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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Mostar vs $1,176 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,465 per month in Mostar vs $1,784 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,927 per month in Mostar vs $2,393 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Mostar is about 15% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mostar and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Mostar 25% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 BAM 11.88

$7.14 BAM 12.21

-2.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.81 BAM 61.3

$35.96 BAM 61.5

-0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 BAM 9.48

$8.80 BAM 15.05

-37.05%

Cappuccino

$1.64 BAM 2.80

$2.07 BAM 3.54

-20.77%

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

$1.80 BAM 3.09

$2.02 BAM 3.45

-10.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 BAM 2.05

$1.39 BAM 2.38

-13.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.08 BAM 3.56

$2.73 BAM 4.67

-23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 BAM 3.58

$2.39 BAM 4.09

-12.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 BAM 2.43

$1.41 BAM 2.41

0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 BAM 2.14

$1.21 BAM 2.07

3.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 BAM 2.71

$2.04 BAM 3.49

-22.06%

Eggs

$2.81 BAM 4.81

$3.25 BAM 5.56

-13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 BAM 15.74

$10.46 BAM 17.90

-11.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.23 BAM 12.37

$8.84 BAM 15.12

-18.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.88 BAM 20.32

$13.24 BAM 22.64

-10.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.10

$1.55 BAM 2.65

-20.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 BAM 2.83

$1.86 BAM 3.18

-11.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BAM 3.17

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-11.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.95

$2.30 BAM 3.94

-24.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 BAM 1.46

$1.12 BAM 1.92

-24.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 BAM 1.28

$1.21 BAM 2.08

-38.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 BAM 1.57

$1.27 BAM 2.18

-27.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.22

$0.81 BAM 1.38

-12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 BAM 6.10

$3.77 BAM 6.44

-5.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.04 BAM 6.91

$8.00 BAM 13.68

-49.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.22

$1.05 BAM 1.80

-32.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 BAM 1.88

$1.28 BAM 2.19

-14.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.03 BAM 1.76

12.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.13 BAM 58.4

$31.73 BAM 54.3

7.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.47

$1.49 BAM 2.56

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 BAM 1.53

$0.77 BAM 1.32

15.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.89 BAM 15.20

$8.63 BAM 14.76

3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.45

$1.49 BAM 2.55

-4.03%

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

$23.8K BAM 40.8K

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-10.33%

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

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

2.33%

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

$121 BAM 208

$202 BAM 346

-39.90%

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

$19.20 BAM 32.84

$19.03 BAM 32.55

0.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.63 BAM 40.41

$32.94 BAM 56.3

-28.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.96 BAM 59.8

$35.14 BAM 60.1

-0.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.57 BAM 19.78

$16.26 BAM 27.81

-28.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 BAM 8.26

$7.20 BAM 12.31

-32.92%

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

$155 BAM 265

$258 BAM 441

-39.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,298 BAM 5,641

$3,394 BAM 5,805

-2.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 BAM 127

$91.6 BAM 157

-19.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.05 BAM 59.9

$37.77 BAM 64.6

-7.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 BAM 152

$108 BAM 184

-17.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 BAM 207

$101 BAM 172

20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 BAM 444

$436 BAM 746

-40.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 BAM 477

$303 BAM 519

-8.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 BAM 752

$892 BAM 1,525

-50.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 536

$580 BAM 992

-46.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,321 BAM 3,970

$3,245 BAM 5,551

-28.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,624 BAM 2,778

$2,315 BAM 3,959

-29.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$884 BAM 1,512

$1,042 BAM 1,781

-15.12%

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 Mostar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Mostar 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 18% 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 Mostar versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $246 – 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: $1,003 in Mostar, $1,176 in Sarajevo – roughly 17% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Mostar 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 Mostar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $155 per month in Mostar and $258 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostar, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. 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 $1,003 in Mostar 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 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.