Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,288 per month in Santiago vs $1,176 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,020 per month in Santiago vs $1,784 in Sarajevo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,752 per month in Santiago vs $2,393 in Sarajevo, rent included.

Santiago costs about 10% more than Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santiago and Sarajevo are more affordable than the global median – Santiago 4% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.72 CLP 10.0K

$7.14 BAM 12.22

50.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.8 CLP 51.1K

$35.96 BAM 61.6

52.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 CLP 7,621

$8.80 BAM 15.07

-7.27%

Cappuccino

$3.16 CLP 2,948

$2.07 BAM 3.55

52.66%

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

$1.78 CLP 1,665

$2.02 BAM 3.46

-11.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,165

$1.39 BAM 2.38

-10.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 CLP 3,094

$2.73 BAM 4.67

21.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 CLP 3,956

$2.39 BAM 4.10

77.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 CLP 1,104

$1.41 BAM 2.41

-16.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 CLP 1,433

$1.21 BAM 2.08

26.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 CLP 2,036

$2.04 BAM 3.50

6.86%

Eggs

$4.19 CLP 3,908

$3.25 BAM 5.57

28.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 CLP 9,939

$10.46 BAM 17.92

1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 CLP 6,151

$8.84 BAM 15.14

-25.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.13 CLP 10.4K

$13.24 BAM 22.67

-15.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,952

$1.55 BAM 2.65

34.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,443

$1.86 BAM 3.18

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 CLP 1,928

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-0.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 CLP 1,735

$2.30 BAM 3.95

-19.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 CLP 1,824

$1.12 BAM 1.92

74.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,518

$1.21 BAM 2.08

34.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 CLP 1,197

$1.27 BAM 2.18

0.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 CLP 1,163

$0.81 BAM 1.38

54.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 CLP 5,373

$3.77 BAM 6.45

52.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 CLP 6,066

$8.00 BAM 13.70

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CLP 1,456

$1.05 BAM 1.80

48.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 CLP 2,314

$1.28 BAM 2.19

93.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 CLP 790

$1.03 BAM 1.77

-17.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.60 CLP 39.8K

$31.73 BAM 54.4

34.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 478

$1.49 BAM 2.56

-65.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CLP 1,354

$0.77 BAM 1.32

88.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.30 CLP 10.5K

$8.63 BAM 14.78

30.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,293

$1.49 BAM 2.55

-6.71%

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

$19.5K CLP 18.3M

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

-26.46%

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

$22.6K CLP 21.1M

$25.8K BAM 44.3K

-12.70%

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

$134 CLP 124.9K

$202 BAM 346

-33.79%

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

$13.59 CLP 12.7K

$19.03 BAM 32.60

-28.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.02 CLP 20.6K

$32.94 BAM 56.4

-33.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.67 CLP 32.4K

$35.14 BAM 60.2

-1.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 CLP 19.8K

$16.26 BAM 27.85

30.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 CLP 5,872

$7.20 BAM 12.33

-12.64%

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

$436 CLP 407.5K

$258 BAM 442

69.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,744 CLP 8.2M

$3,394 BAM 5,813

157.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 CLP 51.7K

$91.6 BAM 157

-39.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.30 CLP 30.2K

$37.77 BAM 64.7

-14.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 CLP 72.1K

$108 BAM 184

-28.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 CLP 79.8K

$101 BAM 172

-15.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 CLP 480.5K

$436 BAM 747

18.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 CLP 431.2K

$303 BAM 519

52.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 CLP 923.1K

$892 BAM 1,527

10.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 CLP 858.8K

$580 BAM 994

58.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 CLP 2.7M

$3,245 BAM 5,559

-11.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,757 CLP 2.6M

$2,315 BAM 3,965

19.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$803 CLP 749.6K

$1,042 BAM 1,784

-22.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

3.8

36.32%

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

Last update for Santiago: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Santiago 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 30% higher in Sarajevo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Santiago versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Santiago vs $246 in Sarajevo – so Santiago 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

Santiago vs Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 10%, 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 $1,932 per month in Santiago 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 Sarajevo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 34% less in Sarajevo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Santiago and $258 in Sarajevo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sarajevo, where all-in costs run around $1,176, than in Santiago at $1,288. In Sarajevo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sarajevo – 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 Sarajevo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.