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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $887 per month in Maglaj vs $1,176 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,395 per month in Maglaj vs $1,784 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Maglaj vs $2,393 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Maglaj is about 25% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maglaj and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Maglaj 34% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.10 BAM 12.15

$7.14 BAM 12.21

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.89 BAM 61.4

$35.96 BAM 61.5

-0.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 BAM 9.66

$8.80 BAM 15.05

-35.80%

Cappuccino

$1.74 BAM 2.97

$2.07 BAM 3.54

-15.94%

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

$1.80 BAM 3.08

$2.02 BAM 3.45

-10.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.39 BAM 2.38

-16.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 BAM 4.06

$2.73 BAM 4.67

-13.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 BAM 3.55

$2.39 BAM 4.09

-13.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 BAM 2.43

$1.41 BAM 2.41

0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BAM 1.75

$1.21 BAM 2.07

-14.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 BAM 3.08

$2.04 BAM 3.49

-11.76%

Eggs

$2.87 BAM 4.90

$3.25 BAM 5.56

-11.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 BAM 12.88

$10.46 BAM 17.90

-28.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 BAM 12.46

$8.84 BAM 15.12

-17.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 BAM 16.87

$13.24 BAM 22.64

-25.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 BAM 1.96

$1.55 BAM 2.65

-25.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 BAM 2.76

$1.86 BAM 3.18

-13.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 BAM 3.05

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-14.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 BAM 2.94

$2.30 BAM 3.94

-25.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.06

$1.12 BAM 1.92

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.21 BAM 2.08

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 BAM 1.70

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-21.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 BAM 1.53

$0.81 BAM 1.38

9.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 BAM 5.95

$3.77 BAM 6.44

-7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.92 BAM 11.84

$8.00 BAM 13.68

-13.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 BAM 2.05

$1.05 BAM 1.80

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.98

$1.28 BAM 2.19

-10.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 BAM 3.02

$1.03 BAM 1.76

71.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.07 BAM 60.0

$31.73 BAM 54.3

10.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 BAM 3.10

$1.49 BAM 2.56

21.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 BAM 1.97

$0.77 BAM 1.32

49.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.64 BAM 18.20

$8.63 BAM 14.76

23.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.54

$1.49 BAM 2.55

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

$24.0K BAM 41.1K

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-9.53%

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

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

1.37%

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

$124 BAM 213

$202 BAM 346

-38.50%

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

$19.33 BAM 33.06

$19.03 BAM 32.55

1.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.62 BAM 48.95

$32.94 BAM 56.3

-13.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.00 BAM 51.3

$35.14 BAM 60.1

-14.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.77 BAM 18.41

$16.26 BAM 27.81

-33.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.66 BAM 7.97

$7.20 BAM 12.31

-35.28%

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

$152 BAM 260

$258 BAM 441

-41.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,266 BAM 5,585

$3,394 BAM 5,805

-3.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 BAM 121

$91.6 BAM 157

-22.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.38 BAM 58.8

$37.77 BAM 64.6

-8.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 BAM 167

$108 BAM 184

-9.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BAM 203

$101 BAM 172

18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 BAM 440

$436 BAM 746

-41.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 BAM 292

$303 BAM 519

-43.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 BAM 630

$892 BAM 1,525

-58.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 BAM 540

$580 BAM 992

-45.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 BAM 4,344

$3,245 BAM 5,551

-21.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,805 BAM 3,088

$2,315 BAM 3,959

-22.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 BAM 1,321

$1,042 BAM 1,781

-25.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.14

3.8

8.95%

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

Last update for Maglaj: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Maglaj versus $436 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 35% 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 $36.00 in Maglaj versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $246 – 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: $887 in Maglaj, $1,176 in Sarajevo – roughly 33% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,330 per month in Maglaj and $1,764 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.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Maglaj and $36.00 in Sarajevo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. 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 $887 in Maglaj to $1,176 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.