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: $1,266 in Sarajevo versus $1,007 in Bihac.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,911 in Sarajevo versus $1,483 in Bihac.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,556 in Sarajevo versus $1,958 in Bihac.

Living in Sarajevo is roughly 26% more expensive than in Bihac, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.71 BAM 14.69

$7.32 BAM 12.35

18.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.99 BAM 70.8

$29.99 BAM 50.6

40.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 BAM 15.39

$5.79 BAM 9.77

57.51%

Cappuccino

$2.32 BAM 3.91

$1.23 BAM 2.07

88.62%

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

$2.25 BAM 3.80

$1.23 BAM 2.07

82.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 BAM 2.50

$0.91 BAM 1.53

62.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 BAM 4.96

$1.45 BAM 2.44

102.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 BAM 4.98

$1.76 BAM 2.97

68.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 BAM 2.14

$1.32 BAM 2.23

-3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 BAM 2.09

$1.08 BAM 1.82

14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 BAM 3.75

$2.41 BAM 4.07

-7.88%

Eggs

$3.26 BAM 5.50

$3.02 BAM 5.09

7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 BAM 18.30

$10.06 BAM 16.97

7.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.87 BAM 13.28

$7.24 BAM 12.21

8.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.22 BAM 25.68

$11.59 BAM 19.55

31.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.61

$1.80 BAM 3.04

-13.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 BAM 2.85

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$2.43 BAM 4.10

-28.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 BAM 3.70

$2.06 BAM 3.47

6.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 BAM 1.77

$1.16 BAM 1.96

-9.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.08

$1.45 BAM 2.45

-15.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 BAM 1.87

$0.91 BAM 1.54

21.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$0.86 BAM 1.45

-10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 BAM 6.72

$3.66 BAM 6.17

8.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 BAM 14.03

$8.04 BAM 13.57

3.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$1.32 BAM 2.22

-31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 BAM 2.54

$2.07 BAM 3.48

-27.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 BAM 2.22

$1.41 BAM 2.38

-7.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.61 BAM 60.1

$35.99 BAM 60.7

-1.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.51

$1.20 BAM 2.03

24.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$1.05 BAM 1.78

17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 BAM 14.92

$10.47 BAM 17.67

-15.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 BAM 2.86

$1.52 BAM 2.57

11.84%

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

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

-0.02%

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

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

$22.5K BAM 38.0K

5.66%

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

$224 BAM 377

$213 BAM 359

5.12%

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

$14.67 BAM 24.73

$18.88 BAM 31.84

-22.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.33 BAM 47.79

$22.19 BAM 37.42

27.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.45 BAM 69.9

$34.46 BAM 58.1

20.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.34 BAM 34.31

$11.79 BAM 19.89

72.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 BAM 11.90

$5.66 BAM 9.55

24.73%

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

$216 BAM 364

$151 BAM 255

42.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,961 BAM 6,680

$4,067 BAM 6,859

-2.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.8 BAM 153

$29.29 BAM 49.40

209.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 BAM 67.0

$17.86 BAM 30.12

122.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 BAM 161

$101 BAM 170

-5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BAM 176

$121 BAM 204

-13.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 BAM 802

$220 BAM 372

115.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 BAM 545

$208 BAM 351

55.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,076 BAM 1,815

$314 BAM 529

243.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 BAM 1,017

$285 BAM 480

111.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,397 BAM 5,728

$1,492 BAM 2,516

127.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 BAM 4,201

$1,335 BAM 2,251

86.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,089 BAM 1,836

$796 BAM 1,342

36.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.3

-5.12%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bihac: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Sarajevo and $220 in Bihac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarajevo pays 37% 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: $42.00 in Sarajevo vs $30.00 in Bihac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $233 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 26% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $1,007 including rent). Bihac is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 37% 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: $475 in Sarajevo versus $220 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 $42.00 in Sarajevo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Sarajevo versus $1,007 in Bihac – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,007 in Bihac versus $1,266 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 26% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.