Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Zenica Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijeljina and Zenica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Bijeljina vs $875 in Zenica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,463 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,261 in Zenica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,976 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,646 in Zenica, rent included.

Bijeljina costs about 8% more than Zenica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bijeljina and Zenica are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina 29% lower, Zenica 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.83 BAM 14.74
$7.12 BAM 11.89
24.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.58 BAM 59.4
$18.91 BAM 31.58
88.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 BAM 8.30
$4.23 BAM 7.06
17.49%
Cappuccino
$1.49 BAM 2.49
$1.64 BAM 2.74
-9.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 BAM 3.04
$1.75 BAM 2.93
4.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 BAM 1.80
$1.20 BAM 2.00
-10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 BAM 3.03
$2.09 BAM 3.48
-13.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 BAM 4.04
$2.10 BAM 3.50
15.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 BAM 2.70
$1.21 BAM 2.03
33.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 BAM 2.01
$0.90 BAM 1.51
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 BAM 2.91
$1.81 BAM 3.02
-3.87%
Eggs
$3.25 BAM 5.43
$2.68 BAM 4.47
21.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.72 BAM 12.90
$7.93 BAM 13.24
-2.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 BAM 13.30
$7.30 BAM 12.19
9.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.20 BAM 20.37
$12.75 BAM 21.29
-4.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 BAM 2.67
$1.39 BAM 2.33
15.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 BAM 3.18
$1.70 BAM 2.85
11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 BAM 3.16
$1.59 BAM 2.65
18.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 BAM 4.64
$1.85 BAM 3.08
50.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 BAM 2.62
$0.99 BAM 1.66
58.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 BAM 2.36
$1.27 BAM 2.12
11.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 BAM 1.94
$0.60 BAM 1.01
93.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 BAM 1.04
$0.74 BAM 1.23
-16.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94 BAM 6.58
$3.46 BAM 5.78
13.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.12 BAM 15.23
$4.10 BAM 6.85
122.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 BAM 1.43
$0.86 BAM 1.44
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 BAM 2.49
$1.03 BAM 1.72
44.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 BAM 4.01
$0.90 BAM 1.50
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.84 BAM 29.80
$32.76 BAM 54.7
-45.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 BAM 2.51
$1.61 BAM 2.68
-6.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 BAM 0.93
$0.79 BAM 1.31
-29.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.70 BAM 19.54
$8.64 BAM 14.43
35.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 BAM 2.33
$1.49 BAM 2.48
-6.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K BAM 44.6K
$23.2K BAM 38.7K
15.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K BAM 44.5K
$26.5K BAM 44.2K
0.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 BAM 236
$168 BAM 280
-15.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.84 BAM 31.46
$18.90 BAM 31.56
-0.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 BAM 41.81
$24.73 BAM 41.31
1.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.92 BAM 51.6
$24.66 BAM 41.18
25.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.87 BAM 14.82
$14.80 BAM 24.72
-40.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.11 BAM 8.53
$4.59 BAM 7.67
11.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 BAM 347
$154 BAM 258
34.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,301 BAM 5,513
$3,285 BAM 5,485
0.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 BAM 95.8
$50.3 BAM 84.0
14.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.88 BAM 44.89
$31.04 BAM 51.8
-13.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 BAM 226
$95.2 BAM 159
42.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 BAM 204
$90.6 BAM 151
34.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 BAM 423
$198 BAM 331
27.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 BAM 288
$149 BAM 248
16.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$368 BAM 614
$273 BAM 455
34.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 BAM 502
$207 BAM 345
45.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,883 BAM 3,145
$1,645 BAM 2,748
14.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,385 BAM 2,312
$1,355 BAM 2,263
2.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bijeljina
Zenica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$774 BAM 1,292
$749 BAM 1,250
3.36%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zenica: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Bijeljina versus $198 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 3% 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 $36.00 in Bijeljina versus $19.00 in Zenica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $202 – making Zenica 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 Zenica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bijeljina and Zenica compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $950 in Bijeljina, $875 in Zenica – roughly 8% apart. Bijeljina costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bijeljina compared to Zenica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,424 per month in Bijeljina and $1,313 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 $950 in Bijeljina and $875 in Zenica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Bijeljina and Zenica?
Public transport costs about 84% less in Zenica. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $800 go in Bijeljina vs Zenica?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $950 in Bijeljina and $875 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.

Bijeljina vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities