Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Banja Luka Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Banja Luka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,004 per month in Neum vs $1,223 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,455 per month in Neum vs $1,901 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Neum vs $2,579 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Neum is about 18% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Neum and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Neum 27% lower, Banja Luka 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 BAM 8.90

$10.17 BAM 17.15

-48.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.75 BAM 50.2

$51.6 BAM 87.0

-42.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 BAM 10.13

$11.46 BAM 19.32

-47.56%

Cappuccino

$1.89 BAM 3.19

$1.86 BAM 3.14

1.61%

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

$1.87 BAM 3.16

$2.66 BAM 4.49

-29.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 BAM 2.18

$1.70 BAM 2.86

-24.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 BAM 4.56

$2.58 BAM 4.35

5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BAM 3.85

$3.48 BAM 5.86

-34.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.48 BAM 2.50

-18.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 BAM 1.55

$1.27 BAM 2.15

-27.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 BAM 3.49

$1.67 BAM 2.82

23.95%

Eggs

$2.65 BAM 4.46

$3.04 BAM 5.13

-12.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 BAM 13.36

$9.74 BAM 16.42

-18.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 BAM 12.76

$9.23 BAM 15.55

-17.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 BAM 18.46

$14.30 BAM 24.11

-23.43%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 BAM 2.01

$1.92 BAM 3.24

-38.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.97 BAM 3.32

-17.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.46

$2.26 BAM 3.80

-35.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 BAM 2.09

$2.27 BAM 3.83

-45.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 BAM 1.59

$1.05 BAM 1.78

-10.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 BAM 1.73

$1.45 BAM 2.44

-28.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 BAM 1.32

$1.17 BAM 1.97

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BAM 1.18

$0.94 BAM 1.59

-25.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 BAM 6.59

$3.96 BAM 6.67

-1.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.10 BAM 6.91

$8.55 BAM 14.42

-52.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.28

$1.02 BAM 1.72

-25.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.53

$1.45 BAM 2.45

-37.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 BAM 2.23

$1.38 BAM 2.33

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.0 BAM 99.5

$46.51 BAM 78.4

26.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 BAM 2.92

$1.76 BAM 2.96

-1.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$1.22 BAM 2.06

-53.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 BAM 10.19

$18.09 BAM 30.49

-66.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 BAM 2.73

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-6.36%

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

$31.9K BAM 53.8K

$31.1K BAM 52.4K

2.77%

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

$22.4K BAM 37.7K

$22.6K BAM 38.2K

-1.14%

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

$137 BAM 232

$168 BAM 284

-18.39%

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

$18.69 BAM 31.51

$17.36 BAM 29.27

7.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.33 BAM 46.07

$37.82 BAM 63.8

-27.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.51 BAM 58.2

$39.98 BAM 67.4

-13.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.07 BAM 20.35

$15.37 BAM 25.92

-21.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 BAM 9.94

$5.77 BAM 9.72

2.25%

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

$204 BAM 345

$297 BAM 501

-31.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,332 BAM 3,933

$3,685 BAM 6,212

-36.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 BAM 100

$85.0 BAM 143

-29.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.36 BAM 57.9

$36.58 BAM 61.7

-6.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 BAM 150

$108 BAM 182

-17.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 BAM 143

$148 BAM 250

-42.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 BAM 608

$471 BAM 795

-23.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 BAM 433

$325 BAM 549

-21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 BAM 886

$730 BAM 1,231

-28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 BAM 638

$498 BAM 839

-23.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,529 BAM 4,264

$2,955 BAM 4,982

-14.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,804 BAM 3,042

$1,959 BAM 3,303

-7.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$884 BAM 1,490

$919 BAM 1,550

-3.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

4.44

-34.68%

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

Last update for Neum: September 1, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Neum versus $471 in Banja Luka. 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 4% higher in Banja Luka, 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 $30.00 in Neum versus $52.0 in Banja Luka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $254 – making Neum 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

Neum vs Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,506 per month in Neum and $1,834 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 32% more in Banja Luka, 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 $30.00 in Neum and $52.0 in Banja Luka. 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 Neum, where all-in costs run around $1,004, than in Banja Luka at $1,223. In Neum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neum – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Neum. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Banja Luka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.