Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Tesanj

For one person, living is cheaper in Tesanj: $880 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Tesanj
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$880
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Tesanj

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Athens versus $880 in Tesanj.

  • Athens $1,775
  • Tesanj $880

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,288 in Tesanj.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Tesanj $1,288

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,666 in Athens versus $1,696 in Tesanj.

  • Athens $3,666
  • Tesanj $1,696

Living in Athens is roughly 102% more expensive than in Tesanj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, Tesanj is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$3.38 BAM 5.87
393.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 €60.3
$16.14 BAM 28.07
320.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 €9.91
$2.82 BAM 4.91
295.04%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$0.84 BAM 1.46
379.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.39 BAM 2.42
99.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$0.83 BAM 1.44
-33.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.10
$1.97 BAM 3.42
191.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45 €4.85
$1.70 BAM 2.95
220.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$0.83 BAM 1.44
119.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 €1.23
$0.83 BAM 1.44
66.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.80 €2.49
$2.47 BAM 4.30
13.36%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.30
$3.07 BAM 5.34
57.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.05 €13.39
$10.03 BAM 17.44
50.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.63 €9.45
$7.09 BAM 12.33
49.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €16.39
$14.12 BAM 24.56
30.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$0.99 BAM 1.72
122.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 €1.69
$1.60 BAM 2.79
18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.22 BAM 2.12
12.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.76 BAM 3.06
19.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.05 BAM 1.82
2.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.09 BAM 1.89
2.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.15 BAM 2.00
-2.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.79
$0.97 BAM 1.69
-9.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.48 €4.88
$3.79 BAM 6.59
44.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 €9.01
$8.67 BAM 15.07
16.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.11 BAM 1.94
91.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.33 BAM 2.31
69.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.48 BAM 2.57
-8.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.89 €26.59
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 €3.96
$1.16 BAM 2.02
283.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.90
$0.59 BAM 1.03
72.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.92 €15.05
$10.46 BAM 18.18
61.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$1.58 BAM 2.75
42.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €24.9K
$30.2K BAM 52.6K
-7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$22.0K BAM 38.3K
28.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 €182
$93.1 BAM 162
119.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 €23.71
$18.33 BAM 31.87
45.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 €27.02
$28.91 BAM 50.3
5.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 €48.47
$33.13 BAM 57.6
64.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.88 €23.02
$28.53 BAM 49.62
-9.29%
Cinema Ticket
$10.42 €9.27
$2.79 BAM 4.86
273.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 €506
$135 BAM 235
320.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K €11.2K
$3,835 BAM 6,668
228.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 €78.9
$58.2 BAM 101
52.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46 €35.99
$32.70 BAM 56.9
23.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.3
$95.7 BAM 166
9.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$128 BAM 222
-5.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €659
$318 BAM 554
132.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €582
$260 BAM 452
151.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,156
$470 BAM 817
176.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 €1,021
$367 BAM 638
212.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,014 €3,570
$2,412 BAM 4,195
66.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,460 €3,078
$1,780 BAM 3,096
94.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Tesanj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,242 €1,105
$685 BAM 1,191
81.40%
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 Tesanj: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$655
Tesanj
$260 60.3% $395
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$310
Tesanj
$222 28.5% $88
Eating Out
Athens
$268
Tesanj
$68 74.8% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$262
Tesanj
$140 46.4% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$160
Tesanj
$142 11.5% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Tesanj
$39 48.6% $37
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Tesanj
$10 * 77.7% $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 $318 in Tesanj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 81% 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 $16.00 in Tesanj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $222 per month, with Tesanj cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇧🇦 Tesanj
🕒 Local time
04:34 4:34 AM
03:34 3:34 AM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
5,500
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 Tesanj 880 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Tesanj

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 Tesanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Tesanj?
Tesanj wins on cost – living expenses run 102% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tesanj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Tesanj?
Average pay runs 81% 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 Tesanj?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in Athens versus $318 in Tesanj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Athens and in Tesanj?
Childcare runs $569 in Athens versus $135 in Tesanj. 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 Tesanj?
Dining out is cheaper in Tesanj – a meal for two runs $16.00 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 Tesanj?
At $880 in Tesanj versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tesanj but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Tesanj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Tesanj?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tesanj delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $880 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tesanj hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Tesanj?
Safety-wise, Athens and Tesanj 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 Tesanj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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