😐A single person spends $1,255 per month in Banja Luka vs $590 in Lome, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,897 per month in Banja Luka vs $1,024 in Lome, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,539 per month in Banja Luka vs $1,458 in Lome, rent included.
😐Banja Luka costs about 113% more than Lome, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Banja Luka and Lome are more affordable than the global median – Banja Luka9% lower, Lome57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.01BAM 16.86
$3.09F CFA 1,743
223.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0BAM 89.4
$32.15F CFA 18.2K
64.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.48BAM 19.34
$5.64F CFA 3,186
103.55%
Cappuccino
$1.85BAM 3.13
$6.16F CFA 3,481
-69.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57BAM 4.33
$4.27F CFA 2,413
-39.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69BAM 2.84
$0.74F CFA 415
128.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59BAM 4.36
$0.93F CFA 527
178.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67BAM 6.19
$1.79F CFA 1,010
105.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49BAM 2.51
$2.28F CFA 1,291
-34.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27BAM 2.13
$1.35F CFA 762
-5.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63BAM 2.75
$1.52F CFA 859
7.24%
Eggs
$3.00BAM 5.05
$2.02F CFA 1,139
48.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91BAM 16.70
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.21BAM 15.52
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.34BAM 24.17
$5.82F CFA 3,288
146.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84BAM 3.10
$3.14F CFA 1,774
-41.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05BAM 3.46
$1.75F CFA 991
17.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25BAM 3.79
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33BAM 3.93
$2.62F CFA 1,481
-11.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01BAM 1.71
$1.73F CFA 977
-41.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45BAM 2.44
$1.22F CFA 692
18.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23BAM 2.07
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89BAM 1.51
$0.92F CFA 520
-3.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02BAM 6.78
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$8.70BAM 14.66
$4.93F CFA 2,783
76.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00BAM 1.69
$1.16F CFA 658
-13.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46BAM 2.46
$1.46F CFA 827
-
🚌 Getting Around
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40BAM 2.36
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.52BAM 76.7
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.77BAM 2.98
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16BAM 1.96
$1.20F CFA 681
-3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.56BAM 29.58
$4.42F CFA 2,497
297.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72BAM 2.90
$1.19F CFA 671
44.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KBAM 52.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KBAM 38.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163BAM 274
$148F CFA 83.8K
9.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.05BAM 28.74
$22.34F CFA 12.6K
-23.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.78BAM 63.7
$44.11F CFA 24.9K
-14.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.09BAM 67.6
$61.7F CFA 34.8K
-34.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.60BAM 26.29
$9.01F CFA 5,090
73.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03BAM 10.17
$4.51F CFA 2,547
33.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304BAM 512
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,714BAM 6,257
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9BAM 145
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.82BAM 62.1
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108BAM 182
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150BAM 253
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479BAM 807
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327BAM 550
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$713BAM 1,201
$1,224F CFA 691.5K
-41.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500BAM 843
$301F CFA 170.3K
66.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,040BAM 5,123
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,960BAM 3,303
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$929BAM 1,565
$309F CFA 174.6K
200.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Banja Luka: September 6, 2026
Last update for Lome: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 200% higher in Banja Luka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Banja Luka versus $32.00 in Lome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $145 – making Lome the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lome cheaper than Banja Luka?
Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,883 per month in Banja Luka and $885 in Lome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Banja Luka and in Lome?
Groceries cost about 76% more in Banja Luka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Banja Luka or in Lome?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Banja Luka and $32.00 in Lome. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Banja Luka or in Lome?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lome, where all-in costs run around $590, than in Banja Luka at $1,255. In Lome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Banja Luka or Lome more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lome – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Banja Luka or Lome?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Banja Luka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Banja Luka vs other spots: cost of living compared