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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Sarajevo vs $918 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,811 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,417 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,916 in Maglaj, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.11

$6.94 BAM 11.65

3.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 59.9

$34.95 BAM 58.7

2.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.05

$5.68 BAM 9.54

57.75%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.42

$1.74 BAM 2.93

17.24%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.85 BAM 3.11

8.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.38

$1.16 BAM 1.94

22.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.52

$2.38 BAM 4.00

13.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$2.11 BAM 3.54

9.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.35 BAM 2.27

5.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.01 BAM 1.70

19.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.50

$1.79 BAM 3.00

16.20%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.45

$2.86 BAM 4.80

13.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.29

$7.52 BAM 12.63

36.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.88

$7.11 BAM 11.94

24.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.58

$9.84 BAM 16.53

36.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.20 BAM 2.02

29.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.68 BAM 2.83

11.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$1.75 BAM 2.93

17.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.84

$1.81 BAM 3.04

26.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$1.17 BAM 1.96

-4.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$0.98 BAM 1.64

24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.27

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.33

$3.44 BAM 5.79

9.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 13.99

$7.24 BAM 12.17

15.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$1.15 BAM 1.93

13.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-41.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.6

$35.43 BAM 59.5

-11.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.75 BAM 2.95

-17.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$1.16 BAM 1.95

-32.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.25

$10.81 BAM 18.16

-16.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.49 BAM 2.51

2.01%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$23.9K BAM 40.2K

11.70%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

$25.8K BAM 43.4K

0.32%

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

$197 BAM 331

$123 BAM 206

60.22%

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

$19.00 BAM 31.92

$18.70 BAM 31.42

1.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.1

$28.79 BAM 48.36

15.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 59.9

$29.57 BAM 49.69

20.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.62

$10.82 BAM 18.18

51.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.67

$4.60 BAM 7.73

50.87%

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

$255 BAM 428

$152 BAM 256

67.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,583

$3,316 BAM 5,571

0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 153

$70.5 BAM 118

29.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.6

$35.67 BAM 59.9

2.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

$99.8 BAM 168

8.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$119 BAM 200

-16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 726

$257 BAM 432

68.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$169 BAM 285

84.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,474

$370 BAM 622

136.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$314 BAM 527

91.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,762

$2,591 BAM 4,354

32.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,003

$1,813 BAM 3,046

31.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,788

$772 BAM 1,297

37.88%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maglaj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 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 38% 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 $35.00 in Maglaj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $205 – 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: $1,206 in Sarajevo, $918 in Maglaj – roughly 31% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Sarajevo and $1,377 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 20% 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 $35.00 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 $918, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. 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 $918 in Maglaj to $1,206 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.