial needs of a remote worker - how to choose the best destination?

Switching to remote work has been an important COVID-19 response, creating a whole new community of workers in many countries. Numerous people around the world work remotely now, which allows them to travel and enjoy new cultures and places.

If you are considering working remotely from another country, there are a lot of aspects you need to check to ensure you have found the best place to do so.

The destination of your choice should provide you with a convenient atmosphere where you can concentrate on your work, but also exciting activities you can enjoy during your spare time.

Low living expenses, and an active and diverse community, are always a plus. While remote workers often search for sunny countries with a mild climate, like the Mediterranean.

Additionally, good economic and social conditions, a developed digital and physical infrastructure, and a low cost of living are things countries need if they’re to be considered convenient for remote workers.

Best countries to work remotely - which qualities do they possess?

There have been many studies on the best countries for remote working, and they have all reached pretty much the same conclusion. The most important factors most people consider when choosing their next remote work destination include:

The quality of telecommunication services (the most important of them being the internet)
Convenient places to work (such as cafés and collective working spaces)
Low local prices (including accommodation, food, transport, and leisure)
The availability of remote work visas
An active social life, various leisure activities, and places to visit
The proximity to other popular travel destinations
English proficiency among locals
Nice weather

With all this in mind, it’s no wonder Montenegro is high on the list for remote workers from across the world. Not only does it boast a pleasant climate, astonishing nature, and rich cultural heritage, but it is also known for its low living expenses and highly diverse and active social life.

English proficiency among locals is high in most parts of the country, especially in tourist areas, and you can easily travel from Montenegro to other popular tourist destinations.

If you are an employee working remotely from another country, here are the top 5 reasons why Montenegro should be your next country of choice.

#1 Fast and reliable internet - the key factor for all remote workers

Montenegro is by far one of the best countries to work remotely because everything here is adjusted to this kind of lifestyle.

Clearly, all remote workers want a reliable high-speed internet connection and a quiet place to do their work. If you intend to stay in big cities such as Podgorica, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, or Herceg Novi, you can expect a very decent internet connection.

Additionally, many restaurants and bars in the capital and the popular tourist towns offer free Wi-Fi. However, if you’re planning on staying in smaller towns in mountain and rural areas, then be prepared for slower internet access there.

#2 A chance to harmonise your workplace with your own needs and desires

The advantage of distance work is that you can work from any place, anytime. The same is true for Montenegro, which is why it’s considered one of the best places for working remotely from another country temporarily.

The options are numerous here. You can choose to work lying on a sunbed admiring the enchanting bay of Boka Kotorska or get productive in a cosy café in the centre of the old town.

However, bear in mind that in Montenegro, cafés and restaurants are still considered a place where you meet with your friends and family to catch up, enjoy delicious food, talk, and laugh, so if you need peace and quiet to concentrate or make important phone calls, don’t expect to get it at the first café you enter.

There are collective working spaces in major cities but not that many, so if you wish to have your own peace and quiet, it’s best to rely on your accommodation and choose a place where you can work indoors or one that offers you special facilities to do so.

Porto Montenegro - an excellent place for achieving the right work-life balance

Long-term rentals in Porto Montenegro offer you the chance to rent an apartment for three months or longer and experience a life far from ordinary.

South Village and Boka Place are two modern neighbourhoods in Porto Montenegro where everything is made for your convenience. Here you can wake up to the stunning views of dramatic Montenegrin nature and work from the comfort of your own apartment, your balcony, or the residence-only pool deck or courtyard.

Additionally, you can enjoy numerous amenities during your spare time or during your work hours. Make your everyday life easier with round-the-clock reception and services provided by The Regent Hotel.

Spend your free time relaxing in the private pool and garden, follow an active wellness lifestyle in the numerous wellness facilities, or indulge in shopping and food tasting with a range of exclusive retail and dining amenities.

#3 Affordable cost of living - an important aspect of remote working in another country

Working from home in a different country can be challenging, especially when accommodating yourself to the new surroundings and new living expenses. That is why most remote workers are looking for a place with reasonable food and accommodation prices.

