Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Bijeljina Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Bijeljina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Sarajevo vs $963 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,811 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,460 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,957 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 25% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sarajevo and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Bijeljina 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.11

$8.90 BAM 14.96

-18.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 59.9

$35.33 BAM 59.4

0.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.05

$4.99 BAM 8.39

79.56%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.42

$1.44 BAM 2.41

41.67%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.73 BAM 2.90

16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.38

$1.09 BAM 1.83

30.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.52

$1.80 BAM 3.02

49.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$2.38 BAM 3.99

-2.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-11.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.20 BAM 2.02

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.50

$1.73 BAM 2.91

20.23%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.45

$3.10 BAM 5.21

4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.29

$7.98 BAM 13.41

28.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.88

$8.05 BAM 13.52

10.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.58

$12.18 BAM 20.47

10.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.67 BAM 2.81

-7.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.85 BAM 3.10

1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$1.83 BAM 3.07

12.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.84

$2.67 BAM 4.49

-14.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$1.60 BAM 2.69

-30.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-18.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$1.14 BAM 1.91

7.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.27

$0.67 BAM 1.12

13.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.33

$3.73 BAM 6.27

0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 13.99

$9.02 BAM 15.15

-7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$0.84 BAM 1.42

23.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$1.45 BAM 2.44

-9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$2.41 BAM 4.04

-55.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.6

$17.94 BAM 30.15

74.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.45 BAM 2.43

-0.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$0.56 BAM 0.93

39.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.25

$11.77 BAM 19.78

-22.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.41 BAM 2.37

7.80%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

2.03%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

-2.08%

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

$197 BAM 331

$141 BAM 237

39.67%

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

$19.00 BAM 31.92

$19.14 BAM 32.16

-0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.1

$24.88 BAM 41.79

34.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 59.9

$30.66 BAM 51.5

16.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.62

$8.80 BAM 14.78

86.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.67

$5.06 BAM 8.50

37.15%

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

$255 BAM 428

$214 BAM 359

19.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,583

$3,300 BAM 5,544

0.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 153

$58.6 BAM 98.4

55.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.6

$26.71 BAM 44.87

37.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

$135 BAM 227

-19.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$124 BAM 208

-19.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 726

$259 BAM 436

66.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$167 BAM 281

87.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,474

$370 BAM 622

136.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$291 BAM 488

106.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,762

$1,891 BAM 3,177

81.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,003

$1,425 BAM 2,394

67.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,788

$759 BAM 1,276

40.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

-36.67%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Sarajevo versus $259 in Bijeljina. 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 40% higher in Sarajevo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Sarajevo versus $35.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $234 – making Bijeljina the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,206 in Sarajevo, $963 in Bijeljina – roughly 25% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Sarajevo and $1,444 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,206 in Sarajevo and $963 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 75% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $963, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Sarajevo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $963 in Bijeljina to $1,206 in Sarajevo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bijeljina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sarajevo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.