Cost of Living Comparison Between Foca and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Foca and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Foca versus $1,241 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,435 in Foca versus $1,920 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,873 in Foca versus $2,598 in Sarajevo.

Living in Foca costs roughly 20% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Foca 28% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 BAM 8.98

$8.74 BAM 14.68

-38.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.42 BAM 39.33

$40.93 BAM 68.7

-42.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 BAM 7.94

$8.77 BAM 14.72

-46.07%

Cappuccino

$1.59 BAM 2.67

$2.36 BAM 3.97

-32.63%

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

$1.38 BAM 2.31

$2.25 BAM 3.78

-38.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 BAM 1.44

$1.53 BAM 2.57

-43.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 BAM 3.04

$2.98 BAM 5.01

-39.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.02

$2.93 BAM 4.92

-18.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 BAM 2.04

$1.22 BAM 2.05

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 BAM 1.92

$1.23 BAM 2.07

-7.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$2.29 BAM 3.85

-28.82%

Eggs

$2.08 BAM 3.49

$3.28 BAM 5.51

-36.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 BAM 11.74

$11.06 BAM 18.58

-36.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 BAM 11.15

$7.97 BAM 13.38

-16.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 BAM 17.72

$15.17 BAM 25.48

-30.45%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 BAM 1.44

$1.57 BAM 2.63

-45.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$1.76 BAM 2.96

-1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 BAM 3.89

$1.85 BAM 3.11

24.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 BAM 2.95

$2.11 BAM 3.54

-16.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BAM 1.78

$1.00 BAM 1.67

6.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BAM 2.35

$1.23 BAM 2.06

13.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 BAM 1.99

$1.15 BAM 1.93

3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 BAM 1.60

$0.71 BAM 1.20

33.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 BAM 6.17

$4.06 BAM 6.81

-9.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.31 BAM 13.95

$8.39 BAM 14.10

-0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 BAM 1.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 BAM 1.96

$1.55 BAM 2.60

-24.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 BAM 2.28

$1.28 BAM 2.16

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.13 BAM 60.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 BAM 3.03

$1.46 BAM 2.45

23.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.96

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-52.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.52 BAM 29.43

$9.17 BAM 15.39

91.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.63

$1.71 BAM 2.87

-8.19%

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

$31.8K BAM 53.4K

$31.1K BAM 52.2K

2.34%

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

$22.2K BAM 37.3K

$24.5K BAM 41.1K

-9.41%

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

$163 BAM 273

$226 BAM 380

-28.03%

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

$16.91 BAM 28.40

$14.70 BAM 24.69

15.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.86 BAM 60.2

$28.66 BAM 48.14

25.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.81 BAM 56.8

$41.96 BAM 70.5

-19.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 BAM 33.85

Cinema Ticket

$6.08 BAM 10.22

$6.92 BAM 11.62

-12.14%

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

$306 BAM 514

$218 BAM 367

39.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,664 BAM 6,154

$4,055 BAM 6,811

-9.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.3 BAM 145

$91.7 BAM 154

-5.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.91 BAM 62.0

$38.97 BAM 65.5

-5.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 BAM 119

$95.0 BAM 160

-25.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 BAM 249

$104 BAM 174

42.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 BAM 265

$467 BAM 785

-66.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 435

$328 BAM 551

-20.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 BAM 903

$1,083 BAM 1,819

-50.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 BAM 637

$600 BAM 1,008

-36.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,488 BAM 4,179

$3,438 BAM 5,774

-27.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,854 BAM 3,113

$2,422 BAM 4,068

-23.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,085 BAM 1,823

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.08

8.82%

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

Last update for Foca: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $158 in Foca and $467 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Foca vs $41.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $245 per month, with Foca cheaper across the board.

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

Foca vs Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Foca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,494 in Foca and $1,862 in Sarajevo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $158 in Foca versus $467 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $306 in Foca versus $218 in Sarajevo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Foca – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $41.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $996 in Foca versus $1,241 in Sarajevo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Foca but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Foca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Foca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sarajevo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Foca and Sarajevo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Foca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.