Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Istočno Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Istočno Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Bijeljina vs $962 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,440 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,957 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,918 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

Bijeljina and Istočno Sarajevo have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Bijeljina and Istočno Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 28% lower, Istočno Sarajevo 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.90 BAM 15.00

$7.15 BAM 12.05

24.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 BAM 59.5

$35.34 BAM 59.5

-0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 BAM 8.41

$5.46 BAM 9.20

-8.61%

Cappuccino

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.79 BAM 3.01

-19.55%

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

$1.73 BAM 2.91

$2.00 BAM 3.37

-13.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 BAM 1.83

$1.40 BAM 2.36

-22.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 BAM 3.03

$2.40 BAM 4.04

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 BAM 4.01

$2.12 BAM 3.57

12.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 BAM 2.71

$1.41 BAM 2.38

14.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.34 BAM 2.26

-10.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.92

$2.09 BAM 3.52

-17.22%

Eggs

$3.10 BAM 5.23

$3.29 BAM 5.54

-5.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 BAM 13.45

$10.15 BAM 17.11

-21.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.05 BAM 13.56

$8.28 BAM 13.95

-2.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.53

$13.05 BAM 21.99

-6.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 BAM 2.82

$1.54 BAM 2.59

8.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$1.63 BAM 2.75

13.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 BAM 3.08

$1.72 BAM 2.89

6.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 BAM 4.51

$1.74 BAM 2.93

53.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 BAM 2.70

$1.08 BAM 1.82

48.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 BAM 2.48

$1.20 BAM 2.02

22.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 BAM 1.92

$0.99 BAM 1.67

15.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 BAM 1.12

$0.93 BAM 1.57

-27.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 BAM 6.28

$3.67 BAM 6.19

1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 BAM 15.19

$8.20 BAM 13.82

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BAM 1.42

$1.08 BAM 1.82

-22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BAM 2.45

$1.30 BAM 2.20

11.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 BAM 4.05

$1.83 BAM 3.08

31.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.94 BAM 30.23

$35.83 BAM 60.4

-49.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.44

$1.43 BAM 2.40

1.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 BAM 0.94

$0.78 BAM 1.31

-28.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.77 BAM 19.84

$10.61 BAM 17.87

10.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.38

$1.50 BAM 2.53

-6.00%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.2K

$23.1K BAM 39.0K

13.35%

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

$26.5K BAM 44.6K

$26.0K BAM 43.8K

1.80%

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

$141 BAM 237

$121 BAM 204

16.65%

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

$19.14 BAM 32.25

$18.94 BAM 31.91

1.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 BAM 41.91

$29.07 BAM 48.97

-14.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.66 BAM 51.7

$29.97 BAM 50.5

2.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.80 BAM 14.83

$11.02 BAM 18.57

-20.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 BAM 8.52

$5.62 BAM 9.47

-9.96%

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

$214 BAM 360

$154 BAM 259

39.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,300 BAM 5,560

$3,306 BAM 5,570

-0.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 BAM 98.7

$90.7 BAM 153

-35.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 BAM 44.99

$35.26 BAM 59.4

-24.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BAM 227

$98.2 BAM 165

37.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 208

$101 BAM 171

21.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 437

$219 BAM 369

18.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 BAM 282

$194 BAM 327

-13.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 624

$269 BAM 454

37.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 BAM 490

$217 BAM 365

34.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,891 BAM 3,185

$1,826 BAM 3,076

3.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 BAM 2,401

0.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$759 BAM 1,279

$725 BAM 1,221

4.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

57.89%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Bijeljina versus $219 in Istočno Sarajevo. 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 5% higher in Bijeljina. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Bijeljina versus $35.00 in Istočno Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $238 – making Bijeljina the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Istočno Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Bijeljina and $1,443 in Istočno Sarajevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Bijeljina – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $214 per month in Bijeljina and $154 in Istočno Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $963 in Bijeljina and $962 in Istočno Sarajevo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Istočno Sarajevo – 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 Istočno Sarajevo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bijeljina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.