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 $590 per month in Lome vs $1,255 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,024 per month in Lome vs $1,897 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,458 per month in Lome vs $2,539 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Lome is about 53% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lome and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Lome 57% lower, Banja Luka 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 F CFA 1,743

$10.01 BAM 16.86

-69.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.15 F CFA 18.2K

$53.0 BAM 89.4

-39.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 F CFA 3,186

$11.48 BAM 19.34

-50.87%

Cappuccino

$6.16 F CFA 3,481

$1.85 BAM 3.13

232.97%

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

$4.27 F CFA 2,413

$2.57 BAM 4.33

66.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 F CFA 415

$1.69 BAM 2.84

-56.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 F CFA 527

$2.59 BAM 4.36

-64.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 F CFA 1,010

$3.67 BAM 6.19

-51.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 F CFA 1,291

$1.49 BAM 2.51

53.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 F CFA 762

$1.27 BAM 2.13

6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 F CFA 859

$1.63 BAM 2.75

-6.75%

Eggs

$2.02 F CFA 1,139

$3.00 BAM 5.05

-32.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 BAM 16.70

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 BAM 15.52

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.82 F CFA 3,288

$14.34 BAM 24.17

-59.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 F CFA 1,774

$1.84 BAM 3.10

70.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 F CFA 991

$2.05 BAM 3.46

-14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 BAM 3.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 F CFA 1,481

$2.33 BAM 3.93

12.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 F CFA 977

$1.01 BAM 1.71

71.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 F CFA 692

$1.45 BAM 2.44

-15.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 F CFA 520

$0.89 BAM 1.51

3.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 BAM 6.78

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 F CFA 2,783

$8.70 BAM 14.66

-43.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 F CFA 658

$1.00 BAM 1.69

16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 F CFA 827

$1.46 BAM 2.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 BAM 2.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.52 BAM 76.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 BAM 2.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 F CFA 681

$1.16 BAM 1.96

3.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 F CFA 2,497

$17.56 BAM 29.58

-74.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 F CFA 671

$1.72 BAM 2.90

-30.81%

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

$31.4K BAM 52.9K

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

$22.6K BAM 38.1K

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

$148 F CFA 83.8K

$163 BAM 274

-8.88%

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

$22.34 F CFA 12.6K

$17.05 BAM 28.74

31.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.11 F CFA 24.9K

$37.78 BAM 63.7

16.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 F CFA 34.8K

$40.09 BAM 67.6

53.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 F CFA 5,090

$15.60 BAM 26.29

-42.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 F CFA 2,547

$6.03 BAM 10.17

-25.21%

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

$304 BAM 512

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,714 BAM 6,257

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 BAM 145

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.82 BAM 62.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 BAM 253

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 BAM 807

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 BAM 550

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 F CFA 691.5K

$713 BAM 1,201

71.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 F CFA 170.3K

$500 BAM 843

-39.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,040 BAM 5,123

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BAM 3,303

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 F CFA 174.6K

$929 BAM 1,565

-66.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

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

Last update for Lome: September 5, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 200% 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 $53.0 in Banja Luka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $254 – making Lome 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

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

Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 113%, 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 $885 per month in Lome and $1,883 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 76% more in Banja Luka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Lome and $53.0 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 $590, than in Banja Luka at $1,255. 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.