Cost of Living Comparison Between Bihac and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bihac and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,007 in Bihac versus $1,266 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,483 in Bihac versus $1,911 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,958 in Bihac versus $2,556 in Sarajevo.

Living in Bihac costs roughly 20% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bihac 27% lower, Sarajevo 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 BAM 12.35

$8.71 BAM 14.69

-15.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 BAM 50.6

$41.99 BAM 70.8

-28.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 BAM 9.77

$9.12 BAM 15.39

-36.51%

Cappuccino

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$2.32 BAM 3.91

-46.98%

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

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$2.25 BAM 3.80

-45.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.53

$1.48 BAM 2.50

-38.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 BAM 2.44

$2.94 BAM 4.96

-50.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 BAM 2.97

$2.96 BAM 4.98

-40.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 BAM 2.23

$1.27 BAM 2.14

3.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.24 BAM 2.09

-12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 BAM 4.07

$2.22 BAM 3.75

8.56%

Eggs

$3.02 BAM 5.09

$3.26 BAM 5.50

-7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 BAM 16.97

$10.85 BAM 18.30

-7.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.24 BAM 12.21

$7.87 BAM 13.28

-8.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.59 BAM 19.55

$15.22 BAM 25.68

-23.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 BAM 3.04

$1.55 BAM 2.61

16.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$1.69 BAM 2.85

2.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 BAM 4.10

$1.74 BAM 2.93

39.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 BAM 3.47

$2.19 BAM 3.70

-5.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BAM 1.96

$1.05 BAM 1.77

10.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 BAM 2.45

$1.23 BAM 2.08

17.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 BAM 1.54

$1.11 BAM 1.87

-18.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.45

$0.77 BAM 1.29

11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.66 BAM 6.17

$3.98 BAM 6.72

-8.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.04 BAM 13.57

$8.32 BAM 14.03

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 BAM 2.22

$0.90 BAM 1.52

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 BAM 3.48

$1.50 BAM 2.54

38.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 BAM 2.38

$1.31 BAM 2.22

7.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.99 BAM 60.7

$35.61 BAM 60.1

1.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 BAM 2.03

$1.49 BAM 2.51

-19.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 BAM 1.78

$1.23 BAM 2.07

-14.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 BAM 17.67

$8.85 BAM 14.92

18.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.57

$1.70 BAM 2.86

-10.59%

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

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

0.02%

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

$22.5K BAM 38.0K

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

-5.35%

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

$213 BAM 359

$224 BAM 377

-4.87%

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

$18.88 BAM 31.84

$14.67 BAM 24.73

28.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.19 BAM 37.42

$28.33 BAM 47.79

-21.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.46 BAM 58.1

$41.45 BAM 69.9

-16.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 BAM 19.89

$20.34 BAM 34.31

-42.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.66 BAM 9.55

$7.06 BAM 11.90

-19.83%

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

$151 BAM 255

$216 BAM 364

-29.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,067 BAM 6,859

$3,961 BAM 6,680

2.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.29 BAM 49.40

$90.8 BAM 153

-67.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.86 BAM 30.12

$39.75 BAM 67.0

-55.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 BAM 170

$95.6 BAM 161

5.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 BAM 204

$104 BAM 176

15.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$220 BAM 372

$475 BAM 802

-53.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 BAM 351

$323 BAM 545

-35.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$314 BAM 529

$1,076 BAM 1,815

-70.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 BAM 480

$603 BAM 1,017

-52.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,492 BAM 2,516

$3,397 BAM 5,728

-56.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,335 BAM 2,251

$2,491 BAM 4,201

-46.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$796 BAM 1,342

$1,089 BAM 1,836

-26.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.3

4.08

5.39%

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

Last update for Bihac: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $220 in Bihac and $475 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 37% 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: $30.00 in Bihac vs $42.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $244 per month, with Bihac cheaper across the board.

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 Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bihac and Sarajevo differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,007 vs $1,266 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Sarajevo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $220 in Bihac versus $475 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bihac – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $42.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,007 per month in Bihac versus $1,266 in Sarajevo – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,007 in Bihac versus $1,266 in Sarajevo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bihac but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Bihac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Bihac and Sarajevo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bihac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.