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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,241 per month in Sarajevo vs $982 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,920 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,453 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,598 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,924 in Kakanj, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 26% more than Kakanj, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sarajevo and Kakanj are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Kakanj 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 BAM 14.68

$6.95 BAM 11.67

25.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.93 BAM 68.7

$38.93 BAM 65.4

5.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 BAM 14.72

$7.09 BAM 11.90

23.70%

Cappuccino

$2.36 BAM 3.97

$1.70 BAM 2.86

38.82%

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

$2.25 BAM 3.78

$1.96 BAM 3.29

14.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 BAM 2.57

$1.29 BAM 2.17

18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BAM 5.01

$2.39 BAM 4.01

24.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BAM 4.92

$2.42 BAM 4.07

21.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 BAM 2.05

$1.24 BAM 2.08

-1.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$1.13 BAM 1.90

8.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.85

$2.13 BAM 3.58

7.51%

Eggs

$3.28 BAM 5.51

$3.00 BAM 5.04

9.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 BAM 18.58

$9.75 BAM 16.37

13.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 BAM 13.38

$7.60 BAM 12.77

4.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 BAM 25.48

$13.41 BAM 22.52

13.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 BAM 2.63

$1.16 BAM 1.94

35.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BAM 2.96

$1.65 BAM 2.77

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$1.41 BAM 2.36

31.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 BAM 3.54

$1.75 BAM 2.95

20.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BAM 1.67

$1.01 BAM 1.70

-0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.06

$1.06 BAM 1.78

16.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$1.01 BAM 1.69

13.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.20

$0.76 BAM 1.28

-6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 BAM 6.81

$3.94 BAM 6.62

3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.39 BAM 14.10

$7.92 BAM 13.30

5.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 BAM 1.54

$0.91 BAM 1.54

1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.35 BAM 2.27

14.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 BAM 2.16

$1.31 BAM 2.19

-2.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.13 BAM 60.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 BAM 2.45

$1.79 BAM 3.01

-18.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$0.57 BAM 0.96

112.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.17 BAM 15.39

$10.83 BAM 18.19

-15.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 BAM 2.87

$1.53 BAM 2.57

11.76%

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

$31.1K BAM 52.2K

$32.0K BAM 53.8K

-2.90%

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

$24.5K BAM 41.1K

$22.4K BAM 37.6K

9.31%

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

$226 BAM 380

$123 BAM 206

84.37%

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

$14.70 BAM 24.69

$16.85 BAM 28.30

-12.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.66 BAM 48.14

$27.72 BAM 46.56

3.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.96 BAM 70.5

$34.49 BAM 57.9

21.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 BAM 33.85

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 BAM 11.62

$5.57 BAM 9.36

24.24%

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

$218 BAM 367

$159 BAM 266

37.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,055 BAM 6,811

$3,988 BAM 6,698

1.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.7 BAM 154

$60.9 BAM 102

50.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.97 BAM 65.5

$33.53 BAM 56.3

16.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 BAM 160

$90.4 BAM 152

5.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BAM 174

$103 BAM 174

0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 BAM 785

$349 BAM 586

33.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 BAM 551

$261 BAM 438

25.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 BAM 1,819

$533 BAM 895

103.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$381 BAM 641

57.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,438 BAM 5,774

$2,576 BAM 4,327

33.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,422 BAM 4,068

$1,846 BAM 3,100

31.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,085 BAM 1,823

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.08

4.3

-5.12%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Sarajevo versus $349 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 $41.00 in Sarajevo versus $39.00 in Kakanj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $223 – making Kakanj 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 Kakanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sarajevo is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,862 per month in Sarajevo and $1,473 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,241 in Sarajevo and $982 in Kakanj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Sarajevo and $159 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 $982, than in Sarajevo at $1,241. 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.