Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Kakanj

For one person, living is cheaper in Kakanj: $979 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Kakanj
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$979
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Kakanj

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in Kakanj actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $979 in Kakanj.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Kakanj $979

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,435 in Kakanj.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Kakanj $1,435

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $1,890 in Kakanj.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Kakanj $1,890

Living in Athens is roughly 81% more expensive than in Kakanj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, Kakanj is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$7.00 BAM 12.17
138.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$36.95 BAM 64.3
83.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$6.84 BAM 11.90
62.87%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$1.68 BAM 2.92
139.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.87 BAM 3.26
48.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.25 BAM 2.17
-56.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$2.22 BAM 3.86
158.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$1.99 BAM 3.46
173.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.05 BAM 1.83
73.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.09 BAM 1.90
26.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$2.11 BAM 3.67
32.70%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$2.93 BAM 5.09
64.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$10.70 BAM 18.60
40.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$7.75 BAM 13.47
37.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$12.26 BAM 21.32
50.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.11 BAM 1.93
98.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.53 BAM 2.67
24.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.44 BAM 2.50
-4.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.87 BAM 3.25
12.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.10 BAM 1.91
-1.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.03 BAM 1.80
8.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$0.98 BAM 1.70
14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.77 BAM 1.34
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$3.60 BAM 6.26
52.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$6.93 BAM 12.06
46.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$0.87 BAM 1.51
144.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.37 BAM 2.38
64.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.26 BAM 2.19
7.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$1.68 BAM 2.92
164.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$0.65 BAM 1.12
56.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$9.00 BAM 15.64
88.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.57 BAM 2.72
43.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$27.1K BAM 47.2K
3.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$23.7K BAM 41.3K
18.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$148 BAM 258
37.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$16.48 BAM 28.65
61.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$25.33 BAM 44.05
19.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$33.11 BAM 57.6
64.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$5.84 BAM 10.16
78.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$130 BAM 226
337.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$3,649 BAM 6,345
244.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$62.0 BAM 108
43.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$31.90 BAM 55.5
26.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$89.4 BAM 155
17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$88.1 BAM 153
37.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$369 BAM 641
100.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$269 BAM 468
143.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$528 BAM 918
146.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$358 BAM 623
220.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$2,382 BAM 4,141
68.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$1,711 BAM 2,974
102.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Kakanj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
4.3
4.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Kakanj
$269 58.9% $386
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Kakanj
$219 29.6% $92
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Kakanj
$124 53.7% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Kakanj
$190 27.3% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Kakanj
$122 23.6% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Kakanj
$45 40.5% $31
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Kakanj
$10 * 77.8% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $369 in Kakanj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $68.0 in Athens vs $37.00 in Kakanj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $219 per month, with Kakanj cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇧🇦 Kakanj
🕒 Local time
15:27 3:27 PM
14:27 2:27 PM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
11,796
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Kakanj 830 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Kakanj

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Athens vs Kakanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Kakanj?
Kakanj wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kakanj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Athens and in Kakanj?
You'd need roughly $2,662 in Athens and $1,468 in Kakanj to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Kakanj?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $369 in Kakanj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Athens and in Kakanj?
Childcare runs $569 in Athens versus $130 in Kakanj. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Kakanj?
Dining out is cheaper in Kakanj – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $68.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Athens or in Kakanj?
At $979 in Kakanj versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kakanj but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Kakanj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Kakanj?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kakanj delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $979 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kakanj hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Kakanj?
Safety-wise, Athens and Kakanj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kakanj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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