Cost of Living Comparison Between Maglaj and Bijeljina Cost of Living Comparison Between Maglaj and Bijeljina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $990 per month in Maglaj vs $950 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,502 per month in Maglaj vs $1,480 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,014 per month in Maglaj vs $2,009 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Maglaj costs about 4% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maglaj and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Maglaj 28% lower, Bijeljina 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.16 BAM 12.03
$8.94 BAM 15.01
-19.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.10 BAM 65.7
$36.22 BAM 60.8
7.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 BAM 12.14
$4.88 BAM 8.20
48.16%
Cappuccino
$1.69 BAM 2.83
$1.51 BAM 2.54
11.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 BAM 3.21
$1.76 BAM 2.95
8.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 BAM 2.10
$1.04 BAM 1.74
20.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 BAM 3.90
$1.82 BAM 3.05
27.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 BAM 3.91
$2.45 BAM 4.11
-4.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 BAM 2.42
$1.59 BAM 2.67
-9.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 BAM 1.67
$1.26 BAM 2.12
-20.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 BAM 2.96
$1.67 BAM 2.81
5.39%
Eggs
$2.89 BAM 4.85
$3.11 BAM 5.23
-7.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.55 BAM 12.68
$7.96 BAM 13.37
-5.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 BAM 12.25
$8.08 BAM 13.57
-9.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.02 BAM 16.82
$12.29 BAM 20.65
-18.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 BAM 2.03
$1.65 BAM 2.77
-26.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 BAM 2.93
$1.88 BAM 3.16
-7.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 BAM 3.05
$1.92 BAM 3.23
-5.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 BAM 2.93
$2.76 BAM 4.64
-36.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 BAM 1.97
$1.58 BAM 2.66
-25.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 BAM 1.96
$1.47 BAM 2.47
-20.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 BAM 1.55
$1.17 BAM 1.97
-21.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 BAM 1.52
$0.67 BAM 1.13
34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60 BAM 6.04
$3.84 BAM 6.45
-6.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.25 BAM 12.17
$9.18 BAM 15.42
-21.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 BAM 2.05
$0.91 BAM 1.53
34.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 BAM 1.95
$1.45 BAM 2.44
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 BAM 2.30
$2.43 BAM 4.08
-43.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$17.91 BAM 30.09
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 BAM 3.08
$1.45 BAM 2.44
26.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 BAM 1.76
$0.61 BAM 1.02
72.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.57 BAM 17.76
$10.54 BAM 17.70
0.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 BAM 2.47
$1.45 BAM 2.43
1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K BAM 53.4K
$30.3K BAM 51.0K
4.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K BAM 37.8K
$21.9K BAM 36.8K
2.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 BAM 203
$144 BAM 241
-15.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.90 BAM 31.74
$18.92 BAM 31.77
-0.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.81 BAM 48.39
$24.93 BAM 41.86
15.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.96 BAM 57.0
$30.82 BAM 51.8
10.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$8.71 BAM 14.62
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.69 BAM 7.88
$4.94 BAM 8.30
-5.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 BAM 257
$215 BAM 361
-28.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,940 BAM 6,617
$3,818 BAM 6,412
3.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114 BAM 191
$59.0 BAM 99.1
93.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.89 BAM 60.3
$26.58 BAM 44.64
35.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 BAM 168
$133 BAM 223
-24.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 BAM 198
$125 BAM 211
-5.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 BAM 601
$265 BAM 445
35.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 BAM 434
$174 BAM 292
48.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$531 BAM 892
$364 BAM 611
45.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 BAM 642
$297 BAM 498
28.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,506 BAM 4,208
$1,892 BAM 3,178
32.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,807 BAM 3,035
$1,394 BAM 2,341
29.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maglaj
Bijeljina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$780 BAM 1,310
$773 BAM 1,298
0.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
6
-28.33%

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

Last update for Maglaj: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Maglaj versus $265 in Bijeljina. 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 1% higher in Maglaj, 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 $39.00 in Maglaj versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Maglaj vs $236 in Bijeljina – so Maglaj 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
Maglaj vs Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Maglaj and in Bijeljina compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $990 in Maglaj, $950 in Bijeljina – roughly 4% apart. Maglaj costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Maglaj compared to Bijeljina?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,485 per month in Maglaj and $1,426 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Maglaj and Bijeljina?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maglaj or Bijeljina?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $990 in Maglaj and $950 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Maglaj and Bijeljina?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Maglaj and $215 in Bijeljina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Maglaj compared to Bijeljina?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $990 in Maglaj and $950 in Bijeljina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Maglaj or Bijeljina?
Families tend to lean toward Bijeljina – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Maglaj or Bijeljina safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Maglaj and Bijeljina?
If budget matters most, go with Bijeljina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maglaj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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