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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,001 per month in Mostar vs $1,206 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,475 per month in Mostar vs $1,811 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,949 per month in Mostar vs $2,416 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Mostar is about 17% cheaper than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mostar and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Mostar 25% lower, Sarajevo 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 BAM 11.88

$7.21 BAM 12.11

-1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 60.4

$35.65 BAM 59.9

0.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 BAM 9.16

$8.96 BAM 15.05

-39.17%

Cappuccino

$1.59 BAM 2.68

$2.04 BAM 3.42

-22.06%

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

$1.87 BAM 3.14

$2.01 BAM 3.38

-6.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BAM 1.95

$1.42 BAM 2.38

-18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 BAM 3.53

$2.69 BAM 4.52

-21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 BAM 3.56

$2.32 BAM 3.90

-8.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 BAM 2.28

$1.43 BAM 2.40

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BAM 2.16

$1.21 BAM 2.03

5.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.73

$2.08 BAM 3.50

-21.63%

Eggs

$2.79 BAM 4.68

$3.24 BAM 5.45

-13.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 BAM 15.57

$10.29 BAM 17.29

-10.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 BAM 12.64

$8.86 BAM 14.88

-15.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 BAM 20.05

$13.44 BAM 22.58

-11.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 BAM 2.15

$1.55 BAM 2.60

-17.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 BAM 2.78

$1.87 BAM 3.15

-11.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.12

$2.05 BAM 3.44

-9.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 BAM 2.90

$2.29 BAM 3.84

-24.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$1.12 BAM 1.88

-30.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 BAM 1.25

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-38.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 BAM 1.65

$1.22 BAM 2.06

-19.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 BAM 1.23

$0.76 BAM 1.27

-3.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 BAM 6.07

$3.76 BAM 6.33

-3.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.12 BAM 6.93

$8.33 BAM 13.99

-50.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BAM 1.18

$1.04 BAM 1.75

-32.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 BAM 1.90

$1.31 BAM 2.21

-13.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$1.08 BAM 1.82

6.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.06 BAM 57.2

$31.31 BAM 52.6

8.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 BAM 2.43

$1.44 BAM 2.42

0.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$0.78 BAM 1.31

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 BAM 15.23

$9.08 BAM 15.25

-0.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.52 BAM 2.55

-5.92%

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

$23.4K BAM 39.3K

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

-12.62%

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

$26.1K BAM 43.9K

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

0.73%

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

$125 BAM 210

$197 BAM 331

-36.43%

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

$18.89 BAM 31.74

$19.00 BAM 31.92

-0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 BAM 39.97

$33.37 BAM 56.1

-28.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.88 BAM 58.6

$35.64 BAM 59.9

-2.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 BAM 20.11

$16.44 BAM 27.62

-27.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 BAM 8.10

$6.94 BAM 11.67

-30.55%

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

$152 BAM 256

$255 BAM 428

-40.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,216 BAM 5,403

$3,323 BAM 5,583

-3.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 BAM 126

$91.3 BAM 153

-18.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 BAM 58.1

$36.66 BAM 61.6

-5.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 BAM 153

$108 BAM 182

-16.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 BAM 196

$99.9 BAM 168

16.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 BAM 443

$432 BAM 726

-39.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 BAM 454

$313 BAM 526

-13.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 BAM 744

$877 BAM 1,474

-49.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 BAM 523

$600 BAM 1,008

-48.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 BAM 4,019

$3,430 BAM 5,762

-30.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,624 BAM 2,728

$2,383 BAM 4,003

-31.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$890 BAM 1,496

$1,064 BAM 1,788

-16.33%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Mostar versus $432 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 20% 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: $208 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: $1,001 in Mostar, $1,206 in Sarajevo – roughly 20% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,502 per month in Mostar and $1,808 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 $152 per month in Mostar and $255 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 Mostar, where all-in costs run around $1,001, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. 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 $1,001 in Mostar to $1,206 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.