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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Sarajevo vs $932 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,784 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,446 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,960 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 26% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 12% lower, Bijeljina 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 BAM 12.21

$9.08 BAM 15.52

-21.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 61.5

$35.23 BAM 60.3

2.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BAM 15.05

$5.07 BAM 8.67

73.57%

Cappuccino

$2.07 BAM 3.54

$1.49 BAM 2.54

38.93%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$1.74 BAM 2.98

16.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BAM 2.38

$1.05 BAM 1.79

32.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$1.81 BAM 3.10

50.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.09

$2.39 BAM 4.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.57 BAM 2.69

-10.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.26 BAM 2.16

-3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.49

$1.75 BAM 2.99

16.57%

Eggs

$3.25 BAM 5.56

$3.14 BAM 5.36

3.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 BAM 17.90

$7.71 BAM 13.18

35.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 BAM 15.12

$8.19 BAM 14.00

7.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BAM 22.64

$12.18 BAM 20.82

8.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.65

$1.61 BAM 2.75

-3.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.18

$1.91 BAM 3.27

-2.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.91 BAM 3.26

8.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.94

$2.73 BAM 4.68

-15.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.92

$1.58 BAM 2.71

-29.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$1.46 BAM 2.50

-17.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.18

$1.18 BAM 2.02

7.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BAM 1.38

$0.66 BAM 1.14

22.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.44

$3.80 BAM 6.50

-0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 BAM 13.68

$8.72 BAM 14.92

-8.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.80

$0.86 BAM 1.48

22.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$1.51 BAM 2.58

-15.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BAM 1.76

$2.38 BAM 4.07

-56.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 BAM 54.3

$17.85 BAM 30.52

77.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$1.51 BAM 2.59

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.32

$0.57 BAM 0.97

35.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 BAM 14.76

$11.89 BAM 20.33

-27.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.45 BAM 2.48

2.76%

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

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

0.56%

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

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

-1.27%

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

$202 BAM 346

$144 BAM 246

40.71%

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

$19.03 BAM 32.55

$18.99 BAM 32.48

0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.94 BAM 56.3

$24.13 BAM 41.27

36.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.14 BAM 60.1

$30.33 BAM 51.9

15.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 BAM 27.81

$8.77 BAM 15.00

85.40%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BAM 12.31

$4.87 BAM 8.34

47.84%

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

$258 BAM 441

$209 BAM 357

23.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 BAM 5,805

$3,282 BAM 5,613

3.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BAM 157

$57.5 BAM 98.4

59.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.77 BAM 64.6

$26.84 BAM 45.90

40.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 184

$132 BAM 227

-18.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 172

$124 BAM 213

-19.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 BAM 746

$262 BAM 448

66.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 BAM 519

$172 BAM 294

76.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 BAM 1,525

$366 BAM 625

143.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 BAM 992

$293 BAM 501

98.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 BAM 5,551

$1,847 BAM 3,160

75.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,315 BAM 3,959

$1,370 BAM 2,343

68.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 BAM 1,781

$766 BAM 1,311

35.91%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Sarajevo versus $262 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 36% 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: $1,176 in Sarajevo, $932 in Bijeljina – roughly 26% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,764 per month in Sarajevo and $1,398 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 $1,176 in Sarajevo and $932 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 78% 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 $932, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. 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 $932 in Bijeljina to $1,176 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.