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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $950 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,431 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,480 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,894 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $2,009 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Istočno Sarajevo costs about 2% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Istočno Sarajevo and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Istočno Sarajevo 30% lower, Bijeljina 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 BAM 14.67

$8.94 BAM 15.01

-2.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.25 BAM 64.2

$36.22 BAM 60.8

5.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 BAM 11.62

$4.88 BAM 8.20

41.80%

Cappuccino

$1.80 BAM 3.02

$1.51 BAM 2.54

19.21%

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

$2.13 BAM 3.57

$1.76 BAM 2.95

21.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 BAM 2.45

$1.04 BAM 1.74

40.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 BAM 3.87

$1.82 BAM 3.05

26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.01

$2.45 BAM 4.11

-2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$1.59 BAM 2.67

-5.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$1.26 BAM 2.12

11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 BAM 3.82

$1.67 BAM 2.81

35.93%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.44

$3.11 BAM 5.23

4.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 BAM 17.10

$7.96 BAM 13.37

27.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 BAM 12.79

$8.08 BAM 13.57

-5.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 BAM 22.62

$12.29 BAM 20.65

9.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 BAM 2.53

$1.65 BAM 2.77

-8.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BAM 2.95

$1.88 BAM 3.16

-6.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$1.92 BAM 3.23

-9.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$2.76 BAM 4.64

-36.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 BAM 1.76

$1.58 BAM 2.66

-33.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.01

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-18.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 BAM 1.59

$1.17 BAM 1.97

-19.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BAM 1.63

$0.67 BAM 1.13

44.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 BAM 6.85

$3.84 BAM 6.45

6.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 BAM 13.72

$9.18 BAM 15.42

-11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BAM 1.62

$0.91 BAM 1.53

6.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.45 BAM 2.44

6.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 BAM 2.20

$2.43 BAM 4.08

-46.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.91 BAM 30.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.54

$1.45 BAM 2.44

4.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 BAM 1.85

$0.61 BAM 1.02

80.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 BAM 17.68

$10.54 BAM 17.70

-0.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 BAM 2.66

$1.45 BAM 2.43

9.66%

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

$30.6K BAM 51.4K

$30.3K BAM 51.0K

0.86%

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

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

$21.9K BAM 36.8K

2.32%

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

$125 BAM 209

$144 BAM 241

-13.14%

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

$19.02 BAM 31.94

$18.92 BAM 31.77

0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.31 BAM 47.55

$24.93 BAM 41.86

13.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.64 BAM 56.5

$30.82 BAM 51.8

9.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 BAM 24.07

$8.71 BAM 14.62

64.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 BAM 9.22

$4.94 BAM 8.30

11.13%

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

$155 BAM 260

$215 BAM 361

-27.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,013 BAM 6,740

$3,818 BAM 6,412

5.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.1 BAM 151

$59.0 BAM 99.1

52.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 BAM 59.4

$26.58 BAM 44.64

33.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 BAM 155

$133 BAM 223

-30.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BAM 176

$125 BAM 211

-16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 BAM 367

$265 BAM 445

-17.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 BAM 328

$174 BAM 292

12.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 BAM 455

$364 BAM 611

-25.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 BAM 371

$297 BAM 498

-25.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,798 BAM 3,020

$1,892 BAM 3,178

-5.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,408 BAM 2,364

$1,394 BAM 2,341

0.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$735 BAM 1,235

$773 BAM 1,298

-4.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

-32.00%

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

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $265 in Bijeljina. 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 5% higher in Bijeljina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $236 – 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

Istočno Sarajevo vs Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $968 in Istočno Sarajevo, $950 in Bijeljina – roughly 2% apart. Istočno Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Istočno Sarajevo and $1,426 in Bijeljina. 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 $968 in Istočno Sarajevo and $950 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $155 per month in Istočno Sarajevo and $215 in Bijeljina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $968 in Istočno Sarajevo and $950 in Bijeljina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bijeljina – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Istočno Sarajevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.