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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,176 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,784 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,393 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 21% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bijeljina and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 30% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.08 BAM 15.51

$7.14 BAM 12.19

27.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.23 BAM 60.2

$35.96 BAM 61.4

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 BAM 8.66

$8.80 BAM 15.03

-42.39%

Cappuccino

$1.49 BAM 2.54

$2.07 BAM 3.54

-28.02%

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

$1.74 BAM 2.98

$2.02 BAM 3.45

-13.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.79

$1.39 BAM 2.38

-24.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 BAM 3.09

$2.73 BAM 4.66

-33.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.08

$2.39 BAM 4.09

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$1.41 BAM 2.41

11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.16

$1.21 BAM 2.07

4.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.98

$2.04 BAM 3.49

-14.22%

Eggs

$3.14 BAM 5.36

$3.25 BAM 5.55

-3.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 BAM 13.16

$10.46 BAM 17.88

-26.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.19 BAM 13.99

$8.84 BAM 15.11

-7.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.80

$13.24 BAM 22.61

-8.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.75

$1.55 BAM 2.64

3.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.27

$1.86 BAM 3.18

2.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.26

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-8.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$2.30 BAM 3.94

18.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.70

$1.12 BAM 1.92

41.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.50

$1.21 BAM 2.07

20.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BAM 2.02

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-7.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 BAM 1.14

$0.81 BAM 1.38

-18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.80 BAM 6.49

$3.77 BAM 6.43

0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 BAM 14.91

$8.00 BAM 13.67

9.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.47

$1.05 BAM 1.80

-18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$1.28 BAM 2.18

17.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 BAM 4.06

$1.03 BAM 1.76

131.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.85 BAM 30.49

$31.73 BAM 54.2

-43.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.58

$1.49 BAM 2.55

1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$0.77 BAM 1.32

-25.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.89 BAM 20.31

$8.63 BAM 14.75

37.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 BAM 2.48

$1.49 BAM 2.54

-2.68%

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

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

$26.6K BAM 45.4K

-0.56%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.7K

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

1.29%

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

$144 BAM 245

$202 BAM 345

-28.93%

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

$18.99 BAM 32.44

$19.03 BAM 32.52

-0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.13 BAM 41.23

$32.94 BAM 56.3

-26.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.33 BAM 51.8

$35.14 BAM 60.0

-13.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.77 BAM 14.99

$16.26 BAM 27.78

-46.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 BAM 8.33

$7.20 BAM 12.30

-32.36%

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

$209 BAM 356

$258 BAM 441

-19.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,282 BAM 5,607

$3,394 BAM 5,799

-3.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 BAM 98.3

$91.6 BAM 156

-37.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.84 BAM 45.85

$37.77 BAM 64.5

-28.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 BAM 226

$108 BAM 184

23.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 213

$101 BAM 172

23.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 447

$436 BAM 745

-39.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 BAM 293

$303 BAM 518

-43.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 BAM 625

$892 BAM 1,524

-59.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 BAM 500

$580 BAM 991

-49.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,847 BAM 3,156

$3,245 BAM 5,545

-43.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,370 BAM 2,341

$2,315 BAM 3,955

-40.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 BAM 1,309

$1,042 BAM 1,779

-26.42%

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 Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Bijeljina versus $436 in 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 36% higher in Sarajevo, 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 $36.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $246 – 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 Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Bijeljina, $1,176 in Sarajevo – roughly 26% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Bijeljina and $1,764 in 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 $1,176 in Sarajevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 78% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sarajevo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Bijeljina to $1,176 in Sarajevo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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