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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Luka 9% lower, Lome 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.01 BAM 16.86
$3.09 F CFA 1,743
223.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0 BAM 89.4
$32.15 F CFA 18.2K
64.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.48 BAM 19.34
$5.64 F CFA 3,186
103.55%
Cappuccino
$1.85 BAM 3.13
$6.16 F CFA 3,481
-69.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 BAM 4.33
$4.27 F CFA 2,413
-39.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 BAM 2.84
$0.74 F CFA 415
128.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 BAM 4.36
$0.93 F CFA 527
178.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 BAM 6.19
$1.79 F CFA 1,010
105.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 BAM 2.51
$2.28 F CFA 1,291
-34.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 BAM 2.13
$1.35 F CFA 762
-5.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 BAM 2.75
$1.52 F CFA 859
7.24%
Eggs
$3.00 BAM 5.05
$2.02 F CFA 1,139
48.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 BAM 16.70
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.21 BAM 15.52
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 BAM 24.17
$5.82 F CFA 3,288
146.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 BAM 3.10
$3.14 F CFA 1,774
-41.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 BAM 3.46
$1.75 F CFA 991
17.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 BAM 3.79
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 BAM 3.93
$2.62 F CFA 1,481
-11.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 BAM 1.71
$1.73 F CFA 977
-41.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 BAM 2.44
$1.22 F CFA 692
18.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 BAM 2.07
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 BAM 1.51
$0.92 F CFA 520
-3.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 BAM 6.78
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.70 BAM 14.66
$4.93 F CFA 2,783
76.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 BAM 1.69
$1.16 F CFA 658
-13.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 BAM 2.46
$1.46 F CFA 827
-
🚌 Getting Around
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 BAM 2.36
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.52 BAM 76.7
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 BAM 2.98
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 BAM 1.96
$1.20 F CFA 681
-3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.56 BAM 29.58
$4.42 F CFA 2,497
297.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 BAM 2.90
$1.19 F CFA 671
44.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K BAM 52.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K BAM 38.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 BAM 274
$148 F CFA 83.8K
9.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.05 BAM 28.74
$22.34 F CFA 12.6K
-23.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.78 BAM 63.7
$44.11 F CFA 24.9K
-14.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.09 BAM 67.6
$61.7 F CFA 34.8K
-34.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.60 BAM 26.29
$9.01 F CFA 5,090
73.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 BAM 10.17
$4.51 F CFA 2,547
33.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 BAM 512
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,714 BAM 6,257
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9 BAM 145
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.82 BAM 62.1
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 BAM 182
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 BAM 253
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 BAM 807
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$327 BAM 550
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$713 BAM 1,201
$1,224 F CFA 691.5K
-41.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 BAM 843
$301 F CFA 170.3K
66.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,040 BAM 5,123
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,960 BAM 3,303
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banja Luka
Lome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$929 BAM 1,565
$309 F 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.

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