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 $943 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $932 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,428 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,446 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Istočno Sarajevo vs $1,960 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Istočno Sarajevo costs about 1% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Istočno Sarajevo and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Istočno Sarajevo 29% lower, Bijeljina 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 BAM 12.07

$9.08 BAM 15.54

-22.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.79 BAM 59.6

$35.23 BAM 60.3

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 BAM 9.42

$5.07 BAM 8.68

8.48%

Cappuccino

$1.81 BAM 3.10

$1.49 BAM 2.55

21.48%

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

$2.07 BAM 3.55

$1.74 BAM 2.99

18.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 BAM 2.42

$1.05 BAM 1.79

34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 BAM 3.97

$1.81 BAM 3.10

28.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 BAM 3.61

$2.39 BAM 4.09

-11.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.57 BAM 2.69

-10.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 BAM 2.31

$1.26 BAM 2.16

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 BAM 3.69

$1.75 BAM 2.99

23.43%

Eggs

$3.17 BAM 5.43

$3.14 BAM 5.37

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 BAM 17.41

$7.71 BAM 13.20

31.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.31 BAM 14.24

$8.19 BAM 14.02

1.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.11 BAM 22.45

$12.18 BAM 20.85

7.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 BAM 2.54

$1.61 BAM 2.76

-8.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.78

$1.91 BAM 3.28

-14.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 BAM 3.07

$1.91 BAM 3.27

-6.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.96

$2.73 BAM 4.68

-36.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 BAM 1.86

$1.58 BAM 2.71

-31.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.46 BAM 2.50

-20.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 BAM 1.59

$1.18 BAM 2.03

-21.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 BAM 1.71

$0.66 BAM 1.14

51.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.75 BAM 6.42

$3.80 BAM 6.50

-1.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 BAM 13.60

$8.72 BAM 14.94

-8.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.86

$0.86 BAM 1.48

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 BAM 2.27

$1.51 BAM 2.58

-11.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 BAM 3.15

$2.38 BAM 4.07

-22.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.82 BAM 61.4

$17.85 BAM 30.57

100.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$1.51 BAM 2.59

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BAM 1.31

$0.57 BAM 0.97

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.56 BAM 18.09

$11.89 BAM 20.36

-11.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.70

$1.45 BAM 2.49

8.28%

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

$23.6K BAM 40.5K

$26.4K BAM 45.3K

-10.63%

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

$25.5K BAM 43.7K

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

-2.52%

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

$123 BAM 210

$144 BAM 246

-14.68%

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

$18.78 BAM 32.17

$18.99 BAM 32.52

-1.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.36 BAM 48.58

$24.13 BAM 41.33

17.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.91 BAM 49.51

$30.33 BAM 51.9

-4.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 BAM 18.51

$8.77 BAM 15.02

23.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 BAM 9.64

$4.87 BAM 8.35

15.61%

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

$154 BAM 265

$209 BAM 357

-25.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,321 BAM 5,688

$3,282 BAM 5,621

1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.0 BAM 158

$57.5 BAM 98.5

59.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.81 BAM 59.6

$26.84 BAM 45.96

29.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 BAM 168

$132 BAM 227

-25.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 BAM 177

$124 BAM 213

-17.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 BAM 378

$262 BAM 448

-15.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 BAM 332

$172 BAM 294

12.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 BAM 454

$366 BAM 626

-27.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 BAM 377

$293 BAM 501

-24.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,767 BAM 3,026

$1,847 BAM 3,164

-4.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,375 BAM 2,354

$1,370 BAM 2,347

0.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 BAM 1,256

$766 BAM 1,313

-4.28%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $221 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $262 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 4% 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 $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

Monthly costs with rent: $943 in Istočno Sarajevo, $932 in Bijeljina – roughly 1% apart. Istočno Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,415 per month in Istočno Sarajevo and $1,398 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 $943 in Istočno Sarajevo and $932 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $943 in Istočno Sarajevo and $932 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.