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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,206 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,811 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,957 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,416 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Bijeljina is about 20% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bijeljina and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 28% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.90 BAM 14.96

$7.21 BAM 12.11

23.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 BAM 59.4

$35.65 BAM 59.9

-0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 BAM 8.39

$8.96 BAM 15.05

-44.31%

Cappuccino

$1.44 BAM 2.41

$2.04 BAM 3.42

-29.41%

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

$1.73 BAM 2.90

$2.01 BAM 3.38

-13.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 BAM 1.83

$1.42 BAM 2.38

-23.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 BAM 3.02

$2.69 BAM 4.52

-33.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 BAM 3.99

$2.32 BAM 3.90

2.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 BAM 2.71

$1.43 BAM 2.40

12.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.91

$2.08 BAM 3.50

-16.83%

Eggs

$3.10 BAM 5.21

$3.24 BAM 5.45

-4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 BAM 13.41

$10.29 BAM 17.29

-22.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.05 BAM 13.52

$8.86 BAM 14.88

-9.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 BAM 20.47

$13.44 BAM 22.58

-9.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 BAM 2.81

$1.55 BAM 2.60

7.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 BAM 3.10

$1.87 BAM 3.15

-1.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 BAM 3.07

$2.05 BAM 3.44

-10.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 BAM 4.49

$2.29 BAM 3.84

16.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 BAM 2.69

$1.12 BAM 1.88

42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.20 BAM 2.02

22.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 BAM 1.91

$1.22 BAM 2.06

-6.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 BAM 1.12

$0.76 BAM 1.27

-11.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.73 BAM 6.27

$3.76 BAM 6.33

-0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 BAM 15.15

$8.33 BAM 13.99

8.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BAM 1.42

$1.04 BAM 1.75

-19.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BAM 2.44

$1.31 BAM 2.21

10.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 BAM 4.04

$1.08 BAM 1.82

123.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.94 BAM 30.15

$31.31 BAM 52.6

-42.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.43

$1.44 BAM 2.42

0.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 BAM 0.93

$0.78 BAM 1.31

-28.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.77 BAM 19.78

$9.08 BAM 15.25

29.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$1.52 BAM 2.55

-7.24%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

-1.99%

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

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

2.12%

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

$141 BAM 237

$197 BAM 331

-28.40%

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

$19.14 BAM 32.16

$19.00 BAM 31.92

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 BAM 41.79

$33.37 BAM 56.1

-25.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.66 BAM 51.5

$35.64 BAM 59.9

-13.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.80 BAM 14.78

$16.44 BAM 27.62

-46.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 BAM 8.50

$6.94 BAM 11.67

-27.09%

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

$214 BAM 359

$255 BAM 428

-15.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,300 BAM 5,544

$3,323 BAM 5,583

-0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 BAM 98.4

$91.3 BAM 153

-35.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.71 BAM 44.87

$36.66 BAM 61.6

-27.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BAM 227

$108 BAM 182

24.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 BAM 208

$99.9 BAM 168

23.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 436

$432 BAM 726

-39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 BAM 281

$313 BAM 526

-46.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 622

$877 BAM 1,474

-57.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 BAM 488

$600 BAM 1,008

-51.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,891 BAM 3,177

$3,430 BAM 5,762

-44.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 BAM 2,394

$2,383 BAM 4,003

-40.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$759 BAM 1,276

$1,064 BAM 1,788

-28.65%

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 Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Bijeljina versus $432 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 40% 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: $963 in Bijeljina, $1,206 in Sarajevo – roughly 25% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Bijeljina and $1,808 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 $963 in Bijeljina and $1,206 in Sarajevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 75% 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 $963, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. 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 $963 in Bijeljina to $1,206 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.