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: $968 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,241 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,431 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,920 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,894 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $2,598 in Sarajevo.

Living in Istočno Sarajevo costs roughly 22% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Istočno Sarajevo 30% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 BAM 14.67

$8.74 BAM 14.68

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.25 BAM 64.2

$40.93 BAM 68.7

-6.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 BAM 11.62

$8.77 BAM 14.72

-21.09%

Cappuccino

$1.80 BAM 3.02

$2.36 BAM 3.97

-23.73%

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

$2.13 BAM 3.57

$2.25 BAM 3.78

-5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 BAM 2.45

$1.53 BAM 2.57

-4.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 BAM 3.87

$2.98 BAM 5.01

-22.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.01

$2.93 BAM 4.92

-18.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$1.22 BAM 2.05

22.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$1.23 BAM 2.07

14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 BAM 3.82

$2.29 BAM 3.85

-0.87%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.44

$3.28 BAM 5.51

-1.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 BAM 17.10

$11.06 BAM 18.58

-7.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 BAM 12.79

$7.97 BAM 13.38

-4.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 BAM 22.62

$15.17 BAM 25.48

-11.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 BAM 2.53

$1.57 BAM 2.63

-3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BAM 2.95

$1.76 BAM 2.96

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.92

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-5.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$2.11 BAM 3.54

-17.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 BAM 1.76

$1.00 BAM 1.67

5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.01

$1.23 BAM 2.06

-2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 BAM 1.59

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-18.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BAM 1.63

$0.71 BAM 1.20

36.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 BAM 6.85

$4.06 BAM 6.81

0.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 BAM 13.72

$8.39 BAM 14.10

-2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 BAM 1.62

$0.92 BAM 1.54

5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 BAM 2.20

$1.28 BAM 2.16

2.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.13 BAM 60.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 BAM 2.54

$1.46 BAM 2.45

3.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 BAM 1.85

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.53 BAM 17.68

$9.17 BAM 15.39

14.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 BAM 2.66

$1.71 BAM 2.87

-7.02%

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

$30.6K BAM 51.4K

$31.1K BAM 52.2K

-1.54%

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

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

$24.5K BAM 41.1K

-8.52%

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

$125 BAM 209

$226 BAM 380

-44.88%

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

$19.02 BAM 31.94

$14.70 BAM 24.69

29.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.31 BAM 47.55

$28.66 BAM 48.14

-1.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.64 BAM 56.5

$41.96 BAM 70.5

-19.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.33 BAM 24.07

$20.15 BAM 33.85

-28.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 BAM 9.22

$6.92 BAM 11.62

-20.66%

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

$155 BAM 260

$218 BAM 367

-29.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,013 BAM 6,740

$4,055 BAM 6,811

-1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.1 BAM 151

$91.7 BAM 154

-1.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 BAM 59.4

$38.97 BAM 65.5

-9.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 BAM 155

$95.0 BAM 160

-3.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BAM 176

$104 BAM 174

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 BAM 367

$467 BAM 785

-53.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 BAM 328

$328 BAM 551

-40.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 BAM 455

$1,083 BAM 1,819

-75.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 BAM 371

$600 BAM 1,008

-63.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,798 BAM 3,020

$3,438 BAM 5,774

-47.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,408 BAM 2,364

$2,422 BAM 4,068

-41.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$735 BAM 1,235

$1,085 BAM 1,823

-32.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

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

Last update for Istočno Sarajevo: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Istočno Sarajevo and $467 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 48% 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: $38.00 in Istočno Sarajevo vs $41.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $245 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 28% in total monthly costs ($968 vs $1,241 including rent). Istočno Sarajevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Sarajevo. 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: $218 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $467 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $155 in Istočno Sarajevo 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 Istočno Sarajevo – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $41.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $968 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,241 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 28% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.