Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Maglaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Maglaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,241 per month in Sarajevo vs $990 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,920 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,502 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,598 per month in Sarajevo vs $2,014 in Maglaj, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 25% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Maglaj 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 BAM 14.68

$7.16 BAM 12.03

22.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.93 BAM 68.7

$39.10 BAM 65.7

4.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 BAM 14.72

$7.23 BAM 12.14

21.30%

Cappuccino

$2.36 BAM 3.97

$1.69 BAM 2.83

39.64%

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

$2.25 BAM 3.78

$1.91 BAM 3.21

17.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 BAM 2.57

$1.25 BAM 2.10

22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BAM 5.01

$2.32 BAM 3.90

28.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BAM 4.92

$2.33 BAM 3.91

25.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 BAM 2.05

$1.44 BAM 2.42

-15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$1.00 BAM 1.67

23.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.85

$1.76 BAM 2.96

30.11%

Eggs

$3.28 BAM 5.51

$2.89 BAM 4.85

13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 BAM 18.58

$7.55 BAM 12.68

46.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 BAM 13.38

$7.30 BAM 12.25

9.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 BAM 25.48

$10.02 BAM 16.82

51.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 BAM 2.63

$1.21 BAM 2.03

29.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BAM 2.96

$1.74 BAM 2.93

1.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$1.82 BAM 3.05

1.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 BAM 3.54

$1.74 BAM 2.93

21.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BAM 1.67

$1.17 BAM 1.97

-14.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.06

$1.17 BAM 1.96

5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 BAM 1.93

$0.92 BAM 1.55

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.20

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 BAM 6.81

$3.60 BAM 6.04

12.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.39 BAM 14.10

$7.25 BAM 12.17

15.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 BAM 1.54

$1.22 BAM 2.05

-24.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.16 BAM 1.95

33.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 BAM 2.16

$1.37 BAM 2.30

-6.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.13 BAM 60.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 BAM 2.45

$1.83 BAM 3.08

-20.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.05 BAM 1.76

15.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.17 BAM 15.39

$10.57 BAM 17.76

-13.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 BAM 2.87

$1.47 BAM 2.47

16.33%

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

$31.1K BAM 52.2K

$31.8K BAM 53.4K

-2.31%

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

$24.5K BAM 41.1K

$22.5K BAM 37.8K

8.83%

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

$226 BAM 380

$121 BAM 203

86.95%

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

$14.70 BAM 24.69

$18.90 BAM 31.74

-22.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.66 BAM 48.14

$28.81 BAM 48.39

-0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.96 BAM 70.5

$33.96 BAM 57.0

23.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 BAM 33.85

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 BAM 11.62

$4.69 BAM 7.88

47.55%

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

$218 BAM 367

$153 BAM 257

43.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,055 BAM 6,811

$3,940 BAM 6,617

2.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.7 BAM 154

$114 BAM 191

-19.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.97 BAM 65.5

$35.89 BAM 60.3

8.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 BAM 160

$100 BAM 168

-5.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BAM 174

$118 BAM 198

-12.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 BAM 785

$358 BAM 601

30.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 BAM 551

$259 BAM 434

26.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 BAM 1,819

$531 BAM 892

103.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$382 BAM 642

56.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,438 BAM 5,774

$2,506 BAM 4,208

37.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,422 BAM 4,068

$1,807 BAM 3,035

34.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,085 BAM 1,823

$780 BAM 1,310

39.14%

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 Maglaj: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Sarajevo versus $358 in Maglaj. 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 39% 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 $41.00 in Sarajevo versus $39.00 in Maglaj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $208 – making Maglaj 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 Maglaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,241 in Sarajevo, $990 in Maglaj – roughly 25% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,862 per month in Sarajevo and $1,485 in Maglaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Sarajevo and $39.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Sarajevo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $990, than in Sarajevo at $1,241. In Maglaj 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 $990 in Maglaj to $1,241 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 Maglaj. 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.