Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Mostar Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Mostar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,003 in Mostar, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,927 in Mostar, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 17% more than Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Mostar are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 12% lower, Mostar 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 BAM 12.21

$6.95 BAM 11.88

2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 61.5

$35.81 BAM 61.3

0.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BAM 15.05

$5.54 BAM 9.48

58.84%

Cappuccino

$2.07 BAM 3.54

$1.64 BAM 2.80

26.22%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$1.80 BAM 3.09

12.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BAM 2.38

$1.20 BAM 2.05

15.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$2.08 BAM 3.56

31.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.09

$2.10 BAM 3.58

13.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.42 BAM 2.43

-0.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.07

$1.25 BAM 2.14

-3.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.49

$1.59 BAM 2.71

28.30%

Eggs

$3.25 BAM 5.56

$2.81 BAM 4.81

15.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 BAM 17.90

$9.21 BAM 15.74

13.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 BAM 15.12

$7.23 BAM 12.37

22.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BAM 22.64

$11.88 BAM 20.32

11.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.65

$1.23 BAM 2.10

26.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.18

$1.65 BAM 2.83

12.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.85 BAM 3.17

12.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.94

$1.73 BAM 2.95

32.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.92

$0.85 BAM 1.46

31.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$0.75 BAM 1.28

61.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.18

$0.92 BAM 1.57

38.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BAM 1.38

$0.71 BAM 1.22

14.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.44

$3.57 BAM 6.10

5.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 BAM 13.68

$4.04 BAM 6.91

98.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.80

$0.71 BAM 1.22

47.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$1.10 BAM 1.88

16.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BAM 1.76

$1.16 BAM 1.98

-11.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 BAM 54.3

$34.13 BAM 58.4

-7.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$1.45 BAM 2.47

2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.32

$0.89 BAM 1.53

-13.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 BAM 14.76

$8.89 BAM 15.20

-2.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.43 BAM 2.45

4.20%

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

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

$23.8K BAM 40.8K

11.52%

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

$25.8K BAM 44.2K

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

-2.27%

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

$202 BAM 346

$121 BAM 208

66.39%

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

$19.03 BAM 32.55

$19.20 BAM 32.84

-0.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.94 BAM 56.3

$23.63 BAM 40.41

39.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.14 BAM 60.1

$34.96 BAM 59.8

0.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 BAM 27.81

$11.57 BAM 19.78

40.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BAM 12.31

$4.83 BAM 8.26

49.07%

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

$258 BAM 441

$155 BAM 265

66.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 BAM 5,805

$3,298 BAM 5,641

2.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BAM 157

$74.0 BAM 127

23.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.77 BAM 64.6

$35.05 BAM 59.9

7.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 184

$89.0 BAM 152

20.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 172

$121 BAM 207

-16.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 BAM 746

$260 BAM 444

68.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 BAM 519

$279 BAM 477

8.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 BAM 1,525

$440 BAM 752

102.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 BAM 992

$313 BAM 536

85.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 BAM 5,551

$2,321 BAM 3,970

39.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,315 BAM 3,959

$1,624 BAM 2,778

42.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 BAM 1,781

$884 BAM 1,512

17.81%

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 Mostar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Sarajevo versus $260 in Mostar. 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 18% 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 Mostar. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Sarajevo vs $206 in Mostar – so Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,176 in Sarajevo, $1,003 in Mostar – roughly 17% 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 $1,504 in Mostar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Sarajevo and $155 in Mostar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostar, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Sarajevo at $1,176. In Mostar 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 $1,003 in Mostar 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 Mostar. 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.