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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,266 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,444 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,911 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,958 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,556 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 26% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bijeljina and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 32% lower, Sarajevo 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.65 BAM 14.59

$8.71 BAM 14.69

-0.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.14 BAM 61.0

$41.99 BAM 70.8

-13.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.80 BAM 8.09

$9.12 BAM 15.39

-47.37%

Cappuccino

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$2.32 BAM 3.91

-36.64%

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

$1.80 BAM 3.04

$2.25 BAM 3.80

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.48 BAM 2.50

-27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 BAM 3.03

$2.94 BAM 4.96

-39.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 BAM 3.94

$2.96 BAM 4.98

-20.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 BAM 2.76

$1.27 BAM 2.14

29.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.12

$1.24 BAM 2.09

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 BAM 2.87

$2.22 BAM 3.75

-23.42%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.46

$3.26 BAM 5.50

-0.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 BAM 13.04

$10.85 BAM 18.30

-28.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 BAM 13.87

$7.87 BAM 13.28

4.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.30 BAM 20.74

$15.22 BAM 25.68

-19.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.55 BAM 2.61

5.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.14

$1.69 BAM 2.85

10.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 BAM 3.20

$1.74 BAM 2.93

9.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 BAM 4.66

$2.19 BAM 3.70

26.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 BAM 2.73

$1.05 BAM 1.77

54.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.46

$1.23 BAM 2.08

18.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 BAM 1.93

$1.11 BAM 1.87

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 BAM 1.14

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 BAM 6.38

$3.98 BAM 6.72

-5.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.73 BAM 14.73

$8.32 BAM 14.03

4.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BAM 1.56

$0.90 BAM 1.52

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 BAM 2.46

$1.50 BAM 2.54

-2.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 BAM 3.88

$1.31 BAM 2.22

75.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.09 BAM 30.51

$35.61 BAM 60.1

-49.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.55

$1.49 BAM 2.51

1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 BAM 1.02

$1.23 BAM 2.07

-50.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.59 BAM 17.86

$8.85 BAM 14.92

19.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 BAM 2.48

$1.70 BAM 2.86

-13.53%

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

$30.6K BAM 51.5K

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

-1.85%

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

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

0.12%

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

$144 BAM 243

$224 BAM 377

-35.62%

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

$19.07 BAM 32.17

$14.67 BAM 24.73

29.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.30 BAM 40.99

$28.33 BAM 47.79

-14.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.76 BAM 51.9

$41.45 BAM 69.9

-25.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.66 BAM 14.61

$20.34 BAM 34.31

-57.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 BAM 8.61

$7.06 BAM 11.90

-27.62%

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

$211 BAM 356

$216 BAM 364

-2.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,898 BAM 6,574

$3,961 BAM 6,680

-1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 BAM 98.6

$90.8 BAM 153

-35.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 BAM 44.34

$39.75 BAM 67.0

-33.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BAM 228

$95.6 BAM 161

41.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 BAM 207

$104 BAM 176

17.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 BAM 435

$475 BAM 802

-45.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 BAM 292

$323 BAM 545

-46.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 BAM 613

$1,076 BAM 1,815

-66.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 BAM 494

$603 BAM 1,017

-51.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,866 BAM 3,147

$3,397 BAM 5,728

-45.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,406 BAM 2,372

$2,491 BAM 4,201

-43.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$763 BAM 1,286

$1,089 BAM 1,836

-29.96%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Bijeljina versus $475 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 43% 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 $36.00 in Bijeljina versus $42.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $244 – 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: $931 in Bijeljina, $1,266 in Sarajevo – roughly 36% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Bijeljina and $1,899 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 $931 in Bijeljina and $1,266 in Sarajevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 97% 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 $931, than in Sarajevo at $1,266. 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 $931 in Bijeljina to $1,266 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.