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 $954 per month in Neum vs $1,133 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,494 per month in Neum vs $1,675 in Banja Luka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,035 per month in Neum vs $2,217 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Neum is about 16% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Neum and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Neum 29% lower, Banja Luka 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 BAM 14.56

$8.90 BAM 14.95

-2.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.82 BAM 70.3

$41.26 BAM 69.3

1.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 BAM 12.82

$8.70 BAM 14.61

-12.30%

Cappuccino

$1.65 BAM 2.77

$1.63 BAM 2.74

1.23%

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

$1.94 BAM 3.26

$1.99 BAM 3.34

-2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.15 BAM 1.93

5.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 BAM 3.51

$2.02 BAM 3.40

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 BAM 4.72

$2.72 BAM 4.57

3.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 BAM 2.22

$1.36 BAM 2.29

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$1.25 BAM 2.10

-1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.65

$1.57 BAM 2.64

0.64%

Eggs

$3.01 BAM 5.05

$2.88 BAM 4.83

4.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.60 BAM 16.12

$9.25 BAM 15.54

3.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.75 BAM 14.71

$8.71 BAM 14.64

0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.61 BAM 19.50

$12.26 BAM 20.59

-5.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$1.40 BAM 2.34

0.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 BAM 2.75

$1.65 BAM 2.77

-0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.26

$1.93 BAM 3.24

0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.43

$2.03 BAM 3.41

0.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BAM 1.94

$1.25 BAM 2.09

-8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 BAM 1.86

$1.26 BAM 2.11

-11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 BAM 2.04

$1.28 BAM 2.16

-5.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 BAM 1.23

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 BAM 6.10

$3.72 BAM 6.25

-2.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.06 BAM 6.81

$8.36 BAM 14.04

-51.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.28

$0.74 BAM 1.25

2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 BAM 1.90

$1.10 BAM 1.84

2.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$1.36 BAM 2.29

36.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.69 BAM 58.3

$36.41 BAM 61.2

-4.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$1.49 BAM 2.50

0.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 BAM 1.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.28 BAM 12.23

$8.94 BAM 15.02

-18.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BAM 2.60

$1.46 BAM 2.45

5.48%

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

$29.1K BAM 48.8K

$28.4K BAM 47.7K

2.44%

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

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

$26.9K BAM 45.2K

-2.07%

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

$174 BAM 292

0.04%

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

$18.87 BAM 31.70

$19.29 BAM 32.41

-2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.01 BAM 40.33

$23.24 BAM 39.05

3.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.99 BAM 48.71

$27.95 BAM 46.96

3.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.97 BAM 18.43

$9.92 BAM 16.66

10.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 BAM 8.08

$4.69 BAM 7.89

2.56%

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

$203 BAM 342

$238 BAM 399

-14.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,618 BAM 6,079

$3,758 BAM 6,314

-3.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 BAM 117

$74.5 BAM 125

-6.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.84 BAM 60.2

$36.14 BAM 60.7

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 BAM 150

$88.9 BAM 149

0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 BAM 186

$124 BAM 208

-10.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 BAM 438

$465 BAM 781

-43.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 BAM 284

$322 BAM 542

-47.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 BAM 610

$646 BAM 1,085

-43.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 BAM 529

$477 BAM 802

-34.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,608 BAM 4,382

$3,163 BAM 5,314

-17.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,838 BAM 3,088

$2,023 BAM 3,399

-9.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$882 BAM 1,482

$901 BAM 1,514

-2.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

5.02

-42.23%

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

Last update for Neum: May 31, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Neum versus $465 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 2% 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 $42.00 in Neum versus $41.00 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Neum vs $230 in Banja Luka – so Neum wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Neum and $1,699 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 5% 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 $42.00 in Neum and $41.00 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 $954, than in Banja Luka at $1,133. 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.