Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bihac and Bucharest

For one person, living is cheaper in Bihac: $974 a month against $1,351 in Bucharest, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bihac
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$974
/mo nomad
Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,351
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bihac and in Bucharest

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bihac and in Bucharest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $974 in Bihac versus $1,351 in Bucharest.

  • Bihac $974
  • Bucharest $1,351

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,447 in Bihac versus $2,033 in Bucharest.

  • Bihac $1,447
  • Bucharest $2,033

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,920 in Bihac versus $2,715 in Bucharest.

  • Bihac $1,920
  • Bucharest $2,715

Living in Bihac costs roughly 28% less than in Bucharest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bihac is 27% below, Bucharest is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.87 BAM 11.98
$14.46 RON 68.4
-52.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.08 BAM 50.7
$57.7 RON 273
-49.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 BAM 10.12
$7.50 RON 35.46
-22.67%
Cappuccino
$1.13 BAM 1.97
$3.43 RON 16.20
-67.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 BAM 2.05
$2.46 RON 11.63
-52.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 BAM 1.58
$2.33 RON 11.01
-60.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 BAM 2.59
$3.80 RON 17.97
-61.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 BAM 3.06
$4.10 RON 19.41
-57.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 BAM 2.39
$1.65 RON 7.79
-16.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 BAM 1.84
$1.35 RON 6.39
-22.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 BAM 4.03
$1.78 RON 8.42
29.78%
Eggs
$3.04 BAM 5.30
$3.66 RON 17.33
-16.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 BAM 17.37
$8.57 RON 40.54
16.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.21 BAM 12.58
$6.80 RON 32.17
6.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 BAM 19.76
$11.72 RON 55.4
-3.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 BAM 3.01
$1.29 RON 6.11
34.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 BAM 3.13
$1.56 RON 7.37
14.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 BAM 2.53
$1.54 RON 7.28
-5.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 BAM 3.59
$2.48 RON 11.75
-17.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 BAM 1.98
$0.83 RON 3.92
36.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 BAM 2.60
$0.80 RON 3.77
86.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 BAM 1.60
$0.84 RON 3.98
9.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 BAM 1.57
$0.93 RON 4.39
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.59 BAM 6.27
$6.44 RON 30.45
-44.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.13 BAM 14.18
$6.32 RON 29.91
28.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 BAM 2.32
$1.26 RON 5.94
5.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 BAM 3.63
$1.60 RON 7.59
30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.30 BAM 2.26
$0.81 RON 3.85
60.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.93 BAM 61.0
$21.13 RON 99.9
65.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 BAM 2.06
$0.60 RON 2.86
96.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 BAM 1.74
$0.61 RON 2.91
62.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.49 BAM 18.31
$6.17 RON 29.19
70.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 BAM 2.50
$1.96 RON 9.27
-27.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K BAM 53.4K
$28.1K RON 133.1K
8.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K BAM 38.5K
$26.3K RON 124.3K
-16.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 BAM 353
$197 RON 931
2.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.53 BAM 32.33
$8.34 RON 39.44
122.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20 BAM 38.73
$9.19 RON 43.47
141.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.21 BAM 57.9
$49.87 RON 236
-33.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.59 BAM 20.21
$24.99 RON 118
-53.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67 BAM 9.88
$8.46 RON 40.01
-32.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 BAM 250
$639 RON 3,023
-77.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,891 BAM 6,789
$14.4K RON 68.1K
-72.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.95 BAM 50.5
$90.6 RON 429
-68.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.25 BAM 30.10
$38.05 RON 180
-54.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 BAM 166
$79.7 RON 377
19.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 BAM 208
$93.2 RON 441
27.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$220 BAM 383
$673 RON 3,184
-67.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$201 BAM 350
$449 RON 2,123
-55.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 BAM 527
$1,098 RON 5,195
-72.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$271 BAM 474
$729 RON 3,448
-62.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,445 BAM 2,522
$3,740 RON 17.7K
-61.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,326 BAM 2,313
$2,189 RON 10.4K
-39.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bihac
Bucharest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$787 BAM 1,373
$1,323 RON 6,259
-40.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
6.74
-36.20%

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

Last update for Bihac: October 5, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bihac
$243
Bucharest
$214 11.8% $29
Groceries & Markets
Bihac
$229
Bucharest
$222 3.1% $7.2
Accommodation & Living
Bihac
$201
Bucharest
$449 124% $248
Clothing & Footwear
Bihac
$117
Bucharest
$136 15.7% $18
Eating Out
Bihac
$105
Bucharest
$226 115% $121
Getting Around
Bihac
$46
Bucharest
$28 39.3% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Bihac
$45
Bucharest
$67 50% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $220 in Bihac and $673 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 68% 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: $29.00 in Bihac vs $58.0 in Bucharest. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $222, with Bucharest cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇧🇦 Bihac
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🕒 Local time
05:45 5:45 AM
06:45 6:45 AM
1 h ahead of Bihac
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
39,690
1,883,425 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to BAM – Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark Converter

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.573 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (1 BAM = 0.511 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.3 RON (1 RON = 0.189 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bihac Bucharest 810 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bihac
  • Bucharest

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
Bihac vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bihac and in Bucharest?
Bihac and Bucharest differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($974 vs $1,351 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Bucharest. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Bihac and in Bucharest?
Rent for a central apartment: $220 in Bihac versus $673 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bihac – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $58.0 in Bucharest. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bihac or Bucharest?
All in, you'll spend $974 per month in Bihac versus $1,351 in Bucharest – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $974 in Bihac versus $1,351 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bihac but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Bihac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bihac and Bucharest?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bihac or Bucharest safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bihac and Bucharest are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bihac or Bucharest?
Expats usually find Bihac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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