Cost of Living Comparison Between Banja Luka and Bytom Cost of Living Comparison Between Banja Luka and Bytom

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,157 per month in Banja Luka vs $1,327 in Bytom, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,687 per month in Banja Luka vs $1,846 in Bytom, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,218 per month in Banja Luka vs $2,366 in Bytom, rent included.

Banja Luka is about 13% cheaper than Bytom, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Banja Luka and Bytom are more affordable than the global median – Banja Luka 13% lower, Bytom 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.76 BAM 14.99

$10.76 zł 40.88

-18.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.44 BAM 72.6

$41.77 zł 159

1.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 BAM 15.20

$8.03 zł 30.50

10.71%

Cappuccino

$1.64 BAM 2.80

$3.49 zł 13.24

-53.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$2.00 zł 7.58

1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.69 zł 6.42

-28.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 BAM 3.48

$3.31 zł 12.56

-38.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 BAM 4.83

$4.00 zł 15.18

-29.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 BAM 2.34

$1.08 zł 4.10

26.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BAM 2.20

$1.18 zł 4.47

9.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 BAM 2.71

$1.22 zł 4.62

30.33%

Eggs

$2.99 BAM 5.12

$2.99 zł 11.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 BAM 15.95

$10.66 zł 40.47

-12.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.83 BAM 15.10

$6.16 zł 23.40

43.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.25 BAM 20.95

$10.87 zł 41.28

12.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.50

$1.05 zł 3.99

39.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 BAM 2.81

$1.81 zł 6.88

-9.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 BAM 3.28

$1.73 zł 6.55

10.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 BAM 3.44

$2.80 zł 10.63

-28.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.06

$0.88 zł 3.36

36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 BAM 2.12

$0.94 zł 3.59

31.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.17

$1.15 zł 4.36

10.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 BAM 1.25

$0.62 zł 2.36

17.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 BAM 6.59

$5.16 zł 19.60

-25.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.37 BAM 14.31

$6.44 zł 24.44

29.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BAM 1.29

$1.07 zł 4.08

-29.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 BAM 1.96

$1.89 zł 7.17

-39.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 BAM 2.44

$1.32 zł 5.02

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.54 BAM 64.2

$37.18 zł 141

0.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 BAM 2.44

$2.14 zł 8.14

-33.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 BAM 1.97

$0.52 zł 1.98

121.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 BAM 15.01

$9.35 zł 35.52

-6.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BAM 2.54

$1.74 zł 6.62

-14.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.1K BAM 49.7K

$33.9K zł 128.9K

-14.40%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K BAM 45.4K

$30.0K zł 114.0K

-11.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$172 BAM 293

$342 zł 1,299

-49.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.77 BAM 32.11

$8.20 zł 31.16

128.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 BAM 40.69

$16.12 zł 61.2

47.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.49 BAM 48.73

$32.81 zł 125

-13.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.94 BAM 17.00

$19.66 zł 74.7

-49.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 BAM 8.25

$6.87 zł 26.07

-29.84%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$239 BAM 409

$309 zł 1,175

-22.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,672 BAM 6,280

$9,345 zł 35.5K

-60.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.7 BAM 126

$88.6 zł 336

-16.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.10 BAM 63.5

$30.38 zł 115

22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 BAM 151

$77.2 zł 293

14.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 BAM 211

$96.6 zł 367

27.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 BAM 785

$563 zł 2,138

-18.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 BAM 557

$322 zł 1,224

0.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 BAM 1,094

$497 zł 1,886

28.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 BAM 799

$411 zł 1,561

13.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,982 BAM 5,099

$2,936 zł 11.2K

1.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,925 BAM 3,293

$2,276 zł 8,645

-15.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$893 BAM 1,527

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

6.78

-25.96%

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

Last update for Banja Luka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bytom: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Banja Luka versus $563 in Bytom. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Banja Luka versus $42.00 in Bytom. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Banja Luka vs $210 in Bytom – so Bytom wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Banja Luka vs Bytom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bytom is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,735 per month in Banja Luka and $1,990 in Bytom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banja Luka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Bytom – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Banja Luka and $42.00 in Bytom. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banja Luka, where all-in costs run around $1,157, than in Bytom at $1,327. In Banja Luka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bytom it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banja Luka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Banja Luka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bytom makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.