Luckily the cost of living in Montenegro is very affordable, much more than in many other European countries.

As far as accommodation is concerned, the prices can vary greatly depending on the location you choose and the quality and amenities you expect from your real estate. Prices go from around 300 € for an average one-bedroom apartment up to 2000 € and more for first-class apartments.

When buying food and other basic necessities, you can certainly get by rather favourably. If you intend to buy basic groceries and other supplies in supermarkets and local markets, you will need between 50 and 70 euros per week for one person.

However, if you intend to eat out and spend money on leisure, the amount of money you will need depends on the activities and places you choose as prices can vary from place to place.

#4 Digital nomad visa - a great opportunity for all remote workers

Working remotely from another country temporarily gives you great freedom to travel and explore different countries, cities and cultures. However, every country has its own rules, and keeping up with them can sometimes be exhausting.

That is why, when choosing your next destination, the first question that should always come to mind is: how long can I work remotely from another country?

Remote work from another country is much easier when you are granted a residence permit and, starting this year, that will be possible in Montenegro.

At the beginning of August it was announced that Montenegro is to follow in Croatia’s footsteps and introduce a digital nomad visa to all remote workers, providing them with a 2-year residence permit (after which it can be prolonged for 2 more years).

The requirements are expected to be similar to the usual visa requirements, but you won’t need to provide a letter of invitation. Instead, you will need proof of working for a company established outside of Montenegro.

Additionally, the holders will be exempt from paying income taxes in Montenegro.

This is an amazing opportunity for those who are interested in living and working in Montenegro but don’t have a job or don’t want to open a business here. All you need to do is provide proof of working for a foreign company.

This offer also stands for business owners and entrepreneurs, as long as their business is not registered in Montenegro. This programme is expected to be launched by the end of the year.

#5 Numerous places to explore and achieve a healthy work-life balance

To stay happy and maintain good mental health, working from home from another country means staying active in your free time and creating beautiful memories.

With that in mind, the best countries to work remotely are the ones with numerous things to see, places to visit, and experiences to enjoy.

Montenegro gives you the perfect strategic position. Living in a place like this allows you to enjoy the mesmerising beauty of Adriatic nature, and means you can explore the rich cultural heritage of this great country.

If you are fond of adventures, every new day can be an adventure in Montenegro. Here you can enjoy beautiful and long sandy beaches, relish the view over the bay of Kotor, and take long strolls along promenades on sunny afternoons.

When you travel a bit to the mainland you will discover the unspoiled beauty of several national parks, including Durmitor, Lake Skadar, Biogradska Gora, and many more.

For those who enjoy exploring history and architecture, the streets of the old towns of Kotor and Perast will offer the most exquisite sights and stories.

The vibrant and luxurious life in the beautiful Porto Montenegro marina will allow you to enjoy your free time at high-class restaurants and bars, all while shopping at exclusive stores from the most renowned international clothing brands.

Montenegro is excellently connected with all major places in Europe and beyond, offering you a chance to travel wherever you please. It has two international airports in Podgorica and Tivat, five seaports (the most important being located in Kotor and Bar), and regular bus and train transportation to neighbouring countries

What are the best countries for remote working?

By now you’re surely well aware of why Montenegro should be your next destination. However, we should not take all the credit for offering an interesting and carefree life to travellers.

As mentioned, there have been many studies regarding these topics and they have distinguished some of our European neighbours as quite favourable destinations for remote workers.

According to Kayak, one of the world’s leading travel agencies, the top 5 places in Europe for working from home in another country are Portugal, Spain, Romania, Malta, and the Czech Republic. Looking worldwide, the top 5 countries are Portugal, Spain, Romania, Mauritius, and Japan.

NordLayer, however, made the following list of the top 5 best countries to work remotely worldwide: Germany, Denmark, the USA, Spain, and Lithuania.

There are many places around the world convenient for a remote work lifestyle, but there is something captivating about Montenegro. Those who have visited the country, if only for a brief time, are always bound to come back!

If you wish to find out why this is the case, explore our residences at Porto Montenegro and get a taste of your new life in this exclusive yacht marina.