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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Sarajevo vs $931 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,911 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,444 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,556 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,958 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 36% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sarajevo and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 8% lower, Bijeljina 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.71 BAM 14.69

$8.65 BAM 14.59

0.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.99 BAM 70.8

$36.14 BAM 61.0

16.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 BAM 15.39

$4.80 BAM 8.09

90.00%

Cappuccino

$2.32 BAM 3.91

$1.47 BAM 2.47

57.82%

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

$2.25 BAM 3.80

$1.80 BAM 3.04

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 BAM 2.50

$1.08 BAM 1.82

37.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 BAM 4.96

$1.79 BAM 3.03

64.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 BAM 4.98

$2.34 BAM 3.94

26.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 BAM 2.14

$1.64 BAM 2.76

-22.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 BAM 2.09

$1.26 BAM 2.12

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 BAM 3.75

$1.70 BAM 2.87

30.59%

Eggs

$3.26 BAM 5.50

$3.24 BAM 5.46

0.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 BAM 18.30

$7.73 BAM 13.04

40.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.87 BAM 13.28

$8.22 BAM 13.87

-4.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.22 BAM 25.68

$12.30 BAM 20.74

23.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.61

$1.63 BAM 2.74

-4.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 BAM 2.85

$1.86 BAM 3.14

-9.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$1.90 BAM 3.20

-8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 BAM 3.70

$2.77 BAM 4.66

-20.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 BAM 1.77

$1.62 BAM 2.73

-35.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.08

$1.46 BAM 2.46

-15.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 BAM 1.87

$1.14 BAM 1.93

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$0.68 BAM 1.14

13.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 BAM 6.72

$3.78 BAM 6.38

5.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 BAM 14.03

$8.73 BAM 14.73

-4.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$0.93 BAM 1.56

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 BAM 2.54

$1.46 BAM 2.46

2.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 BAM 2.22

$2.30 BAM 3.88

-43.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.61 BAM 60.1

$18.09 BAM 30.51

96.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.51

$1.51 BAM 2.55

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$0.61 BAM 1.02

101.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 BAM 14.92

$10.59 BAM 17.86

-16.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 BAM 2.86

$1.47 BAM 2.48

15.65%

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

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

$30.6K BAM 51.5K

1.89%

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

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

-0.12%

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

$224 BAM 377

$144 BAM 243

55.32%

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

$14.67 BAM 24.73

$19.07 BAM 32.17

-23.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.33 BAM 47.79

$24.30 BAM 40.99

16.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.45 BAM 69.9

$30.76 BAM 51.9

34.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.34 BAM 34.31

$8.66 BAM 14.61

134.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 BAM 11.90

$5.11 BAM 8.61

38.16%

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

$216 BAM 364

$211 BAM 356

2.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,961 BAM 6,680

$3,898 BAM 6,574

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.8 BAM 153

$58.5 BAM 98.6

55.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 BAM 67.0

$26.29 BAM 44.34

51.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 BAM 161

$135 BAM 228

-29.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BAM 176

$123 BAM 207

-14.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 BAM 802

$258 BAM 435

84.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 BAM 545

$173 BAM 292

86.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,076 BAM 1,815

$363 BAM 613

196.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 BAM 1,017

$293 BAM 494

106.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,397 BAM 5,728

$1,866 BAM 3,147

82.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 BAM 4,201

$1,406 BAM 2,372

77.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,089 BAM 1,836

$763 BAM 1,286

42.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

-32.00%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Sarajevo versus $258 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 43% 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 $42.00 in Sarajevo versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $236 – 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: $1,266 in Sarajevo, $931 in Bijeljina – roughly 36% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Sarajevo and $1,396 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 $1,266 in Sarajevo and $931 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 97% 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 $931, than in Sarajevo at $1,266. 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 $931 in Bijeljina to $1,266 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.