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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Sarajevo vs $887 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,784 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,395 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,903 in Maglaj, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 33% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 12% lower, Maglaj 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 BAM 12.21

$7.10 BAM 12.15

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 61.5

$35.89 BAM 61.4

0.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BAM 15.05

$5.65 BAM 9.66

55.75%

Cappuccino

$2.07 BAM 3.54

$1.74 BAM 2.97

18.97%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$1.80 BAM 3.08

12.22%

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

$2.37 BAM 4.06

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.09

$2.07 BAM 3.55

15.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.42 BAM 2.43

-0.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.03 BAM 1.75

17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.49

$1.80 BAM 3.08

13.33%

Eggs

$3.25 BAM 5.56

$2.87 BAM 4.90

13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 BAM 17.90

$7.53 BAM 12.88

38.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 BAM 15.12

$7.28 BAM 12.46

21.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BAM 22.64

$9.87 BAM 16.87

34.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.65

$1.15 BAM 1.96

34.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.18

$1.61 BAM 2.76

15.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.78 BAM 3.05

16.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.94

$1.72 BAM 2.94

33.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.92

$1.20 BAM 2.06

-6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$1.21 BAM 2.07

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.18

$1.00 BAM 1.70

27.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BAM 1.38

$0.89 BAM 1.53

-8.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.44

$3.48 BAM 5.95

8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 BAM 13.68

$6.92 BAM 11.84

15.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.80

$1.20 BAM 2.05

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$1.15 BAM 1.98

11.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BAM 1.76

$1.77 BAM 3.02

-41.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 BAM 54.3

$35.07 BAM 60.0

-9.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$1.81 BAM 3.10

-17.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.32

$1.15 BAM 1.97

-33.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 BAM 14.76

$10.64 BAM 18.20

-18.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.49 BAM 2.54

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

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

$24.0K BAM 41.1K

10.53%

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

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

$26.2K BAM 44.8K

-1.35%

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

$202 BAM 346

$124 BAM 213

62.59%

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

$19.03 BAM 32.55

$19.33 BAM 33.06

-1.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.94 BAM 56.3

$28.62 BAM 48.95

15.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.14 BAM 60.1

$30.00 BAM 51.3

17.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 BAM 27.81

$10.77 BAM 18.41

50.97%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BAM 12.31

$4.66 BAM 7.97

54.51%

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

$258 BAM 441

$152 BAM 260

70.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 BAM 5,805

$3,266 BAM 5,585

3.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BAM 157

$70.5 BAM 121

29.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.77 BAM 64.6

$34.38 BAM 58.8

9.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 184

$97.6 BAM 167

10.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 172

$119 BAM 203

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 BAM 746

$257 BAM 440

69.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 BAM 519

$171 BAM 292

77.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 BAM 1,525

$368 BAM 630

142.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 BAM 992

$316 BAM 540

83.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 BAM 5,551

$2,540 BAM 4,344

27.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,315 BAM 3,959

$1,805 BAM 3,088

28.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 BAM 1,781

$772 BAM 1,321

34.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

4.14

-8.21%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maglaj: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Sarajevo versus $257 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 35% 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 $36.00 in Maglaj. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Sarajevo vs $206 in Maglaj – so Maglaj 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 Maglaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,176 in Sarajevo, $887 in Maglaj – roughly 33% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,764 per month in Sarajevo and $1,330 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.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Sarajevo and $36.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. 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 $887 in Maglaj to $1,176 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.