Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,004 in Neum versus $1,266 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,455 in Neum versus $1,911 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,907 in Neum versus $2,556 in Sarajevo.

Living in Neum costs roughly 21% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Neum 27% lower, Sarajevo 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 BAM 8.90

$8.71 BAM 14.69

-39.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.75 BAM 50.2

$41.99 BAM 70.8

-29.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 BAM 10.13

$9.12 BAM 15.38

-34.10%

Cappuccino

$1.89 BAM 3.19

$2.32 BAM 3.91

-18.53%

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

$1.87 BAM 3.16

$2.25 BAM 3.80

-16.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 BAM 2.18

$1.48 BAM 2.50

-12.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 BAM 4.56

$2.94 BAM 4.96

-7.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BAM 3.85

$2.96 BAM 4.98

-22.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.27 BAM 2.14

-5.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 BAM 1.55

$1.24 BAM 2.09

-25.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 BAM 3.49

$2.22 BAM 3.75

-6.76%

Eggs

$2.65 BAM 4.46

$3.26 BAM 5.50

-18.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 BAM 13.36

$10.85 BAM 18.30

-26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 BAM 12.76

$7.87 BAM 13.27

-3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 BAM 18.46

$15.22 BAM 25.67

-28.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 BAM 2.01

$1.55 BAM 2.61

-23.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.69 BAM 2.85

-3.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 BAM 2.46

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-16.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 BAM 2.09

$2.19 BAM 3.69

-43.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 BAM 1.59

$1.05 BAM 1.77

-10.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 BAM 1.73

$1.23 BAM 2.08

-16.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 BAM 1.32

$1.11 BAM 1.87

-29.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 BAM 1.18

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 BAM 6.59

$3.98 BAM 6.72

-1.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.10 BAM 6.91

$8.32 BAM 14.03

-50.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.28

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BAM 1.53

$1.50 BAM 2.54

-39.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 BAM 2.23

$1.31 BAM 2.21

0.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.0 BAM 99.5

$35.61 BAM 60.0

65.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 BAM 2.92

$1.49 BAM 2.51

16.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 BAM 0.97

$1.23 BAM 2.07

-53.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 BAM 10.19

$8.85 BAM 14.92

-31.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 BAM 2.73

$1.70 BAM 2.86

-4.71%

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

$31.9K BAM 53.8K

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

2.52%

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

$22.4K BAM 37.7K

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

-6.06%

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

$137 BAM 232

$224 BAM 377

-38.55%

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

$18.69 BAM 31.51

$14.67 BAM 24.73

27.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.33 BAM 46.07

$28.33 BAM 47.77

-3.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.51 BAM 58.2

$41.45 BAM 69.9

-16.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.07 BAM 20.35

$20.34 BAM 34.30

-40.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 BAM 9.94

$7.06 BAM 11.90

-16.43%

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

$204 BAM 345

$216 BAM 364

-5.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,332 BAM 3,933

$3,961 BAM 6,678

-41.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 BAM 100

$90.8 BAM 153

-34.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.36 BAM 57.9

$39.75 BAM 67.0

-13.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 BAM 150

$95.6 BAM 161

-7.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 BAM 143

$104 BAM 176

-18.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 BAM 608

$475 BAM 801

-24.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 BAM 433

$323 BAM 545

-20.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 BAM 886

$1,076 BAM 1,815

-51.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 BAM 638

$603 BAM 1,017

-37.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,529 BAM 4,264

$3,397 BAM 5,727

-25.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,804 BAM 3,042

$2,491 BAM 4,199

-27.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$884 BAM 1,490

$1,089 BAM 1,836

-18.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

4.08

-28.92%

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

Last update for Neum: September 1, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Neum and $475 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Neum vs $42.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $244 per month, with Neum cheaper across the board.

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 Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Neum and Sarajevo differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,004 vs $1,266 including rent). Neum is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Sarajevo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Neum versus $475 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Neum runs roughly 66% less than in Sarajevo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $204 in Neum versus $216 in Sarajevo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,004 in Neum versus $1,266 in Sarajevo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Neum but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Neum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Neum and Sarajevo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Neum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.