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 $950 per month in Bijeljina vs $968 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,480 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,431 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,009 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,894 in Istočno Sarajevo, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 2% cheaper than Istočno Sarajevo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bijeljina and Istočno Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 31% lower, Istočno Sarajevo 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 BAM 15.01

$8.74 BAM 14.67

2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.22 BAM 60.8

$38.25 BAM 64.2

-5.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 BAM 8.20

$6.92 BAM 11.62

-29.48%

Cappuccino

$1.51 BAM 2.54

$1.80 BAM 3.02

-16.11%

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

$1.76 BAM 2.95

$2.13 BAM 3.57

-17.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.74

$1.46 BAM 2.45

-28.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 BAM 3.05

$2.31 BAM 3.87

-21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 BAM 4.11

$2.39 BAM 4.01

2.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 BAM 2.67

$1.50 BAM 2.52

6.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.12

$1.41 BAM 2.37

-10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 BAM 2.81

$2.27 BAM 3.82

-26.43%

Eggs

$3.11 BAM 5.23

$3.24 BAM 5.44

-4.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 BAM 13.37

$10.18 BAM 17.10

-21.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.08 BAM 13.57

$7.62 BAM 12.79

6.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.29 BAM 20.65

$13.47 BAM 22.62

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 BAM 2.77

$1.51 BAM 2.53

9.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 BAM 3.16

$1.76 BAM 2.95

6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 BAM 3.23

$1.74 BAM 2.92

10.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 BAM 4.64

$1.74 BAM 2.93

58.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.66

$1.05 BAM 1.76

50.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.20 BAM 2.01

22.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 BAM 1.97

$0.94 BAM 1.59

24.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 BAM 1.13

$0.97 BAM 1.63

-30.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 BAM 6.45

$4.08 BAM 6.85

-5.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 BAM 15.42

$8.17 BAM 13.72

12.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.53

$0.97 BAM 1.62

-6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BAM 2.44

$1.55 BAM 2.60

-6.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 BAM 4.08

$1.31 BAM 2.20

85.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.91 BAM 30.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.44

$1.51 BAM 2.54

-3.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 BAM 1.02

$1.10 BAM 1.85

-44.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.54 BAM 17.70

$10.53 BAM 17.68

0.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 BAM 2.43

$1.59 BAM 2.66

-8.81%

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

$30.3K BAM 51.0K

$30.6K BAM 51.4K

-0.85%

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

$21.9K BAM 36.8K

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

-2.26%

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

$144 BAM 241

$125 BAM 209

15.13%

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

$18.92 BAM 31.77

$19.02 BAM 31.94

-0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.93 BAM 41.86

$28.31 BAM 47.55

-11.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.82 BAM 51.8

$33.64 BAM 56.5

-8.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.71 BAM 14.62

$14.33 BAM 24.07

-39.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 BAM 8.30

$5.49 BAM 9.22

-10.02%

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

$215 BAM 361

$155 BAM 260

38.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,818 BAM 6,412

$4,013 BAM 6,740

-4.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 BAM 99.1

$90.1 BAM 151

-34.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.58 BAM 44.64

$35.37 BAM 59.4

-24.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 BAM 223

$92.1 BAM 155

44.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 BAM 211

$105 BAM 176

19.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 BAM 445

$218 BAM 367

21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 BAM 292

$195 BAM 328

-11.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 BAM 611

$271 BAM 455

34.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 BAM 498

$221 BAM 371

34.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,892 BAM 3,178

$1,798 BAM 3,020

5.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 BAM 2,341

$1,408 BAM 2,364

-0.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 BAM 1,298

$735 BAM 1,235

5.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

47.06%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: September 5, 2026

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $265 in Bijeljina versus $218 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, 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 $36.00 in Bijeljina versus $38.00 in Istočno Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $239 – 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: $950 in Bijeljina, $968 in Istočno Sarajevo – roughly 2% apart. Istočno Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Bijeljina and $1,452 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 $950 in Bijeljina and $968 in Istočno Sarajevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $215 per month in Bijeljina and $155 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 $950 in Bijeljina and $968 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.