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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Sarajevo vs $934 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,784 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,465 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,996 in Kakanj, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 BAM 12.21

$7.24 BAM 12.38

-1.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 61.5

$35.97 BAM 61.5

-0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BAM 15.05

$5.72 BAM 9.79

53.85%

Cappuccino

$2.07 BAM 3.54

$1.59 BAM 2.71

30.19%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$1.81 BAM 3.10

11.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BAM 2.38

$1.16 BAM 1.98

19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$2.02 BAM 3.45

35.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.09

$2.03 BAM 3.47

17.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.42 BAM 2.43

-0.70%

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

$3.00 BAM 5.14

8.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 BAM 17.90

$7.76 BAM 13.27

34.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 BAM 15.12

$7.75 BAM 13.25

14.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BAM 22.64

$12.21 BAM 20.88

8.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.65

$1.40 BAM 2.39

10.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.18

$1.66 BAM 2.83

12.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.91 BAM 3.27

8.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.94

$1.73 BAM 2.96

32.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.92

$1.08 BAM 1.84

3.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$1.15 BAM 1.97

5.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.18

$1.16 BAM 1.99

9.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BAM 1.38

$0.76 BAM 1.30

6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.44

$3.58 BAM 6.12

5.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 BAM 13.68

$8.22 BAM 14.05

-2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.80

$0.91 BAM 1.55

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$1.21 BAM 2.07

5.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BAM 1.76

$1.82 BAM 3.11

-43.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 BAM 54.3

$35.38 BAM 60.5

-10.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$1.43 BAM 2.45

4.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.32

$0.78 BAM 1.34

-1.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 BAM 14.76

$9.00 BAM 15.39

-4.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.52 BAM 2.60

-1.97%

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

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

0.02%

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

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

$26.1K BAM 44.6K

-0.93%

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

$202 BAM 346

$162 BAM 277

24.74%

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

$19.03 BAM 32.55

$19.11 BAM 32.68

-0.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.94 BAM 56.3

$23.48 BAM 40.17

40.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.14 BAM 60.1

$29.09 BAM 49.75

20.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 BAM 27.81

$10.85 BAM 18.55

49.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BAM 12.31

$5.72 BAM 9.78

25.87%

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

$258 BAM 441

$171 BAM 293

50.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 BAM 5,805

$3,325 BAM 5,687

2.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BAM 157

$70.0 BAM 120

30.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.77 BAM 64.6

$35.30 BAM 60.4

7.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 184

$89.0 BAM 152

21.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 172

$119 BAM 204

-15.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 BAM 746

$260 BAM 444

67.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 BAM 519

$166 BAM 284

82.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 BAM 1,525

$363 BAM 621

145.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 BAM 992

$312 BAM 534

85.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 BAM 5,551

$2,740 BAM 4,686

18.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,315 BAM 3,959

$1,867 BAM 3,193

23.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 BAM 1,781

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Sarajevo versus $260 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 $220 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 26%, 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 $1,764 per month in Sarajevo and $1,401 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 12% less in Kakanj. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Sarajevo and $171 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 $934, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. 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.