Cost of Living Comparison Between Mostar and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Mostar and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Mostar vs $1,266 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Mostar vs $1,911 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,969 per month in Mostar vs $2,556 in Sarajevo, rent included.

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

Both Mostar and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Mostar 31% lower, Sarajevo 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 BAM 12.31

$8.71 BAM 14.69

-16.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.19 BAM 49.23

$41.99 BAM 70.8

-30.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 BAM 9.87

$9.12 BAM 15.39

-35.86%

Cappuccino

$1.75 BAM 2.95

$2.32 BAM 3.91

-24.57%

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

$1.98 BAM 3.33

$2.25 BAM 3.80

-12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 BAM 2.10

$1.48 BAM 2.50

-15.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 BAM 3.90

$2.94 BAM 4.96

-21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 BAM 3.83

$2.96 BAM 4.98

-23.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 BAM 1.95

$1.27 BAM 2.14

-8.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 BAM 1.56

$1.24 BAM 2.09

-25.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 BAM 3.59

$2.22 BAM 3.75

-4.05%

Eggs

$2.67 BAM 4.50

$3.26 BAM 5.50

-18.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.17 BAM 13.78

$10.85 BAM 18.30

-24.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.29 BAM 12.29

$7.87 BAM 13.28

-7.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 BAM 18.66

$15.22 BAM 25.68

-27.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 BAM 1.99

$1.55 BAM 2.61

-23.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 BAM 2.88

$1.69 BAM 2.85

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-15.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 BAM 2.09

$2.19 BAM 3.70

-43.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 BAM 1.36

$1.05 BAM 1.77

-23.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 BAM 1.20

$1.23 BAM 2.08

-42.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 BAM 1.34

$1.11 BAM 1.87

-28.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 BAM 1.22

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 BAM 6.64

$3.98 BAM 6.72

-1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.24 BAM 7.15

$8.32 BAM 14.03

-49.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.28

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 BAM 1.58

$1.50 BAM 2.54

-37.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 BAM 1.98

$1.31 BAM 2.22

-9.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.69 BAM 58.5

$35.61 BAM 60.1

-2.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 BAM 3.07

$1.49 BAM 2.51

22.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$1.23 BAM 2.07

-53.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 BAM 17.72

$8.85 BAM 14.92

18.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BAM 2.60

$1.70 BAM 2.86

-9.41%

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

$31.0K BAM 52.3K

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

-0.49%

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

$22.3K BAM 37.7K

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

-6.25%

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

$125 BAM 211

$224 BAM 377

-44.11%

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

$18.33 BAM 30.91

$14.67 BAM 24.73

24.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.88 BAM 45.33

$28.33 BAM 47.79

-5.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 BAM 61.1

$41.45 BAM 69.9

-12.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 BAM 20.14

$20.34 BAM 34.31

-41.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.71 BAM 9.64

$7.06 BAM 11.90

-19.12%

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

$153 BAM 258

$216 BAM 364

-29.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K BAM 23.5K

$3,961 BAM 6,680

251.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 BAM 104

$90.8 BAM 153

-32.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.95 BAM 57.3

$39.75 BAM 67.0

-14.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 BAM 151

$95.6 BAM 161

-6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 BAM 144

$104 BAM 176

-18.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 BAM 738

$475 BAM 802

-7.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 441

$323 BAM 545

-19.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 BAM 1,149

$1,076 BAM 1,815

-36.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 BAM 790

$603 BAM 1,017

-22.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,374 BAM 4,004

$3,397 BAM 5,728

-30.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,637 BAM 2,760

$2,491 BAM 4,201

-34.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$875 BAM 1,475

$1,089 BAM 1,836

-19.67%

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 Mostar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Mostar versus $475 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 24% 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 $29.00 in Mostar versus $42.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $244 – making Mostar 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

Mostar vs Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $943 in Mostar, $1,266 in Sarajevo – roughly 34% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,415 per month in Mostar and $1,899 in Sarajevo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Mostar and $216 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 Mostar, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Sarajevo at $1,266. In Mostar 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 $943 in Mostar to $1,266 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 Mostar. 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.