Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Kakanj Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Kakanj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Sarajevo vs $920 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,811 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,439 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,959 in Kakanj, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 31% more than Kakanj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Kakanj are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Kakanj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.15

$7.29 BAM 12.28

-1.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 60.1

$35.74 BAM 60.2

-0.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.10

$5.86 BAM 9.88

52.90%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.43

$1.65 BAM 2.78

23.64%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.39

$1.73 BAM 2.92

16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.39

$1.15 BAM 1.94

23.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.54

$2.03 BAM 3.41

32.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.91

$2.12 BAM 3.57

9.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.36 BAM 2.30

5.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.04

$1.25 BAM 2.10

-3.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.51

$1.77 BAM 2.98

17.51%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.47

$2.87 BAM 4.83

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.34

$7.93 BAM 13.37

29.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.92

$7.68 BAM 12.95

15.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.64

$11.86 BAM 19.98

13.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.43 BAM 2.41

8.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.62 BAM 2.73

15.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.45

$1.90 BAM 3.20

7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.86

$1.73 BAM 2.92

32.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$1.07 BAM 1.81

4.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.21 BAM 2.04

-0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$1.12 BAM 1.89

8.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.28

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.34

$3.56 BAM 6.00

5.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 14.03

$6.74 BAM 11.36

23.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.76

$0.86 BAM 1.45

20.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$1.23 BAM 2.07

6.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.84 BAM 3.11

-41.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.7

$35.26 BAM 59.4

-11.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.46 BAM 2.46

-1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.32

$0.83 BAM 1.39

-6.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.29

$9.11 BAM 15.35

-0.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.52 BAM 2.57

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

$26.7K BAM 45.1K

$26.5K BAM 44.6K

0.98%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.7K

$26.3K BAM 44.4K

-1.62%

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

$197 BAM 332

$158 BAM 266

24.79%

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

$19.00 BAM 32.01

$18.52 BAM 31.20

2.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.2

$23.85 BAM 40.18

39.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 60.1

$29.56 BAM 49.80

20.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.70

$10.72 BAM 18.05

53.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.70

$5.67 BAM 9.56

22.40%

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

$255 BAM 429

$170 BAM 287

49.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,599

$3,374 BAM 5,685

-1.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 154

$69.4 BAM 117

31.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.8

$35.24 BAM 59.4

4.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 183

$88.6 BAM 149

22.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$117 BAM 197

-14.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 728

$259 BAM 436

67.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 527

$167 BAM 281

87.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,478

$362 BAM 610

142.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,011

$314 BAM 529

91.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,779

$2,753 BAM 4,639

24.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,014

$2,066 BAM 3,481

15.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,793

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

4.23

-10.17%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Sarajevo versus $259 in Kakanj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Sarajevo versus $36.00 in Kakanj. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Sarajevo vs $215 in Kakanj – so Kakanj 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 Kakanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sarajevo is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Sarajevo and $1,379 in Kakanj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 13% less in Kakanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $255 per month in Sarajevo and $170 in Kakanj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. In Kakanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sarajevo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kakanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kakanj. 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.