How to move to Montenegro, and work from there: tips eyewitness
Work And Study Travels / / December 19, 2019
Most of the people who can afford work remotely and travelChoose Asia because it's warm and cheap. But Asia is not the only option for a "change of image", because in Europe, too, have a place to live by their own means and breathe the sea air. This time we decided to look into the visa-free Europe and to share experiences of a girl who went to a small sea-mining country and stayed there to live.
My name is Anastasia, I'm 25 years old and one year and a half I lived in Montenegro. Of Education — Master of Economics, fluent in English, Serbian, also know Spanish, French, Albanian. Now I work as a freelance, though this came not once, but first things first.
What attracts Montenegro
I think the move to the country of mountains and forests, preceded by two trips for the purpose of rest. The first time I fell in love with nature, a little wild, but very diverse. Imagine yourself: in the territory of a tiny country (which is in fact less than my native Donetsk region) has everything for the happiness of the traveler:
- Adriatic Sea in the south;
- National Park, located in the mountains, in the north;
- one of the largest and most beautiful lakes — Skadar;
- Tara Canyon (the second deepest in the world);
- mountain rivers and waterfalls (hence, rafting) crumbling forts and strength;
- a great number of legends and places for fans of holy relics.
I have it all just fascinated, so after arriving home in June, I began planning a second trip, which took place in September of the same year.
During this time I became better acquainted with the residents. Simple, sometimes naive people to retain the respect for tradition, they are hospitable to us, "Ruses" and ready to help in your troubles, and give the right direction (and even a ride), water, feed, and if there children — be kind to them and torment admiring oohs and ahami.
Such hospitality is very easily explained, because the whole country — a large village, and you have to become a rarity, and the reason for the evening discussion with a neighbor. So be prepared that the owners have simply tortured with questions about family, home, work and on the "how do you like our Crna Gora".
In Montenegro, many compatriots, there are communities — Russian and Ukrainian, schools, kindergartens, and so on. d.
The language barrier
Can somehow explain in Russian, a set of phrases in English even more facilitate your communication, but nevertheless if your goal — to live, not a vacation in Montenegro, the Montenegrin urge to learn (in fact it is the Serbian language, but the locals do not like to talk about it). It's pretty easy and fun. Before moving, I was engaged in self-training for about a month, and once in the language environment, at 3 months freely spoke. With the knowledge of the language at least you'll save time in the daily affairs well and will be able to avoid the "tourist tax". Here, as elsewhere, do not hesitate to capitalize on a tip from passers tourists.
financial issue
The prices here vary depending on the season, time of year and place of residence. I will lead the average figures, to which you can add / subtract 30-40% to get the price "on the coast of the season" or "life in winter in the north of the country."
Housing
Rent 1- or 2-room apartment — approximately 250-350 € per month. In the private sector is cheaper, and in new buildings, respectively, more expensive. You can contact the real estate agency. Here, take a percentage of landlords, but in reality, you just "thrown" to the monthly fee is still € 30-50, and eventually for specified service will pay you.
Central heating, as well as gas, not here, in this case electricity is expensive (calculation about 20-30 € per person in summer and winter — 2 times more), but there are "lower rate" — 70% discount every day from 23:00 until 07:00 and all day Sunday.
The remaining utilities:
- water — about 1,5-2 € per person / mo .;
- Housing services — 5-7 €.
Accommodation and can buy, the price per 1 sq. m. on average € 600-1100. Search offers need in the local newspapers.
Food
With power, things are more pleasant. Firstly, because organic foods and fresh, especially seasonal fruits, vegetables and dairy products; Secondly, it is cheaper than at home (at least it was 1.5 years ago, when I first came here). Price examples:
- Milk — 0,60-0,90 € per liter.
- Olive oil — € 3.50-5.00 per liter.
- eggs — 0.90-1.20 € per dozen.
- Spaghetti — 0,30-0,80 € per piece 500 g
- Potatoes — 0,50-0,70 € per kg.
- tomatoes — 0,60-0,90 € per kg.
- apples — 0,45-1,10 € per kg.
- rice — 0,70-4,5 € per kg.
- Strawberry — 2,15-3,50 € per kg.
- bananas — 0,80-1,40 € per kg.
- Cheese — 3,50-7,60 € per kg.
- Beef — 4,50-7,00 € per kg.
What is expensive or not available at all — porridge. All except rice and oatmeal. About buckwheat forget. Butter — 250 g you will have to pay at least € 6; tea — if cheaper, it 0,50-1,50 € 20 packs, but it is impossible to drink, and good cost € 5-10 per 500 g Existence of cottage cheese here do not know, for that matter, and condensed milk. But you can enjoy local honey and clotted cream.
