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 $932 per month in Bijeljina vs $943 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,428 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,913 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 1% cheaper than Istočno Sarajevo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bijeljina and Istočno Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 30% lower, Istočno Sarajevo 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.08 BAM 15.54

$7.05 BAM 12.07

28.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.23 BAM 60.3

$34.79 BAM 59.6

1.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 BAM 8.68

$5.50 BAM 9.42

-7.82%

Cappuccino

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.81 BAM 3.10

-17.68%

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

$1.74 BAM 2.99

$2.07 BAM 3.55

-15.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.79

$1.41 BAM 2.42

-25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 BAM 3.10

$2.32 BAM 3.97

-21.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.09

$2.11 BAM 3.61

13.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$1.41 BAM 2.41

11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.16

$1.35 BAM 2.31

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.99

$2.16 BAM 3.69

-18.98%

Eggs

$3.14 BAM 5.37

$3.17 BAM 5.43

-0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 BAM 13.20

$10.16 BAM 17.41

-24.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.19 BAM 14.02

$8.31 BAM 14.24

-1.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.85

$13.11 BAM 22.45

-7.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.76

$1.48 BAM 2.54

8.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.28

$1.63 BAM 2.78

17.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.27

$1.79 BAM 3.07

6.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BAM 4.68

$1.73 BAM 2.96

57.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.71

$1.09 BAM 1.86

44.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.50

$1.16 BAM 1.98

25.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BAM 2.03

$0.93 BAM 1.59

26.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BAM 1.14

$1.00 BAM 1.71

-34.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.80 BAM 6.50

$3.75 BAM 6.42

1.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 BAM 14.94

$7.94 BAM 13.60

9.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.48

$1.08 BAM 1.86

-20.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$1.33 BAM 2.27

13.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 BAM 4.07

$1.84 BAM 3.15

29.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.85 BAM 30.57

$35.82 BAM 61.4

-50.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.59

$1.49 BAM 2.56

1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$0.76 BAM 1.31

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.89 BAM 20.36

$10.56 BAM 18.09

12.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 BAM 2.49

$1.57 BAM 2.70

-7.64%

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

$26.4K BAM 45.3K

$23.6K BAM 40.5K

11.89%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

$25.5K BAM 43.7K

2.58%

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

$144 BAM 246

$123 BAM 210

17.21%

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

$18.99 BAM 32.52

$18.78 BAM 32.17

1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.13 BAM 41.33

$28.36 BAM 48.58

-14.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.33 BAM 51.9

$28.91 BAM 49.51

4.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.77 BAM 15.02

$10.81 BAM 18.51

-18.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 BAM 8.35

$5.63 BAM 9.64

-13.50%

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

$209 BAM 357

$154 BAM 265

35.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,282 BAM 5,621

$3,321 BAM 5,688

-1.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 BAM 98.5

$92.0 BAM 158

-37.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.84 BAM 45.96

$34.81 BAM 59.6

-22.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 BAM 227

$98.2 BAM 168

34.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 213

$103 BAM 177

20.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 448

$221 BAM 378

18.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 BAM 294

$194 BAM 332

-11.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 BAM 626

$265 BAM 454

37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 BAM 501

$220 BAM 377

32.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,847 BAM 3,164

$1,767 BAM 3,026

4.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,370 BAM 2,347

$1,375 BAM 2,354

-0.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 BAM 1,313

$734 BAM 1,256

4.47%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Bijeljina versus $221 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 4% higher in Bijeljina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Bijeljina, $943 in Istočno Sarajevo – roughly 1% apart. Istočno Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Bijeljina and $1,415 in Istočno Sarajevo. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Bijeljina and $943 in Istočno Sarajevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $932 in Bijeljina and $943 in Istočno Sarajevo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Istočno Sarajevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.