Cost of Living Comparison Between Kakanj and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kakanj and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $982 per month in Kakanj vs $1,241 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Kakanj vs $1,920 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,924 per month in Kakanj vs $2,598 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Kakanj is about 21% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kakanj and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Kakanj 29% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95 BAM 11.67
$8.74 BAM 14.68
-20.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93 BAM 65.4
$40.93 BAM 68.7
-4.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 BAM 11.90
$8.77 BAM 14.72
-19.16%
Cappuccino
$1.70 BAM 2.86
$2.36 BAM 3.97
-27.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 BAM 3.29
$2.25 BAM 3.78
-12.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 BAM 2.17
$1.53 BAM 2.57
-15.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 BAM 4.01
$2.98 BAM 5.01
-19.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 BAM 4.07
$2.93 BAM 4.92
-17.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 BAM 2.08
$1.22 BAM 2.05
1.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 BAM 1.90
$1.23 BAM 2.07
-8.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 BAM 3.58
$2.29 BAM 3.85
-6.99%
Eggs
$3.00 BAM 5.04
$3.28 BAM 5.51
-8.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.75 BAM 16.37
$11.06 BAM 18.58
-11.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.60 BAM 12.77
$7.97 BAM 13.38
-4.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 BAM 22.52
$15.17 BAM 25.48
-11.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 BAM 1.94
$1.57 BAM 2.63
-26.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 BAM 2.77
$1.76 BAM 2.96
-6.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 BAM 2.36
$1.85 BAM 3.11
-23.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 BAM 2.95
$2.11 BAM 3.54
-17.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 BAM 1.70
$1.00 BAM 1.67
1.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 BAM 1.78
$1.23 BAM 2.06
-13.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 BAM 1.69
$1.15 BAM 1.93
-12.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 BAM 1.28
$0.71 BAM 1.20
7.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94 BAM 6.62
$4.06 BAM 6.81
-2.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.92 BAM 13.30
$8.39 BAM 14.10
-5.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 BAM 1.54
$0.92 BAM 1.54
-1.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 BAM 2.27
$1.55 BAM 2.60
-12.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.31 BAM 2.19
$1.28 BAM 2.16
2.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$36.13 BAM 60.7
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 BAM 3.01
$1.46 BAM 2.45
22.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 BAM 0.96
$1.21 BAM 2.03
-52.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.83 BAM 18.19
$9.17 BAM 15.39
18.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 BAM 2.57
$1.71 BAM 2.87
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K BAM 53.8K
$31.1K BAM 52.2K
2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K BAM 37.6K
$24.5K BAM 41.1K
-8.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 BAM 206
$226 BAM 380
-45.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.85 BAM 28.30
$14.70 BAM 24.69
14.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.72 BAM 46.56
$28.66 BAM 48.14
-3.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.49 BAM 57.9
$41.96 BAM 70.5
-17.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.15 BAM 33.85
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.57 BAM 9.36
$6.92 BAM 11.62
-19.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 BAM 266
$218 BAM 367
-27.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,988 BAM 6,698
$4,055 BAM 6,811
-1.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.9 BAM 102
$91.7 BAM 154
-33.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.53 BAM 56.3
$38.97 BAM 65.5
-13.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 BAM 152
$95.0 BAM 160
-4.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 BAM 174
$104 BAM 174
-0.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 BAM 586
$467 BAM 785
-25.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 BAM 438
$328 BAM 551
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$533 BAM 895
$1,083 BAM 1,819
-50.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 BAM 641
$600 BAM 1,008
-36.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,576 BAM 4,327
$3,438 BAM 5,774
-25.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,846 BAM 3,100
$2,422 BAM 4,068
-23.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,085 BAM 1,823
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
4.08
5.39%

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

Last update for Kakanj: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Kakanj versus $467 in Sarajevo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Kakanj versus $41.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $245 – making Kakanj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kakanj vs Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sarajevo cheaper than Kakanj?
Yes – Sarajevo is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,473 per month in Kakanj and $1,862 in Sarajevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kakanj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kakanj and in Sarajevo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $982 in Kakanj and $1,241 in Sarajevo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Kakanj and $218 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kakanj or in Sarajevo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Sarajevo at $1,241. In Kakanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kakanj or Sarajevo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kakanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kakanj or Sarajevo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kakanj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarajevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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