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: $999 in Bihac versus $1,206 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,440 in Bihac versus $1,811 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,880 in Bihac versus $2,416 in Sarajevo.

Living in Bihac costs roughly 17% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bihac 25% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.88 BAM 11.57

$7.21 BAM 12.11

-4.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 BAM 50.3

$35.65 BAM 59.9

-16.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 BAM 9.68

$8.96 BAM 15.05

-35.71%

Cappuccino

$1.16 BAM 1.94

$2.04 BAM 3.42

-43.14%

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

$1.16 BAM 1.94

$2.01 BAM 3.38

-42.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.44

$1.42 BAM 2.38

-39.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$2.69 BAM 4.52

-44.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$2.32 BAM 3.90

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 BAM 2.24

$1.43 BAM 2.40

-6.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 BAM 1.87

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-8.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 BAM 4.01

$2.08 BAM 3.50

14.42%

Eggs

$2.87 BAM 4.83

$3.24 BAM 5.45

-11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 BAM 17.06

$10.29 BAM 17.29

-1.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 BAM 12.30

$8.86 BAM 14.88

-17.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 BAM 19.44

$13.44 BAM 22.58

-13.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$1.55 BAM 2.60

12.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.71

$1.87 BAM 3.15

-13.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 BAM 3.20

$2.05 BAM 3.44

-7.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 BAM 3.48

$2.29 BAM 3.84

-9.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$1.12 BAM 1.88

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.20 BAM 2.02

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 BAM 1.54

$1.22 BAM 2.06

-24.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.45

$0.76 BAM 1.27

13.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 BAM 5.88

$3.76 BAM 6.33

-6.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.36 BAM 14.04

$8.33 BAM 13.99

0.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 BAM 2.10

$1.04 BAM 1.75

20.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.31 BAM 2.21

53.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 BAM 3.05

$1.08 BAM 1.82

67.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.05 BAM 58.9

$31.31 BAM 52.6

11.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.44 BAM 2.42

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.30

$0.78 BAM 1.31

-1.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.75 BAM 18.06

$9.08 BAM 15.25

18.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.51

$1.52 BAM 2.55

-1.97%

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

$23.7K BAM 39.9K

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

-11.22%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

1.11%

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

$210 BAM 352

$197 BAM 331

6.42%

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

$19.23 BAM 32.30

$19.00 BAM 31.92

1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.97 BAM 36.92

$33.37 BAM 56.1

-34.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.75 BAM 49.97

$35.64 BAM 59.9

-16.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.88 BAM 18.28

$16.44 BAM 27.62

-33.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 BAM 9.32

$6.94 BAM 11.67

-20.03%

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

$150 BAM 251

$255 BAM 428

-41.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,937 BAM 4,935

$3,323 BAM 5,583

-11.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.33 BAM 49.28

$91.3 BAM 153

-67.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.54 BAM 29.46

$36.66 BAM 61.6

-52.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 BAM 166

$108 BAM 182

-9.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 BAM 198

$99.9 BAM 168

17.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 BAM 372

$432 BAM 726

-48.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 BAM 347

$313 BAM 526

-34.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 BAM 518

$877 BAM 1,474

-64.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 BAM 471

$600 BAM 1,008

-53.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,492 BAM 2,507

$3,430 BAM 5,762

-56.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,326 BAM 2,228

$2,383 BAM 4,003

-44.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$806 BAM 1,354

$1,064 BAM 1,788

-24.28%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Bihac and $432 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 32% 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 21% in total monthly costs ($999 vs $1,206 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Sarajevo earns 32% less. 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: $222 in Bihac versus $432 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 $999 per month in Bihac versus $1,206 in Sarajevo – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $999 in Bihac versus $1,206 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 21% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.