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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,001 in Mostar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,811 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,475 in Mostar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,949 in Mostar, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 20% more than Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Mostar are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Mostar 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.11

$7.07 BAM 11.88

1.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 59.9

$35.96 BAM 60.4

-0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.05

$5.45 BAM 9.16

64.40%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.42

$1.59 BAM 2.68

28.30%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.87 BAM 3.14

7.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.38

$1.16 BAM 1.95

22.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.52

$2.10 BAM 3.53

28.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$2.12 BAM 3.56

9.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.36 BAM 2.28

5.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.28 BAM 2.16

-5.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.50

$1.63 BAM 2.73

27.61%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.45

$2.79 BAM 4.68

16.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.29

$9.26 BAM 15.57

11.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.88

$7.52 BAM 12.64

17.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.58

$11.93 BAM 20.05

12.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$1.28 BAM 2.15

21.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.66 BAM 2.78

12.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$1.86 BAM 3.12

10.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.84

$1.73 BAM 2.90

32.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$0.78 BAM 1.31

43.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$0.74 BAM 1.25

62.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$0.98 BAM 1.65

24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.27

$0.73 BAM 1.23

4.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.33

$3.61 BAM 6.07

4.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 13.99

$4.12 BAM 6.93

102.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$0.70 BAM 1.18

48.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$1.13 BAM 1.90

15.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-6.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.6

$34.06 BAM 57.2

-8.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$1.45 BAM 2.43

-0.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.25

$9.07 BAM 15.23

0.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.43 BAM 2.40

6.29%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$23.4K BAM 39.3K

14.44%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

$26.1K BAM 43.9K

-0.72%

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

$197 BAM 331

$125 BAM 210

57.31%

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

$19.00 BAM 31.92

$18.89 BAM 31.74

0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.1

$23.79 BAM 39.97

40.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 59.9

$34.88 BAM 58.6

2.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.62

$11.97 BAM 20.11

37.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.67

$4.82 BAM 8.10

43.98%

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

$255 BAM 428

$152 BAM 256

67.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,583

$3,216 BAM 5,403

3.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 153

$74.8 BAM 126

22.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.6

$34.58 BAM 58.1

6.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

$90.9 BAM 153

19.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$117 BAM 196

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 726

$263 BAM 443

63.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$270 BAM 454

15.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,474

$443 BAM 744

98.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$311 BAM 523

92.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,762

$2,392 BAM 4,019

43.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,003

$1,624 BAM 2,728

46.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,788

$890 BAM 1,496

19.52%

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 Mostar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Sarajevo versus $263 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 20% 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 $208 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: $1,206 in Sarajevo, $1,001 in Mostar – roughly 20% 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 $1,502 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 $255 per month in Sarajevo and $152 in Mostar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 Mostar, where all-in costs run around $1,001, than in Sarajevo at $1,206. 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 $1,001 in Mostar 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 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.