Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Zenica

For one person, living is cheaper in Zenica: $850 a month against $910 in Bijeljina, rent and utilities included – about $720 less a year. The total is higher in Bijeljina despite lower rent and utilities.

Bijeljina
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$910
/mo nomad
Zenica
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$850
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bijeljina and in Zenica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bijeljina and in Zenica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $910 per month in Bijeljina vs $850 in Zenica, rent included.

  • Bijeljina $910
  • Zenica $850

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,245 in Zenica, rent included.

  • Bijeljina $1,411
  • Zenica $1,245

A family of three spends $1,911 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,639 in Zenica, rent included.

  • Bijeljina $1,911
  • Zenica $1,639

Bijeljina costs about 7% more than Zenica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Bijeljina and Zenica are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 33% lower, Zenica 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.33 BAM 14.49
$6.98 BAM 12.14
19.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.75 BAM 58.7
$18.26 BAM 31.76
84.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.70 BAM 8.17
$4.09 BAM 7.11
14.91%
Cappuccino
$1.46 BAM 2.55
$1.59 BAM 2.77
-8.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 BAM 3.03
$1.69 BAM 2.95
2.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 BAM 1.83
$1.23 BAM 2.15
-14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 BAM 3.03
$1.99 BAM 3.46
-12.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 BAM 4.03
$2.01 BAM 3.50
15.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 BAM 2.60
$1.27 BAM 2.22
17.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 BAM 2.02
$0.94 BAM 1.64
23.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 BAM 2.85
$1.73 BAM 3.00
-5.20%
Eggs
$3.14 BAM 5.47
$2.70 BAM 4.70
16.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.66 BAM 13.32
$7.58 BAM 13.18
1.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 BAM 13.89
$7.07 BAM 12.29
13.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.56 BAM 20.11
$12.55 BAM 21.82
-7.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 BAM 2.80
$1.35 BAM 2.35
19.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 BAM 3.21
$1.59 BAM 2.77
15.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 BAM 3.07
$1.55 BAM 2.70
14.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 BAM 4.69
$1.76 BAM 3.06
53.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 BAM 2.66
$1.01 BAM 1.76
51.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 BAM 2.45
$1.22 BAM 2.13
15.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 BAM 1.98
$0.58 BAM 1.01
96.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 BAM 1.07
$0.70 BAM 1.22
-12.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85 BAM 6.69
$3.35 BAM 5.83
14.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.45 BAM 14.70
$5.58 BAM 9.71
51.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 BAM 1.43
$0.85 BAM 1.47
-3.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 BAM 2.54
$0.99 BAM 1.73
47.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 BAM 3.93
$0.90 BAM 1.56
151.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.43 BAM 30.31
$31.58 BAM 54.9
-44.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.45 BAM 2.53
$1.54 BAM 2.68
-5.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 BAM 0.95
$0.87 BAM 1.51
-37.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.45 BAM 18.17
$8.73 BAM 15.18
19.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 BAM 2.58
$1.50 BAM 2.60
-1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K BAM 47.2K
$30.7K BAM 53.3K
-11.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K BAM 35.6K
$21.7K BAM 37.7K
-5.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 BAM 242
$161 BAM 280
-13.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.30 BAM 31.82
$18.28 BAM 31.79
0.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.35 BAM 40.60
$23.97 BAM 41.68
-2.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.77 BAM 51.8
$24.06 BAM 41.83
23.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.45 BAM 14.70
$14.24 BAM 24.76
-40.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.80 BAM 8.35
$4.50 BAM 7.83
6.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 BAM 349
$134 BAM 234
49.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,009 BAM 6,972
$3,848 BAM 6,691
4.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 BAM 99.1
$50.4 BAM 87.6
13.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.07 BAM 45.33
$30.31 BAM 52.7
-13.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 BAM 221
$92.8 BAM 161
36.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 BAM 206
$86.9 BAM 151
36.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$250 BAM 435
$191 BAM 333
30.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 BAM 283
$142 BAM 247
14.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 BAM 607
$267 BAM 465
30.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 BAM 488
$200 BAM 347
40.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,803 BAM 3,135
$1,584 BAM 2,754
13.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,339 BAM 2,329
$1,280 BAM 2,227
4.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$750 BAM 1,304
$653 BAM 1,136
14.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
3
100.00%

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

Last update for Bijeljina: October 10, 2026

Last update for Zenica: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bijeljina
$226
Zenica
$201 11.3% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijeljina
$181
Zenica
$203 12.4% $22
Accommodation & Living
Bijeljina
$163
Zenica
$142 12.7% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Bijeljina
$148
Zenica
$117 20.7% $31
Eating Out
Bijeljina
$123
Zenica
$113 8.1% $9.9
Sport & Entertainment
Bijeljina
$39
Zenica
$33 16% $6.3
Getting Around
Bijeljina
$31
Zenica
$41 34% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Bijeljina versus $191 in Zenica. 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 15% higher in Bijeljina, 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 $34.00 in Bijeljina versus $18.00 in Zenica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $201 – making Zenica the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇦 Bijeljina
🇧🇦 Zenica
🕒 Local time
06:20 6:20 AM
06:20 6:20 AM
Same time as Bijeljina
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,278
70,533
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BAM – Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark Converter

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bijeljina Zenica 120 km
From you
  • Bijeljina
  • Zenica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Zenica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bijeljina and in Zenica compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $910 in Bijeljina, $850 in Zenica – roughly 7% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Bijeljina compared to Zenica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,366 per month in Bijeljina and $1,275 in Zenica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bijeljina and Zenica?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zenica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bijeljina or Zenica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $910 in Bijeljina and $850 in Zenica. That's a gap of about 7%.
How do commuting costs compare in Bijeljina and in Zenica?
Public transport costs about 81% less in Zenica. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $800 go in Bijeljina compared to Zenica?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $910 in Bijeljina and $850 in Zenica, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Bijeljina or Zenica?
Families tend to lean toward Zenica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Bijeljina or Zenica safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bijeljina and Zenica?
If budget matters most, go with Zenica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bijeljina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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