Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Banja Luka Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Banja Luka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,157 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,687 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,218 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 19% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bijeljina and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 30% lower, Banja Luka 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.08 BAM 15.51

$8.76 BAM 14.97

3.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.23 BAM 60.2

$42.44 BAM 72.5

-16.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 BAM 8.66

$8.89 BAM 15.18

-42.97%

Cappuccino

$1.49 BAM 2.54

$1.64 BAM 2.79

-9.15%

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

$1.74 BAM 2.98

$2.02 BAM 3.44

-13.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.79

$1.21 BAM 2.07

-13.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 BAM 3.09

$2.03 BAM 3.47

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.08

$2.83 BAM 4.83

-15.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$1.37 BAM 2.34

14.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.16

$1.29 BAM 2.20

-2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.98

$1.59 BAM 2.71

10.06%

Eggs

$3.14 BAM 5.36

$2.99 BAM 5.11

5.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 BAM 13.16

$9.32 BAM 15.93

-17.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.19 BAM 13.99

$8.83 BAM 15.09

-7.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.80

$12.25 BAM 20.93

-0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.75

$1.46 BAM 2.50

10.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.27

$1.64 BAM 2.81

16.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.26

$1.92 BAM 3.28

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$2.01 BAM 3.43

35.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.70

$1.20 BAM 2.06

31.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.50

$1.24 BAM 2.12

17.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BAM 2.02

$1.27 BAM 2.17

-7.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BAM 1.14

$0.73 BAM 1.25

-9.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.80 BAM 6.49

$3.85 BAM 6.58

-1.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 BAM 14.91

$8.37 BAM 14.30

4.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.47

$0.75 BAM 1.28

14.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$1.14 BAM 1.95

32.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 BAM 4.06

$1.43 BAM 2.44

66.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.85 BAM 30.49

$37.54 BAM 64.2

-52.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$1.43 BAM 2.44

5.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$1.15 BAM 1.97

-50.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.89 BAM 20.31

$8.77 BAM 14.99

35.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 BAM 2.48

$1.48 BAM 2.54

-2.03%

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

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

$29.1K BAM 49.6K

-9.01%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.7K

$26.6K BAM 45.4K

-1.44%

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

$144 BAM 245

$172 BAM 293

-16.29%

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

$18.99 BAM 32.44

$18.77 BAM 32.07

1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.13 BAM 41.23

$23.79 BAM 40.64

1.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.33 BAM 51.8

$28.49 BAM 48.68

6.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.77 BAM 14.99

$9.94 BAM 16.98

-11.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 BAM 8.33

$4.82 BAM 8.24

1.04%

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

$209 BAM 356

$239 BAM 409

-12.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,282 BAM 5,607

$3,672 BAM 6,273

-10.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 BAM 98.3

$73.7 BAM 126

-21.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.84 BAM 45.85

$37.10 BAM 63.4

-27.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 BAM 226

$88.1 BAM 150

50.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 213

$123 BAM 211

0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 447

$459 BAM 784

-42.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 BAM 293

$325 BAM 556

-47.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 BAM 625

$639 BAM 1,093

-42.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 BAM 500

$467 BAM 798

-37.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,847 BAM 3,156

$2,982 BAM 5,094

-38.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,370 BAM 2,341

$1,925 BAM 3,289

-28.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 BAM 1,309

$893 BAM 1,525

-14.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

19.52%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Bijeljina versus $459 in Banja Luka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Banja Luka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Bijeljina versus $42.00 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Bijeljina vs $231 in Banja Luka – so Banja Luka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Bijeljina and $1,735 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Banja Luka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Bijeljina and $42.00 in Banja Luka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Banja Luka at $1,157. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bijeljina – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bijeljina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Banja Luka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.