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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $962 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,206 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,440 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,811 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $2,416 in Sarajevo.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 BAM 12.02

$7.21 BAM 12.11

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.34 BAM 59.4

$35.65 BAM 59.9

-0.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 BAM 9.17

$8.96 BAM 15.05

-39.06%

Cappuccino

$1.79 BAM 3.00

$2.04 BAM 3.42

-12.25%

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

$2.00 BAM 3.36

$2.01 BAM 3.38

-0.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 BAM 2.35

$1.42 BAM 2.38

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 BAM 4.02

$2.69 BAM 4.52

-10.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 BAM 3.56

$2.32 BAM 3.90

-8.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.38

$1.43 BAM 2.40

-1.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BAM 2.25

$1.21 BAM 2.03

10.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 BAM 3.51

$2.08 BAM 3.50

0.48%

Eggs

$3.29 BAM 5.53

$3.24 BAM 5.45

1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 BAM 17.06

$10.29 BAM 17.29

-1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.28 BAM 13.92

$8.86 BAM 14.88

-6.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 BAM 21.93

$13.44 BAM 22.58

-2.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 BAM 2.59

$1.55 BAM 2.60

-0.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.87 BAM 3.15

-12.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 BAM 2.89

$2.05 BAM 3.44

-16.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$2.29 BAM 3.84

-24.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 BAM 1.81

$1.12 BAM 1.88

-3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.01

$1.20 BAM 2.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 BAM 1.67

$1.22 BAM 2.06

-18.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BAM 1.57

$0.76 BAM 1.27

22.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 BAM 6.17

$3.76 BAM 6.33

-2.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 BAM 13.78

$8.33 BAM 13.99

-1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.04 BAM 1.75

3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 BAM 2.19

$1.31 BAM 2.21

-0.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 BAM 3.07

$1.08 BAM 1.82

69.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.83 BAM 60.2

$31.31 BAM 52.6

14.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.44 BAM 2.42

-0.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.30

$0.78 BAM 1.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.61 BAM 17.82

$9.08 BAM 15.25

16.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$1.52 BAM 2.55

-1.32%

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

$23.1K BAM 38.9K

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

-13.53%

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

$26.0K BAM 43.7K

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

0.32%

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

$121 BAM 203

$197 BAM 331

-38.62%

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

$18.94 BAM 31.82

$19.00 BAM 31.92

-0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.07 BAM 48.83

$33.37 BAM 56.1

-12.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 BAM 50.4

$35.64 BAM 59.9

-15.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.02 BAM 18.52

$16.44 BAM 27.62

-32.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 BAM 9.45

$6.94 BAM 11.67

-19.02%

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

$154 BAM 258

$255 BAM 428

-39.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,306 BAM 5,555

$3,323 BAM 5,583

-0.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.7 BAM 152

$91.3 BAM 153

-0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 BAM 59.2

$36.66 BAM 61.6

-3.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 BAM 165

$108 BAM 182

-9.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 170

$99.9 BAM 168

1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 BAM 368

$432 BAM 726

-49.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 BAM 326

$313 BAM 526

-38.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 BAM 452

$877 BAM 1,474

-69.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 BAM 364

$600 BAM 1,008

-63.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,826 BAM 3,068

$3,430 BAM 5,762

-46.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 BAM 2,394

$2,383 BAM 4,003

-40.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$725 BAM 1,218

$1,064 BAM 1,788

-31.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

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

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Istočno Sarajevo and $432 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 47% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Istočno Sarajevo vs $36.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $246 per month, with Istočno Sarajevo 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

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

Istočno Sarajevo and Sarajevo differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($962 vs $1,206 including rent). Istočno Sarajevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Sarajevo earns 47% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $219 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $432 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Sarajevo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Istočno Sarajevo – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $962 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,206 in Sarajevo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Istočno Sarajevo but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Istočno Sarajevo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Istočno Sarajevo 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 Istočno Sarajevo 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.