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: $1,206 in Sarajevo versus $999 in Bihac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,811 in Sarajevo versus $1,440 in Bihac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,416 in Sarajevo versus $1,880 in Bihac.

Living in Sarajevo is roughly 21% more expensive than Bihac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sarajevo 10% lower, Bihac 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.11

$6.88 BAM 11.57

4.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 59.9

$29.91 BAM 50.3

19.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.05

$5.76 BAM 9.68

55.56%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.42

$1.16 BAM 1.94

75.86%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.16 BAM 1.94

73.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.38

$0.86 BAM 1.44

65.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.52

$1.50 BAM 2.52

79.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$1.74 BAM 2.92

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.34 BAM 2.24

6.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.11 BAM 1.87

9.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.50

$2.38 BAM 4.01

-12.61%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.45

$2.87 BAM 4.83

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.29

$10.16 BAM 17.06

1.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.88

$7.32 BAM 12.30

21.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.58

$11.57 BAM 19.44

16.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.74 BAM 2.92

-10.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.61 BAM 2.71

16.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$1.90 BAM 3.20

7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.84

$2.07 BAM 3.48

10.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.44 BAM 2.42

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$0.92 BAM 1.54

32.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.27

$0.86 BAM 1.45

-11.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.33

$3.50 BAM 5.88

7.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 13.99

$8.36 BAM 14.04

-0.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$1.25 BAM 2.10

-16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$2.01 BAM 3.38

-34.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.81 BAM 3.05

-40.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.6

$35.05 BAM 58.9

-10.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.20 BAM 2.02

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$0.77 BAM 1.30

1.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.25

$10.75 BAM 18.06

-15.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.49 BAM 2.51

2.01%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$23.7K BAM 39.9K

12.64%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

-1.10%

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

$197 BAM 331

$210 BAM 352

-6.03%

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

$19.00 BAM 31.92

$19.23 BAM 32.30

-1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.1

$21.97 BAM 36.92

51.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 59.9

$29.75 BAM 49.97

19.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.62

$10.88 BAM 18.28

51.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.67

$5.55 BAM 9.32

25.05%

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

$255 BAM 428

$150 BAM 251

70.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,583

$2,937 BAM 4,935

13.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 153

$29.33 BAM 49.28

211.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.6

$17.54 BAM 29.46

109.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

$98.5 BAM 166

10.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$118 BAM 198

-15.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 726

$222 BAM 372

95.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$206 BAM 347

51.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,474

$308 BAM 518

184.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$280 BAM 471

114.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,762

$1,492 BAM 2,507

129.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,003

$1,326 BAM 2,228

79.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,788

$806 BAM 1,354

32.07%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bihac: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Sarajevo and $222 in Bihac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 32% 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 21% in total monthly costs ($1,206 vs $999 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Sarajevo pays 32% more on average, 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: $432 in Sarajevo versus $222 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 $1,206 per month in Sarajevo versus $999 in Bihac – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $999 in Bihac versus $1,206 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 21% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.