Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Bihac Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Bihac

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,176 in Sarajevo versus $983 in Bihac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,784 in Sarajevo versus $1,455 in Bihac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,393 in Sarajevo versus $1,927 in Bihac.

Living in Sarajevo is roughly 20% more expensive than in Bihac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sarajevo 12% lower, Bihac 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 BAM 12.21

$7.26 BAM 12.41

-1.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 61.5

$29.94 BAM 51.2

20.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BAM 15.05

$5.57 BAM 9.52

57.99%

Cappuccino

$2.07 BAM 3.54

$1.20 BAM 2.06

72.50%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$1.15 BAM 1.96

75.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BAM 2.38

$0.89 BAM 1.52

56.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$1.50 BAM 2.56

82.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.09

$1.81 BAM 3.09

32.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.38 BAM 2.36

2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.05 BAM 1.79

15.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.49

$2.30 BAM 3.94

-11.30%

Eggs

$3.25 BAM 5.56

$2.80 BAM 4.80

16.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 BAM 17.90

$10.08 BAM 17.25

3.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 BAM 15.12

$7.41 BAM 12.67

19.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BAM 22.64

$11.20 BAM 19.16

18.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.65

$1.82 BAM 3.11

-14.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.18

$1.69 BAM 2.89

10.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.91 BAM 3.27

8.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.94

$2.03 BAM 3.48

13.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.92

$1.19 BAM 2.04

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$1.45 BAM 2.47

-16.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.18

$0.96 BAM 1.65

32.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BAM 1.38

$0.91 BAM 1.56

-10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.44

$3.60 BAM 6.15

4.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 BAM 13.68

$8.15 BAM 13.94

-1.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.80

$1.25 BAM 2.13

-16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$2.08 BAM 3.55

-38.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BAM 1.76

$1.76 BAM 3.01

-41.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 BAM 54.3

$35.05 BAM 59.9

-9.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$1.21 BAM 2.07

23.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.32

$0.82 BAM 1.40

-6.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 BAM 14.76

$10.75 BAM 18.39

-19.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.48 BAM 2.53

0.68%

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

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

$23.6K BAM 40.4K

12.59%

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

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

$25.9K BAM 44.3K

-0.17%

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

$202 BAM 346

$205 BAM 350

-1.20%

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

$19.03 BAM 32.55

$18.94 BAM 32.40

0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.94 BAM 56.3

$21.90 BAM 37.46

50.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.14 BAM 60.1

$29.93 BAM 51.2

17.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 BAM 27.81

$10.82 BAM 18.50

50.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BAM 12.31

$5.71 BAM 9.76

26.09%

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

$258 BAM 441

$146 BAM 250

76.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 BAM 5,805

$2,926 BAM 5,005

16.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BAM 157

$29.42 BAM 50.3

211.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.77 BAM 64.6

$17.60 BAM 30.11

114.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 184

$99.6 BAM 170

8.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 172

$118 BAM 201

-14.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 BAM 746

$223 BAM 381

95.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 BAM 519

$210 BAM 359

44.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 BAM 1,525

$308 BAM 527

189.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 BAM 992

$284 BAM 487

103.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 BAM 5,551

$1,486 BAM 2,542

118.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,315 BAM 3,959

$1,316 BAM 2,250

75.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 BAM 1,781

$773 BAM 1,323

34.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

4.14

-8.21%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bihac: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Sarajevo and $223 in Bihac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 35% 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: $36.00 in Sarajevo vs $30.00 in Bihac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $231 per month, with Bihac 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

Sarajevo vs Bihac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarajevo and Bihac differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,176 vs $983 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Sarajevo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $436 in Sarajevo versus $223 in Bihac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bihac – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $36.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,176 per month in Sarajevo versus $983 in Bihac – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $983 in Bihac versus $1,176 in Sarajevo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bihac but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Bihac 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, Sarajevo and Bihac 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 Bihac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.