Despite the proximity of the sea, seafood is quite expensive, but sometimes you can buy salmon at 3,50 € per 1 kg. Montenegrin wine — from 2,50 € to 6 € per bottle, but for the fact that the "older" — 25-70 €.
Montenegrins — real meat-eaters:
Transport
Renting a car will cost € 20-50 a day, and if you are renting for more than 3 days will be a discount. The cost of gasoline: AI 95 — 1,35 € / l, of AI 98 — 1,40 € / l. Driver's license — international, rental cars also need a minimum of 3 years experience.
Urban transport — 0,40 € in the capital, on the coast — about 1 € for travel from city to city. Taxi — 0,40-0,80 € / km, for longer trips advise buses — a little slower, but you pay for it a maximum of 7 € (This passage across Montenegro).
mobile connection
Mobile communication expensive enough as the Internet. This is due to the fact that in Montenegro there is simply no local providers, services provided by neighboring countries — Serbia and Croatia. So, for reasonable Internet (outbound speed — 0.5 MB entering — 5 MB), you pay 31 € per month. Mobile Internet — 3 € for 15 days of 300 MB at maximum speed; the quality of the mobile Internet is much higher than in Ukraine.
Montenegrins do not like to talk much on the phone — expensive, but for € 3 you can activate the special offer — 100 minutes of calls and 100 SMS to all operators; calls abroad — about 1,50 € per minute.
In which region to go
All organizations, ministries and so on. D. located in Podgorica — Montenegro's capital, where I live.
In the coastal area in the summer, you can go crazy with the influx of tourists and vacationers, which in October in the afternoon with fire will not find, and in December all of melancholy howl possible. In Podgorica, no such problems. Among other things, it is the only town with a theater, cinema, bowling, the fairgrounds and the normal trade center.
Visa
Visas to citizens of Ukraine and Russia to enter the territory of Montenegro is not needed Ukrainians can be here on the Rights of the tourist 3 months, the Russians - 30 days. Then it is necessary to leave the country and then you can come back for the same term.
The second option — get "boravak". This annual visa, which is issued on the basis of:
- Work in the country.
- Marriage with a citizen (Coy) of the country.
- starting a business.
- The rights of a family reunion.
When to go
To the question "When should I go?" I ask another question, "What is your goal?". If you look, try to find out, "What if this is my" better to go in the season (from May to the end of the summer). To move for a long time is better to go by April, to learn the language a bit and get to the influx of tourists.
Advantages and disadvantages
Summing up, I'll write tezisno that personal experience was a pleasant surprise, and that angered and upset.
Pros:
- pure country. In all senses of the net — ecology, food, low crime rate. Montenegrins almost do not drink, that is, 2-3 bottles of beer — this is the norm for the party.
- Montenegrins —good people. I have already written about their limitless hospitality and a genuine love for children, this should be added that they are always ready to help.
- Easy life. Here, life is definitely easier. Probably, in the air for years to cultivate laziness gene appeared «light life». Local millionaires under cover, do not do anything, and all the while sitting at a cafe and drink coffee. Working day office workers lasts from 09:00 to 15:00, at the same time have an hour break. On Sunday the first carotid citizens can be seen at noon. By the way, this day is closed almost everything in the city apart from the cafe. There are no traffic jams, no evil, hating views, chronic fatigue "office plankton", no drunken neighbor.
Minuses:
- Bureaucracy. The law "without papers you ka ** shka ..." here works the same way as we do. Everywhere you will be required of any document for which you want to sign a contract to transfer passport to open an account, pay the tax, carry proof, take notice, and it's all in different buildings and ministries.
- Montenegrins —people lazy. Received the answer, "Well, tomorrow all this will end," expect, at best, for a period of a week, and if you have been given a period of a week, it will be delayed for a month. Any printing, signature confirmation will be required from you moral strength, and sometimes the material means. To deal with the Montenegrins — it is a utopia, because the concept of "time", "punctual", "responsibility" in their vocabulary are completely absent, but "Polaco" (slowly) and "no jury" (do not hurry) they absorb with their mother's milk. All cases and meetings take place over a cup of coffee, and they do not have clear boundaries, so forget about the function of "Calendar" on your phone — your plans still do not fit into the life of Montenegrins.
- Stereotypes. This applies less to a greater extent to the fair sex. No matter how you try, you are for the Montenegrin "Russian", which in their language means "readily available, all ready." They will tell you how beautiful you are, invited for a cup of coffee and be perfect gentlemen, but that does not mean that they have to have serious plans. If 2-3 days you do not have "conquered" the gentleman simply disappear, and everyone left with nothing.
I hope this information about Montenegro were useful and interesting to you. I wish you a pleasant journey, and remember that each new country — new opportunities, new people, new experiences, so to develop and enjoy life.