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 $1,047 per month in Lome vs $1,133 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,533 per month in Lome vs $1,675 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,020 per month in Lome vs $2,217 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Lome is about 8% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lome and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Lome 22% lower, Banja Luka 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 F CFA 1,216

$8.90 BAM 14.97

-75.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.22 F CFA 17.6K

$41.26 BAM 69.4

-24.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 F CFA 3,036

$8.70 BAM 14.63

-38.16%

Cappuccino

$5.61 F CFA 3,168

$1.63 BAM 2.75

244.17%

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

$3.46 F CFA 1,953

$1.99 BAM 3.34

73.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 F CFA 627

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-3.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 F CFA 477

$2.02 BAM 3.41

-58.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 F CFA 964

$2.72 BAM 4.57

-37.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.48 F CFA 1,397

$1.36 BAM 2.29

82.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 F CFA 748

$1.25 BAM 2.10

6.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 F CFA 1,035

$1.57 BAM 2.65

16.56%

Eggs

$2.10 F CFA 1,184

$2.88 BAM 4.84

-27.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.13 F CFA 7,975

$9.25 BAM 15.56

52.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 F CFA 4,748

$8.71 BAM 14.66

-3.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,326

$12.26 BAM 20.62

-23.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 F CFA 1,530

$1.40 BAM 2.35

93.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 F CFA 845

$1.65 BAM 2.77

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

$1.93 BAM 3.25

35.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 F CFA 1,402

$2.03 BAM 3.42

22.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 F CFA 1,012

$1.25 BAM 2.10

43.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 F CFA 981

$1.26 BAM 2.12

38.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 F CFA 284

$1.28 BAM 2.16

-60.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 F CFA 482

$0.77 BAM 1.29

10.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.44 F CFA 815

$3.72 BAM 6.26

-61.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 F CFA 2,748

$8.36 BAM 14.06

-41.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 F CFA 749

$0.74 BAM 1.25

79.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 F CFA 855

$1.10 BAM 1.84

37.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 204

$1.36 BAM 2.29

-73.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 F CFA 30.1K

$36.41 BAM 61.3

46.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 F CFA 1,203

$1.49 BAM 2.50

42.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 F CFA 389

$1.10 BAM 1.85

-37.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 F CFA 2,938

$8.94 BAM 15.04

-41.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 F CFA 704

$1.46 BAM 2.45

-14.38%

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

$14.1K F CFA 7.9M

$28.4K BAM 47.8K

-50.47%

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

$26.0K F CFA 14.7M

$26.9K BAM 45.3K

-3.56%

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

$173 F CFA 97.5K

$174 BAM 292

-0.52%

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

$21.89 F CFA 12.4K

$19.29 BAM 32.46

13.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.32 F CFA 25.0K

$23.24 BAM 39.11

90.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.54 F CFA 28.0K

$27.95 BAM 47.03

77.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.63 F CFA 4,871

$9.92 BAM 16.69

-13.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 F CFA 2,444

$4.69 BAM 7.90

-7.68%

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

$177 F CFA 99.9K

$238 BAM 400

-25.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,103 F CFA 2.9M

$3,758 BAM 6,323

35.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.39 F CFA 13.8K

$74.5 BAM 125

-67.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.26 F CFA 15.4K

$36.14 BAM 60.8

-24.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.14 F CFA 23.8K

$88.9 BAM 150

-52.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 F CFA 53.0K

$124 BAM 208

-23.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 F CFA 202.9K

$465 BAM 782

-22.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 F CFA 126.2K

$322 BAM 543

-30.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$765 F CFA 431.8K

$646 BAM 1,087

18.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 F CFA 169.0K

$477 BAM 803

-37.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,163 BAM 5,322

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,023 BAM 3,404

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 F CFA 150.6K

$901 BAM 1,516

-70.40%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Lome versus $465 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 238% 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 $31.00 in Lome versus $41.00 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Lome vs $230 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 8%, 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 $1,570 per month in Lome and $1,699 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 10% 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 $31.00 in Lome and $41.00 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 $1,047, than in Banja Luka at $1,133. 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.