Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Athens

For one person, living is cheaper in Bijeljina: $905 a month against $1,806 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bijeljina
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$905
/mo nomad
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,806
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bijeljina and in Athens

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Bijeljina versus $1,806 in Athens.

  • Bijeljina $905
  • Athens $1,806

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,424 in Bijeljina versus $2,731 in Athens.

  • Bijeljina $1,424
  • Athens $2,731

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,943 in Bijeljina versus $3,656 in Athens.

  • Bijeljina $1,943
  • Athens $3,656

Living in Bijeljina costs roughly 50% less than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bijeljina is 32% below, Athens is 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.65 BAM 15.10
$16.66 €14.87
-48.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.77 BAM 60.7
$66.2 €59.1
-47.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.45 BAM 7.77
$11.06 €9.87
-59.76%
Cappuccino
$1.45 BAM 2.52
$4.14 €3.69
-64.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 BAM 2.96
$2.80 €2.50
-39.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 BAM 1.77
$0.57 €0.51
77.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 BAM 2.95
$5.64 €5.03
-70.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 BAM 3.96
$5.46 €4.87
-58.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 BAM 2.66
$1.96 €1.75
-22.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 BAM 2.11
$1.41 €1.26
-14.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 BAM 2.98
$2.83 €2.53
-39.58%
Eggs
$3.04 BAM 5.31
$5.04 €4.50
-39.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 BAM 12.94
$15.35 €13.70
-51.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.75 BAM 13.53
$10.34 €9.23
-25.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 BAM 20.01
$18.97 €16.93
-39.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.57 BAM 2.74
$2.17 €1.93
-27.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 BAM 3.15
$1.91 €1.70
-5.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 BAM 3.12
$1.38 €1.23
29.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 BAM 4.52
$2.20 €1.96
17.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 BAM 2.77
$1.10 €0.98
44.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 BAM 2.45
$1.13 €1.00
23.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 BAM 1.90
$1.10 €0.99
-0.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 BAM 1.05
$0.83 €0.74
-27.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 BAM 6.49
$5.60 €4.99
-33.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 BAM 14.89
$10.19 €9.09
-16.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 BAM 1.54
$2.18 €1.95
-59.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 BAM 2.54
$2.45 €2.19
-40.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 BAM 3.91
$1.38 €1.23
62.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.86 BAM 29.41
$30.87 €27.55
-45.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.40 BAM 2.45
$4.37 €3.90
-67.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 BAM 1.03
$1.04 €0.93
-43.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.26 BAM 17.90
$17.11 €15.27
-40.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 BAM 2.46
$2.31 €2.07
-38.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K BAM 54.0K
$28.0K €25.0K
10.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K BAM 33.1K
$28.0K €25.0K
-32.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 BAM 240
$210 €187
-34.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.44 BAM 32.17
$26.70 €23.83
-30.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.10 BAM 42.04
$30.13 €26.89
-20.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.31 BAM 52.9
$54.6 €48.72
-44.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.73 BAM 15.23
$26.03 €23.23
-66.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 BAM 8.61
$10.78 €9.62
-54.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$203 BAM 354
$575 €513
-64.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,914 BAM 6,829
$13.1K €11.7K
-70.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 BAM 98.0
$93.2 €83.1
-39.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.09 BAM 45.52
$40.68 €36.30
-35.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 BAM 224
$104 €92.9
23.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 BAM 209
$128 €115
-6.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 BAM 441
$756 €674
-66.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 BAM 290
$652 €582
-74.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 BAM 625
$1,294 €1,154
-72.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 BAM 498
$1,163 €1,038
-75.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,811 BAM 3,159
$4,008 €3,577
-54.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,369 BAM 2,388
$3,452 €3,081
-60.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bijeljina
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$739 BAM 1,290
$1,243 €1,110
-40.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
4.48
33.93%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: October 6, 2026

Last update for Athens: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bijeljina
$224
Athens
$315 40.4% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijeljina
$180
Athens
$267 48% $86
Accommodation & Living
Bijeljina
$166
Athens
$652 292% $486
Clothing & Footwear
Bijeljina
$149
Athens
$165 10.8% $16
Eating Out
Bijeljina
$124
Athens
$269 117% $145
Sport & Entertainment
Bijeljina
$40
Athens
$76 89.5% $36
Getting Around
Bijeljina
$30
Athens
$46 52.3% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in Bijeljina and $756 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens 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: $35.00 in Bijeljina vs $66.0 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $315 per month, with Bijeljina cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇦 Bijeljina
🇬🇷 Athens
🕒 Local time
15:44 3:44 PM
16:44 4:44 PM
1 h ahead of Bijeljina
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,278
3,090,508 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bijeljina Athens 840 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bijeljina
  • Athens

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
Bijeljina vs Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bijeljina or Athens?
Bijeljina wins on cost – living expenses run 100% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bijeljina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bijeljina or in Athens?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Athens. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bijeljina compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $253 in Bijeljina versus $756 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bijeljina and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Bijeljina – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $66.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bijeljina compared to Athens?
All in, you'll spend $905 per month in Bijeljina versus $1,806 in Athens – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bijeljina or in Athens?
At $905 in Bijeljina versus $1,806 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bijeljina but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Bijeljina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bijeljina or Athens?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bijeljina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $905 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bijeljina hard to pass up.
How safe is Bijeljina compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Bijeljina and Athens are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bijeljina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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