Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Mostar

For one person, living is cheaper in Mostar: $899 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Mostar
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$899
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Mostar

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 Mostar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $899 in Mostar.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Mostar $899

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,402 in Mostar.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Mostar $1,402

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $1,904 in Mostar.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Mostar $1,904

Living in Athens is roughly 97% more expensive than in Mostar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, Mostar is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$6.85 BAM 11.91
143.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$31.14 BAM 54.2
117.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$5.67 BAM 9.86
96.47%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$1.65 BAM 2.86
144.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.83 BAM 3.18
51.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$1.18 BAM 2.05
-53.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$2.34 BAM 4.07
145.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$2.09 BAM 3.64
160.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.16 BAM 2.01
56.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$0.91 BAM 1.58
51.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$1.97 BAM 3.43
42.13%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$2.63 BAM 4.58
83.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$7.77 BAM 13.52
93.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$7.40 BAM 12.87
43.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$10.58 BAM 18.39
74.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$1.10 BAM 1.91
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.65 BAM 2.87
15.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.35 BAM 2.35
1.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.15 BAM 1.99
82.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.04 BAM 1.80
3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$0.97 BAM 1.69
15.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$0.71 BAM 1.24
57.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.71 BAM 1.23
23.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$3.92 BAM 6.82
39.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$4.04 BAM 7.02
150.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$0.80 BAM 1.39
166.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$0.89 BAM 1.54
152.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.11 BAM 1.94
22.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
$36.85 BAM 64.1
-18.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$1.73 BAM 3.00
157.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$0.55 BAM 0.96
85.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$5.77 BAM 10.03
193.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.51 BAM 2.63
49.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$29.9K BAM 52.0K
-6.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$21.3K BAM 37.0K
32.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$90.6 BAM 158
125.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$17.70 BAM 30.77
50.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$26.06 BAM 45.31
16.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$35.45 BAM 61.6
53.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$10.08 BAM 17.54
156.75%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$5.77 BAM 10.04
80.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$135 BAM 235
321.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$18.5K BAM 32.2K
-31.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$57.9 BAM 101
53.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$32.01 BAM 55.7
26.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$87.0 BAM 151
20.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$81.3 BAM 141
49.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$432 BAM 752
71.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$249 BAM 433
163.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$663 BAM 1,153
95.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$459 BAM 798
150.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$2,305 BAM 4,008
74.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$1,582 BAM 2,751
118.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$860 BAM 1,495
44.51%
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 Mostar: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Mostar
$249 62% $406
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Mostar
$188 39.5% $123
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Mostar
$119 55.4% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Mostar
$134 48.6% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Mostar
$116 27.3% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Mostar
$47 37.6% $28
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Mostar
$46 2% $0.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Athens and $432 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $68.0 in Athens vs $31.00 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $188 per month, with Mostar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇧🇦 Mostar
🕒 Local time
17:54 5:54 PM
16:54 4:54 PM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
60,195
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 Mostar 780 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Mostar

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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Mostar?
Mostar wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mostar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Mostar?
Average pay runs 45% higher in Athens, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Mostar?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $432 in Mostar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Mostar?
Dining out is cheaper in Mostar – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $68.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Mostar?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Athens versus $899 in Mostar – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens or in Mostar?
At $899 in Mostar versus $1,775 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mostar but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Mostar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Mostar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mostar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $899 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mostar hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Mostar?
Safety-wise, Athens and Mostar 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 Mostar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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