Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Sarajevo vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,811 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 39% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sarajevo and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.11

$1.94 ฿63.5

271.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 59.9

$18.64 ฿609

91.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.05

$7.82 ฿255

14.58%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.42

$1.95 ฿63.8

4.62%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$0.85 ฿27.77

136.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.38

$0.35 ฿11.58

305.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.52

$2.13 ฿69.6

26.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$3.73 ฿122

-37.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.71 ฿56.0

-16.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.63 ฿53.2

-25.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.50

$1.14 ฿37.15

82.46%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.45

$1.93 ฿63.1

67.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.29

$16.21 ฿530

-36.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.88

$3.12 ฿102

183.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.58

$10.90 ฿356

23.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$2.75 ฿90.0

-43.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.21 ฿39.52

54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$1.62 ฿53.0

26.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.84

$1.59 ฿51.8

44.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$1.40 ฿45.70

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.17 ฿38.17

2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$0.66 ฿21.60

84.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.27

$0.53 ฿17.22

43.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.33

$4.69 ฿153

-19.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 13.99

$18.66 ฿609

-55.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$1.80 ฿58.8

-42.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$3.23 ฿106

-59.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$0.90 ฿29.26

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.6

$19.21 ฿628

62.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.41 ฿45.91

2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$1.29 ฿42.12

-39.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.25

$7.84 ฿256

15.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.27 ฿41.58

19.69%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

25.70%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

16.68%

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

$197 BAM 331

$69.1 ฿2,256

185.02%

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

$19.00 BAM 31.92

$14.08 ฿460

34.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.1

$18.00 ฿588

85.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 59.9

$41.06 ฿1,341

-13.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.62

$6.96 ฿227

136.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.67

$5.92 ฿193

17.23%

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

$255 BAM 428

$299 ฿9,766

-14.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,583

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-77.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 153

$54.7 ฿1,787

66.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.6

$26.77 ฿874

36.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

$85.0 ฿2,776

27.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$70.6 ฿2,306

41.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 726

$428 ฿14.0K

0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$237 ฿7,752

31.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,474

$801 ฿26.2K

9.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$515 ฿16.8K

16.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,762

$1,975 ฿64.5K

73.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,003

$1,475 ฿48.2K

61.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,788

$617 ฿20.2K

72.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

-24.00%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Sarajevo versus $428 in Chiang Mai. 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 72% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Sarajevo vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Sarajevo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sarajevo costs about 39% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Sarajevo and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $255 per month in Sarajevo and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Sarajevo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,206 in Sarajevo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. 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.