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: $983 in Bihac versus $1,176 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,455 in Bihac versus $1,784 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,927 in Bihac versus $2,393 in Sarajevo.

Living in Bihac costs roughly 16% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bihac 26% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.26 BAM 12.40

$7.14 BAM 12.19

1.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.94 BAM 51.2

$35.96 BAM 61.4

-16.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.57 BAM 9.51

$8.80 BAM 15.03

-36.70%

Cappuccino

$1.20 BAM 2.06

$2.07 BAM 3.54

-42.03%

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

$1.15 BAM 1.96

$2.02 BAM 3.45

-43.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 BAM 1.52

$1.39 BAM 2.38

-35.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 BAM 2.56

$2.73 BAM 4.66

-45.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 BAM 3.09

$2.39 BAM 4.09

-24.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 BAM 2.36

$1.41 BAM 2.41

-2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BAM 1.79

$1.21 BAM 2.07

-13.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.94

$2.04 BAM 3.49

12.75%

Eggs

$2.80 BAM 4.79

$3.25 BAM 5.55

-13.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 BAM 17.23

$10.46 BAM 17.88

-3.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 BAM 12.66

$8.84 BAM 15.11

-16.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.20 BAM 19.14

$13.24 BAM 22.61

-15.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 BAM 3.11

$1.55 BAM 2.64

17.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 BAM 2.88

$1.86 BAM 3.18

-9.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.27

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-8.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 BAM 3.47

$2.30 BAM 3.94

-11.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BAM 2.04

$1.12 BAM 1.92

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 BAM 2.47

$1.21 BAM 2.07

19.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 BAM 1.65

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-24.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.56

$0.81 BAM 1.38

12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.60 BAM 6.15

$3.77 BAM 6.43

-4.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.15 BAM 13.93

$8.00 BAM 13.67

1.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 BAM 2.13

$1.05 BAM 1.80

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.28 BAM 2.18

62.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 BAM 3.01

$1.03 BAM 1.76

70.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.05 BAM 59.9

$31.73 BAM 54.2

10.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.49 BAM 2.55

-18.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 BAM 1.40

$0.77 BAM 1.32

6.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.75 BAM 18.37

$8.63 BAM 14.75

24.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BAM 2.53

$1.49 BAM 2.54

-0.67%

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

$23.6K BAM 40.3K

$26.6K BAM 45.4K

-11.19%

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

$25.9K BAM 44.2K

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

0.17%

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

$205 BAM 349

$202 BAM 345

1.21%

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

$18.94 BAM 32.37

$19.03 BAM 32.52

-0.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.90 BAM 37.42

$32.94 BAM 56.3

-33.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.93 BAM 51.1

$35.14 BAM 60.0

-14.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.82 BAM 18.48

$16.26 BAM 27.78

-33.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.71 BAM 9.75

$7.20 BAM 12.30

-20.69%

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

$146 BAM 250

$258 BAM 441

-43.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,926 BAM 4,999

$3,394 BAM 5,799

-13.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.42 BAM 50.3

$91.6 BAM 156

-67.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.60 BAM 30.08

$37.77 BAM 64.5

-53.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 BAM 170

$108 BAM 184

-7.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 BAM 201

$101 BAM 172

16.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 BAM 381

$436 BAM 745

-48.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 BAM 359

$303 BAM 518

-30.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 BAM 527

$892 BAM 1,524

-65.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 BAM 486

$580 BAM 991

-50.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,486 BAM 2,539

$3,245 BAM 5,545

-54.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,316 BAM 2,248

$2,315 BAM 3,955

-43.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 BAM 1,321

$1,042 BAM 1,779

-25.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.8

8.95%

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

Last update for Bihac: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $223 in Bihac and $436 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 35% 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 $36.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $246 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 20% in total monthly costs ($983 vs $1,176 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 35% 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: $223 in Bihac versus $436 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 $36.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $983 per month in Bihac versus $1,176 in Sarajevo – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $983 in Bihac versus $1,176 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 20% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.