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: $943 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,176 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,784 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,913 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $2,393 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 29% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.05 BAM 12.06

$7.14 BAM 12.21

-1.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.79 BAM 59.5

$35.96 BAM 61.5

-3.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 BAM 9.41

$8.80 BAM 15.05

-37.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 BAM 3.10

$2.07 BAM 3.54

-12.56%

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

$2.07 BAM 3.54

$2.02 BAM 3.45

2.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 BAM 2.42

$1.39 BAM 2.38

1.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 BAM 3.97

$2.73 BAM 4.67

-15.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 BAM 3.60

$2.39 BAM 4.09

-11.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 BAM 2.31

$1.21 BAM 2.07

11.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 BAM 3.69

$2.04 BAM 3.49

5.88%

Eggs

$3.17 BAM 5.42

$3.25 BAM 5.56

-2.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 BAM 17.38

$10.46 BAM 17.90

-2.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.31 BAM 14.22

$8.84 BAM 15.12

-6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.11 BAM 22.42

$13.24 BAM 22.64

-0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 BAM 2.53

$1.55 BAM 2.65

-4.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.78

$1.86 BAM 3.18

-12.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 BAM 3.06

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-13.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.95

$2.30 BAM 3.94

-24.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 BAM 1.86

$1.12 BAM 1.92

-2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.21 BAM 2.08

-4.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 BAM 1.58

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-26.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 BAM 1.71

$0.81 BAM 1.38

23.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.75 BAM 6.41

$3.77 BAM 6.44

-0.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 BAM 13.58

$8.00 BAM 13.68

-0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.85

$1.05 BAM 1.80

2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 BAM 2.27

$1.28 BAM 2.19

3.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 BAM 3.14

$1.03 BAM 1.76

78.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.82 BAM 61.3

$31.73 BAM 54.3

12.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.49 BAM 2.56

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 BAM 1.30

$0.77 BAM 1.32

-1.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.56 BAM 18.06

$8.63 BAM 14.76

22.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$1.49 BAM 2.55

5.37%

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

$23.6K BAM 40.4K

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-11.13%

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

$25.5K BAM 43.6K

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

-1.26%

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

$123 BAM 210

$202 BAM 346

-39.37%

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

$18.78 BAM 32.12

$19.03 BAM 32.55

-1.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.36 BAM 48.51

$32.94 BAM 56.3

-13.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.91 BAM 49.44

$35.14 BAM 60.1

-17.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 BAM 18.48

$16.26 BAM 27.81

-33.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 BAM 9.63

$7.20 BAM 12.31

-21.81%

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

$154 BAM 264

$258 BAM 441

-40.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,321 BAM 5,680

$3,394 BAM 5,805

-2.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.0 BAM 157

$91.6 BAM 157

0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.81 BAM 59.5

$37.77 BAM 64.6

-7.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 BAM 168

$108 BAM 184

-8.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 BAM 176

$101 BAM 172

2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 BAM 377

$436 BAM 746

-49.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 BAM 332

$303 BAM 519

-36.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 BAM 453

$892 BAM 1,525

-70.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 BAM 377

$580 BAM 992

-62.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,767 BAM 3,022

$3,245 BAM 5,551

-45.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,375 BAM 2,351

$2,315 BAM 3,959

-40.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 BAM 1,255

$1,042 BAM 1,781

-29.57%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $221 in Istočno Sarajevo and $436 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 42% 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 ($943 vs $1,176 including rent). Istočno Sarajevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 42% 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: $221 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $436 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 $943 in Istočno Sarajevo versus $1,176 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.