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 $962 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $963 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,440 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,460 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,918 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,957 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Istočno Sarajevo and Bijeljina have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 BAM 12.05

$8.90 BAM 15.00

-19.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.34 BAM 59.5

$35.33 BAM 59.5

0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 BAM 9.20

$4.99 BAM 8.41

9.42%

Cappuccino

$1.79 BAM 3.01

$1.44 BAM 2.42

24.31%

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

$2.00 BAM 3.37

$1.73 BAM 2.91

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 BAM 2.36

$1.09 BAM 1.83

28.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 BAM 4.04

$1.80 BAM 3.03

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 BAM 3.57

$2.38 BAM 4.01

-10.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.38

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-12.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BAM 2.26

$1.20 BAM 2.02

11.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 BAM 3.52

$1.73 BAM 2.92

20.81%

Eggs

$3.29 BAM 5.54

$3.10 BAM 5.23

6.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 BAM 17.11

$7.98 BAM 13.45

27.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.28 BAM 13.95

$8.05 BAM 13.56

2.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 BAM 21.99

$12.18 BAM 20.53

7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 BAM 2.59

$1.67 BAM 2.82

-7.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.75

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-11.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 BAM 2.89

$1.83 BAM 3.08

-6.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$2.67 BAM 4.51

-34.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.60 BAM 2.70

-32.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.47 BAM 2.48

-18.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 BAM 1.67

$1.14 BAM 1.92

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BAM 1.57

$0.67 BAM 1.12

38.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 BAM 6.19

$3.73 BAM 6.28

-1.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 BAM 13.82

$9.02 BAM 15.19

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$0.84 BAM 1.42

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 BAM 2.20

$1.45 BAM 2.45

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 BAM 3.08

$2.41 BAM 4.05

-24.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.83 BAM 60.4

$17.94 BAM 30.23

99.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.45 BAM 2.44

-1.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$0.56 BAM 0.94

39.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.61 BAM 17.87

$11.77 BAM 19.84

-9.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BAM 2.53

$1.41 BAM 2.38

6.38%

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

$23.1K BAM 39.0K

$26.2K BAM 44.2K

-11.78%

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

$26.0K BAM 43.8K

$26.5K BAM 44.6K

-1.77%

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

$121 BAM 204

$141 BAM 237

-14.27%

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

$18.94 BAM 31.91

$19.14 BAM 32.25

-1.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.07 BAM 48.97

$24.88 BAM 41.91

16.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 BAM 50.5

$30.66 BAM 51.7

-2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.02 BAM 18.57

$8.80 BAM 14.83

25.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 BAM 9.47

$5.06 BAM 8.52

11.07%

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

$154 BAM 259

$214 BAM 360

-28.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,306 BAM 5,570

$3,300 BAM 5,560

0.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.7 BAM 153

$58.6 BAM 98.7

54.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 BAM 59.4

$26.71 BAM 44.99

32.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 BAM 165

$135 BAM 227

-27.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 171

$124 BAM 208

-17.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 BAM 369

$259 BAM 437

-15.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 BAM 327

$167 BAM 282

15.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 BAM 454

$370 BAM 624

-27.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 BAM 365

$291 BAM 490

-25.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,826 BAM 3,076

$1,891 BAM 3,185

-3.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 BAM 2,401

-0.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$725 BAM 1,221

$759 BAM 1,279

-4.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

-36.67%

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

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $219 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $259 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $35.00 in Bijeljina. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Istočno Sarajevo vs $234 in Bijeljina – so Bijeljina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,443 per month in Istočno Sarajevo and $1,444 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Istočno Sarajevo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Bijeljina – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Istočno Sarajevo and $214 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 $962 in Istočno Sarajevo and $963 in Bijeljina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Istočno Sarajevo – 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 Istočno Sarajevo. 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.