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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Kakanj vs $1,206 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,439 per month in Kakanj vs $1,811 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,959 per month in Kakanj vs $2,416 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Kakanj is about 24% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kakanj and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Kakanj 31% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29 BAM 12.28
$7.21 BAM 12.15
1.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.74 BAM 60.2
$35.65 BAM 60.1
0.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 BAM 9.88
$8.96 BAM 15.10
-34.60%
Cappuccino
$1.65 BAM 2.78
$2.04 BAM 3.43
-19.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 BAM 2.92
$2.01 BAM 3.39
-13.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 BAM 1.94
$1.42 BAM 2.39
-19.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 BAM 3.41
$2.69 BAM 4.54
-24.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 BAM 3.57
$2.32 BAM 3.91
-8.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 BAM 2.30
$1.43 BAM 2.40
-4.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 BAM 2.10
$1.21 BAM 2.04
3.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 BAM 2.98
$2.08 BAM 3.51
-14.90%
Eggs
$2.87 BAM 4.83
$3.24 BAM 5.47
-11.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 BAM 13.37
$10.29 BAM 17.34
-22.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.68 BAM 12.95
$8.86 BAM 14.92
-13.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.86 BAM 19.98
$13.44 BAM 22.64
-11.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.43 BAM 2.41
$1.55 BAM 2.60
-7.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 BAM 2.73
$1.87 BAM 3.15
-13.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 BAM 3.20
$2.05 BAM 3.45
-7.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 BAM 2.92
$2.29 BAM 3.86
-24.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 BAM 1.81
$1.12 BAM 1.88
-4.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 BAM 2.04
$1.20 BAM 2.02
0.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 BAM 1.89
$1.22 BAM 2.06
-8.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 BAM 1.29
$0.76 BAM 1.28
1.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 BAM 6.00
$3.76 BAM 6.34
-5.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.74 BAM 11.36
$8.33 BAM 14.03
-19.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 BAM 1.45
$1.04 BAM 1.76
-17.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 BAM 2.07
$1.31 BAM 2.21
-6.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 BAM 3.11
$1.08 BAM 1.82
70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.26 BAM 59.4
$31.31 BAM 52.7
12.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.46 BAM 2.46
$1.44 BAM 2.42
1.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 BAM 1.39
$0.78 BAM 1.32
6.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.11 BAM 15.35
$9.08 BAM 15.29
0.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 BAM 2.57
$1.52 BAM 2.55
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K BAM 44.6K
$26.7K BAM 45.1K
-0.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K BAM 44.4K
$25.9K BAM 43.7K
1.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 BAM 266
$197 BAM 332
-19.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.52 BAM 31.20
$19.00 BAM 32.01
-2.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 BAM 40.18
$33.37 BAM 56.2
-28.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.56 BAM 49.80
$35.64 BAM 60.1
-17.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.72 BAM 18.05
$16.44 BAM 27.70
-34.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67 BAM 9.56
$6.94 BAM 11.70
-18.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$170 BAM 287
$255 BAM 429
-33.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,374 BAM 5,685
$3,323 BAM 5,599
1.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.4 BAM 117
$91.3 BAM 154
-24.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 BAM 59.4
$36.66 BAM 61.8
-3.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 BAM 149
$108 BAM 183
-18.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 BAM 197
$99.9 BAM 168
17.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 BAM 436
$432 BAM 728
-40.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 BAM 281
$313 BAM 527
-46.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$362 BAM 610
$877 BAM 1,478
-58.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 BAM 529
$600 BAM 1,011
-47.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,753 BAM 4,639
$3,430 BAM 5,779
-19.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,066 BAM 3,481
$2,383 BAM 4,014
-13.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kakanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,064 BAM 1,793
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
3.8
11.32%

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

Last update for Kakanj: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Kakanj versus $432 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 $36.00 in Kakanj versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $246 – 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 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,379 per month in Kakanj and $1,808 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 13% less in Kakanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $170 per month in Kakanj and $255 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 Kakanj or Sarajevo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. 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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