Consumer prices in Montenegro in August 2026 were 4.5% higher than in August 2025, and 1.2% higher than in July, MONSTAT reported on 11 September 2026. In the first eight months prices were on average 3.5% higher than in the same period last year. Over the year fuel for cars rose most, by 30.1%, followed by tobacco at 15% and restaurants and cafés at 6.9%. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 1.3%. Because the net wage in July grew more slowly than prices, real wages are falling.
This guide explains how inflation has moved in 2026, what got more expensive and cheaper, and what inflation means for wages and pensions.
How high is inflation in 2026?
| Month of 2026 | Annual inflation | Monthly change |
| January | 2.9% | 0.1% |
| February | 2.6% | 0.2% |
| March | 3.1% | 0.8% |
| April | 3.8% | 1.4% |
| May | 3.6% | 0.4% |
| June | 3.6% | 0.4% |
| July | 3.8% | 0.8% |
| August | 4.5% | 1.2% |
- Annual inflation compares prices with the same month of the previous year, and the monthly change compares them with the previous month.
- In December 2025 annual inflation was 4.0%, and in August 2025 it was 4.6%.
- MONSTAT measures inflation with the consumer price index, which tracks the prices of goods and services households buy.
What got most expensive?
| Group of goods and services | Change over the year | Change in August |
| transport | 16.9% | 5.4% |
| alcoholic drinks and tobacco | 10.3% | 0.2% |
| restaurants and accommodation | 6.2% | 3.1% |
| information and communication | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| health | 4.1% | 0.3% |
| recreation, sport and culture | 3.2% | 2.4% |
| clothing and footwear | 2.2% | -3.4% |
| housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 1.9% | 0.6% |
| furnishings and home maintenance | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| food and non-alcoholic drinks | 1.3% | 0.4% |
- Fuel and lubricants for vehicles rose 30.1% over the year and alone added 1.69 percentage points to annual inflation.
- Meat and meat products rose 4.9%, tobacco 15.0%, restaurants and cafés 6.9% and mobile phone services 7.7%.
- Maintenance, repair and security services for the home rose 12.3%.
- In August fuel prices rose most, by 10.2%, followed by mobile phone services, by 7.7%.
- In August clothing and footwear got cheaper by 3.4%, fruit by 3.2% and household consumables by 2.4%.
What does inflation mean for wages and pensions?
- The average net wage in July 2026 was 1,037 euros, 2.3% more than in July 2025, while annual inflation in July was 3.8%.
- According to MONSTAT, real wages fell 0.7% in July compared with June, because prices rose 0.8% and wages only 0.1%.
- Pensions are indexed to the movement of consumer prices and average wages, so higher inflation also affects the next indexations.
- Food has the largest weight in the consumer basket, 335.9 per mille, so even a small rise in food prices is felt in the household budget.
How wages are moving is explained in our guide to the minimum and average wage, and petrol and diesel prices in our guide to fuel prices. Excise duties and tobacco prices are covered in our guide to cigarettes, and pension indexation in our guide to the pension in Montenegro.
Frequently asked questions
How high is inflation in Montenegro in 2026? In August 2026 annual inflation was 4.5%, and in the first eight months prices were on average 3.5% higher than a year earlier.
What has become most expensive in Montenegro? Fuel for vehicles, up 30.1% over the year, followed by tobacco at 15% and restaurants and cafés at 6.9%.
Has food become more expensive? Food and non-alcoholic drinks in August 2026 were 1.3% more expensive than a year earlier, and meat 4.9%.
Who publishes inflation data? MONSTAT, the Statistical Office, which publishes the consumer price index every month.
Do wages keep up with inflation? In July 2026 the net wage was 2.3% higher than a year earlier while inflation was 3.8%, so real wages fell.
How does inflation affect pensions? Pensions are indexed to the movement of prices and wages, so rising prices feed into the next indexations.
Sources
Inflation rates, changes by group and the largest contributions are published by MONSTAT in its consumer price index release for August 2026 and on its 2026 releases page, and wages and the fall in real wages in its average wages release for July 2026. The information was checked on 29 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not financial advice.