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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,133 per month in Banja Luka vs $954 in Neum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,675 per month in Banja Luka vs $1,494 in Neum, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,217 per month in Banja Luka vs $2,035 in Neum, rent included.

Banja Luka costs about 19% more than Neum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Banja Luka and Neum are more affordable than the global median – Banja Luka 15% lower, Neum 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.90 BAM 14.95

$8.66 BAM 14.56

2.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.26 BAM 69.3

$41.82 BAM 70.3

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 BAM 14.61

$7.63 BAM 12.82

14.02%

Cappuccino

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.65 BAM 2.77

-1.21%

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

$1.99 BAM 3.34

$1.94 BAM 3.26

2.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-4.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 BAM 3.40

$2.09 BAM 3.51

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 BAM 4.57

$2.81 BAM 4.72

-3.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 BAM 2.29

$1.32 BAM 2.22

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 BAM 2.10

$1.23 BAM 2.07

1.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 BAM 2.64

$1.58 BAM 2.65

-0.63%

Eggs

$2.88 BAM 4.83

$3.01 BAM 5.05

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 BAM 15.54

$9.60 BAM 16.12

-3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.71 BAM 14.64

$8.75 BAM 14.71

-0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 BAM 20.59

$11.61 BAM 19.50

5.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 BAM 2.34

$1.41 BAM 2.37

-0.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 BAM 2.77

$1.64 BAM 2.75

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BAM 3.24

$1.94 BAM 3.26

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 BAM 3.41

$2.04 BAM 3.43

-0.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 BAM 2.09

$1.15 BAM 1.94

8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 BAM 2.11

$1.11 BAM 1.86

13.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 BAM 2.16

$1.21 BAM 2.04

5.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$0.73 BAM 1.23

5.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.72 BAM 6.25

$3.63 BAM 6.10

2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.36 BAM 14.04

$4.06 BAM 6.81

105.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BAM 1.25

$0.76 BAM 1.28

-2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 BAM 1.84

$1.13 BAM 1.90

-2.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 BAM 2.29

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-26.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.41 BAM 61.2

$34.69 BAM 58.3

4.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.50

$1.50 BAM 2.52

-0.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 BAM 1.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 BAM 15.02

$7.28 BAM 12.23

22.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 BAM 2.45

$1.54 BAM 2.60

-5.19%

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

$28.4K BAM 47.7K

$29.1K BAM 48.8K

-2.38%

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

$26.9K BAM 45.2K

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

2.12%

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

$174 BAM 292

-0.04%

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

$19.29 BAM 32.41

$18.87 BAM 31.70

2.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.24 BAM 39.05

$24.01 BAM 40.33

-3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.95 BAM 46.96

$28.99 BAM 48.71

-3.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.92 BAM 16.66

$10.97 BAM 18.43

-9.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 BAM 7.89

$4.81 BAM 8.08

-2.49%

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

$238 BAM 399

$203 BAM 342

16.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,758 BAM 6,314

$3,618 BAM 6,079

3.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 BAM 125

$69.6 BAM 117

7.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.14 BAM 60.7

$35.84 BAM 60.2

0.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 BAM 149

$89.3 BAM 150

-0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 208

$111 BAM 186

11.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$465 BAM 781

$261 BAM 438

78.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 BAM 542

$169 BAM 284

90.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 BAM 1,085

$363 BAM 610

77.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 BAM 802

$315 BAM 529

51.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,163 BAM 5,314

$2,608 BAM 4,382

21.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,023 BAM 3,399

$1,838 BAM 3,088

10.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$901 BAM 1,514

$882 BAM 1,482

2.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

2.9

73.10%

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

Last update for Banja Luka: June 2, 2026

Last update for Neum: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $465 in Banja Luka versus $261 in Neum. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% 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 $41.00 in Banja Luka versus $42.00 in Neum. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Banja Luka vs $220 in Neum – so Neum 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 Neum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,699 per month in Banja Luka and $1,431 in Neum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 5% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Banja Luka and $42.00 in Neum. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Neum, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Banja Luka at $1,133. In Neum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neum – 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 Neum. 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.