Cost of Living Comparison Between Maglaj and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Maglaj and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $990 per month in Maglaj vs $1,241 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,502 per month in Maglaj vs $1,920 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,014 per month in Maglaj vs $2,598 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Maglaj is about 20% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maglaj and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Maglaj 28% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 BAM 12.03

$8.74 BAM 14.68

-18.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.10 BAM 65.7

$40.93 BAM 68.7

-4.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 BAM 12.14

$8.77 BAM 14.72

-17.56%

Cappuccino

$1.69 BAM 2.83

$2.36 BAM 3.97

-28.39%

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

$1.91 BAM 3.21

$2.25 BAM 3.78

-15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 BAM 2.10

$1.53 BAM 2.57

-18.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$2.98 BAM 5.01

-22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 BAM 3.91

$2.93 BAM 4.92

-20.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.22 BAM 2.05

18.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 BAM 1.67

$1.23 BAM 2.07

-18.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 BAM 2.96

$2.29 BAM 3.85

-23.14%

Eggs

$2.89 BAM 4.85

$3.28 BAM 5.51

-11.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 BAM 12.68

$11.06 BAM 18.58

-31.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.30 BAM 12.25

$7.97 BAM 13.38

-8.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 BAM 16.82

$15.17 BAM 25.48

-33.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.57 BAM 2.63

-22.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$1.76 BAM 2.96

-1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 BAM 3.05

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-1.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$2.11 BAM 3.54

-17.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 BAM 1.97

$1.00 BAM 1.67

17.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 BAM 1.96

$1.23 BAM 2.06

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 BAM 1.55

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$0.71 BAM 1.20

26.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.60 BAM 6.04

$4.06 BAM 6.81

-11.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.25 BAM 12.17

$8.39 BAM 14.10

-13.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 BAM 2.05

$0.92 BAM 1.54

32.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BAM 1.95

$1.55 BAM 2.60

-25.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 BAM 2.30

$1.28 BAM 2.16

7.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.13 BAM 60.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 BAM 3.08

$1.46 BAM 2.45

25.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 BAM 1.76

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-13.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.57 BAM 17.76

$9.17 BAM 15.39

15.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.71 BAM 2.87

-14.04%

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

$31.8K BAM 53.4K

$31.1K BAM 52.2K

2.36%

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

$22.5K BAM 37.8K

$24.5K BAM 41.1K

-8.11%

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

$121 BAM 203

$226 BAM 380

-46.51%

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

$18.90 BAM 31.74

$14.70 BAM 24.69

28.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.81 BAM 48.39

$28.66 BAM 48.14

0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.96 BAM 57.0

$41.96 BAM 70.5

-19.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 BAM 33.85

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 BAM 7.88

$6.92 BAM 11.62

-32.23%

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

$153 BAM 257

$218 BAM 367

-30.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,940 BAM 6,617

$4,055 BAM 6,811

-2.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$114 BAM 191

$91.7 BAM 154

24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 BAM 60.3

$38.97 BAM 65.5

-7.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 BAM 168

$95.0 BAM 160

5.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 BAM 198

$104 BAM 174

13.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 BAM 601

$467 BAM 785

-23.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 434

$328 BAM 551

-21.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$531 BAM 892

$1,083 BAM 1,819

-50.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 BAM 642

$600 BAM 1,008

-36.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,506 BAM 4,208

$3,438 BAM 5,774

-27.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,807 BAM 3,035

$2,422 BAM 4,068

-25.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 BAM 1,310

$1,085 BAM 1,823

-28.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.3

4.08

5.39%

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

Last update for Maglaj: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Maglaj versus $467 in Sarajevo. 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 39% higher in Sarajevo, 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 $41.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $245 – making Maglaj 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

Maglaj vs Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $990 in Maglaj, $1,241 in Sarajevo – roughly 25% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,485 per month in Maglaj and $1,862 in Sarajevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Maglaj and $41.00 in Sarajevo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Sarajevo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $990, than in Sarajevo at $1,241. In Maglaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sarajevo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $990 in Maglaj to $1,241 in Sarajevo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Maglaj. 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.