Cost of Living Comparison Between Lome and Banja Luka Cost of Living Comparison Between Lome and Banja Luka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,049 per month in Lome vs $1,157 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Lome vs $1,687 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,954 per month in Lome vs $2,218 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Lome is about 9% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lome and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Lome 21% lower, Banja Luka 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 F CFA 1,248

$8.76 BAM 15.01

-75.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.09 F CFA 18.4K

$42.44 BAM 72.7

-24.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.16 F CFA 2,964

$8.89 BAM 15.22

-41.96%

Cappuccino

$5.62 F CFA 3,229

$1.64 BAM 2.80

242.68%

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,984

$2.02 BAM 3.45

71.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 636

$1.21 BAM 2.08

-8.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 F CFA 493

$2.03 BAM 3.48

-57.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 F CFA 1,034

$2.83 BAM 4.84

-36.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 F CFA 1,390

$1.37 BAM 2.34

76.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 F CFA 751

$1.29 BAM 2.21

1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 F CFA 1,037

$1.59 BAM 2.72

13.84%

Eggs

$2.06 F CFA 1,186

$2.99 BAM 5.12

-31.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 F CFA 8,128

$9.32 BAM 15.97

51.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 F CFA 4,711

$8.83 BAM 15.12

-7.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.37 F CFA 5,381

$12.25 BAM 20.98

-23.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 F CFA 1,532

$1.46 BAM 2.50

82.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 F CFA 819

$1.64 BAM 2.82

-12.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,506

$1.92 BAM 3.29

36.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 F CFA 1,447

$2.01 BAM 3.44

25.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 F CFA 1,033

$1.20 BAM 2.06

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 1,004

$1.24 BAM 2.13

41.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 F CFA 313

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-56.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 F CFA 497

$0.73 BAM 1.25

19.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.43 F CFA 821

$3.85 BAM 6.60

-62.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 F CFA 2,676

$8.37 BAM 14.33

-44.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 F CFA 794

$0.75 BAM 1.29

84.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 F CFA 901

$1.14 BAM 1.96

37.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 F CFA 194

$1.43 BAM 2.44

-76.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 F CFA 30.9K

$37.54 BAM 64.3

43.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 F CFA 1,173

$1.43 BAM 2.44

42.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 F CFA 421

$1.15 BAM 1.97

-36.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 F CFA 3,008

$8.77 BAM 15.03

-40.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 720

$1.48 BAM 2.54

-15.54%

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

$14.1K F CFA 8.1M

$29.1K BAM 49.8K

-51.44%

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

$25.8K F CFA 14.8M

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-2.85%

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

$178 F CFA 102.4K

$172 BAM 294

3.99%

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

$21.67 F CFA 12.4K

$18.77 BAM 32.15

15.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 F CFA 24.9K

$23.79 BAM 40.74

82.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

$28.49 BAM 48.80

71.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.73 F CFA 5,013

$9.94 BAM 17.02

-12.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 F CFA 2,465

$4.82 BAM 8.26

-11.00%

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

$173 F CFA 99.3K

$239 BAM 410

-27.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,151 F CFA 3.0M

$3,672 BAM 6,289

40.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.78 F CFA 14.2K

$73.7 BAM 126

-66.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.41 F CFA 15.7K

$37.10 BAM 63.5

-26.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.82 F CFA 23.4K

$88.1 BAM 151

-53.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 F CFA 55.2K

$123 BAM 211

-22.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 F CFA 208.6K

$459 BAM 786

-20.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 F CFA 126.6K

$325 BAM 557

-32.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 F CFA 434.6K

$639 BAM 1,095

18.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 F CFA 173.4K

$467 BAM 800

-35.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,982 BAM 5,107

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,925 BAM 3,297

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 F CFA 149.9K

$893 BAM 1,529

-70.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

59.36%

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

Last update for Lome: July 13, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Lome versus $459 in Banja Luka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 242% higher in Banja Luka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Lome versus $42.00 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Lome vs $231 in Banja Luka – so Banja Luka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Lome vs Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,574 per month in Lome and $1,735 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lome, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Banja Luka – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Lome and $42.00 in Banja Luka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lome, where all-in costs run around $1,049, than in Banja Luka at $1,157. In Lome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lome – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Banja Luka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.