Dan News - Digital Nomads 2026: Up to 30,000 IT Professionals Living in Montenegro, Russian Developers Lead the Community

Montenegro has become one of the most attractive destinations for remote work in Europe.

Although official statistics do not fully capture the real number of digital nomads, field estimates suggest that between 25,000 and 30,000 IT professionals are currently living and working along the Montenegrin coast. The largest group among them are Russian citizens.

These include programmers, software engineers, tech startup founders, and artificial intelligence specialists who, in recent years, have left major cities such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Istanbul, and Kyiv and relocated to the Adriatic coast. Alongside them are IT professionals from Germany, France, Scandinavia, and the United States, but the Russian community is estimated to be the largest and most organized.

According to the VisaGuide Digital Nomad Index, Montenegro ranked third in the world this year as a destination for remote work, just behind Spain and the United Arab Emirates. However, this statistic reflects a deeper economic shift — the formation of a new economic base that does not depend solely on the summer tourist season. 

Economic analyst Predrag Zečević explains that IT professionals predominantly choose the Montenegrin coast, especially outside the peak summer months, for several rational reasons.

"Digital nomads and IT professionals mainly choose the Montenegrin coast, particularly outside the summer tourist season, for several practical reasons. First and foremost, the region offers an excellent climate year-round, a high number of sunny days, clean air, and a healthy Mediterranean lifestyle. The quality of food, especially Mediterranean cuisine, further strengthens Montenegro's image as a destination that offers a balance between work and private life," said Zečević.

He emphasizes that cost of living is another important factor.

"Although prices on the coast can be high during the summer season, they remain competitive outside of it compared to major cities — including Podgorica. Digital nomads who work remotely and earn stable income from abroad seek peace, nature, and comfort rather than crowds and urban stress. This is why large metropolitan areas, due to traffic congestion, noise, and high living costs, are often not their first choice," Zečević added.

According to him, the coast offers exactly what the technology community is looking for.

"The coastal region allows them to work from modern apartments or coworking spaces with sea views, while still having access to airports and reliable internet infrastructure, which is essential for their work," he explained.

A particularly interesting fact is that Russian professionals represent the largest group among IT specialists in Montenegro. Many arrived in waves following geopolitical changes and economic pressures in their home country. A number of them have already relocated their businesses, opened companies, or continued working for international firms from Montenegro, using its time zone and geographic location as strategic advantages.

Zečević believes that their economic contribution is far from symbolic.

"The contribution of digital nomads and IT professionals to Montenegro's economy is significant and multifaceted. First of all, their spending is stable throughout the entire year rather than seasonal. They rent apartments long-term, use services, dine in restaurants, rely on transportation, rent cars, work from coworking spaces, and utilize various other services — directly supporting the revenue of small and medium-sized businesses," said Zečević.

He adds that the impact goes beyond consumption.

"In addition to direct spending, some of them register companies in Montenegro or use domestic banking and administrative services, which generates additional tax revenue. Although we still lack precise and systematized statistics, estimates suggest that this population generates tens of millions of euros annually through direct and indirect economic activity," he explained.

Speaking about the origin of digital nomads, he notes that they most commonly come from Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey, followed by European Union countries — particularly Germany, France, and Scandinavia — as well as the United States. 

In recent years, there has also been a noticeable increase in arrivals from neighboring Balkan countries.

"Montenegro has made some progress, particularly through programs designed to attract digital nomads and through regulatory measures that simplify residency procedures. However, there is still significant room for improvement. Administrative procedures should be further simplified, digital public services improved, and specialized coworking and startup hubs developed — especially along the coast and in Podgorica," said Zečević.

Montenegro is therefore no longer just a destination for three summer months. With tens of thousands of IT professionals — many of them Russians — the country is becoming a year-round technological base on the Adriatic, a place where people work for global companies while also contributing to the development of a new local economy. 

Source: Dan