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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Sarajevo vs $943 in Mostar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,911 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,456 in Mostar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,556 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,969 in Mostar, rent included.

Sarajevo costs about 34% more than Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarajevo and Mostar are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 8% lower, Mostar 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.71 BAM 14.69

$7.30 BAM 12.31

19.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.99 BAM 70.8

$29.19 BAM 49.23

43.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 BAM 15.39

$5.85 BAM 9.87

55.90%

Cappuccino

$2.32 BAM 3.91

$1.75 BAM 2.95

32.57%

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

$2.25 BAM 3.80

$1.98 BAM 3.33

13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 BAM 2.50

$1.25 BAM 2.10

18.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 BAM 4.96

$2.31 BAM 3.90

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 BAM 4.98

$2.27 BAM 3.83

30.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 BAM 2.14

$1.16 BAM 1.95

9.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 BAM 2.09

$0.92 BAM 1.56

34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 BAM 3.75

$2.13 BAM 3.59

4.23%

Eggs

$3.26 BAM 5.50

$2.67 BAM 4.50

22.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 BAM 18.30

$8.17 BAM 13.78

32.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.87 BAM 13.28

$7.29 BAM 12.29

7.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.22 BAM 25.68

$11.06 BAM 18.66

37.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.61

$1.18 BAM 1.99

31.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 BAM 2.85

$1.71 BAM 2.88

-1.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$1.47 BAM 2.47

18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 BAM 3.70

$1.24 BAM 2.09

76.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 BAM 1.77

$0.80 BAM 1.36

31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 BAM 2.08

$0.71 BAM 1.20

73.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 BAM 1.87

$0.79 BAM 1.34

40.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$0.72 BAM 1.22

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 BAM 6.72

$3.94 BAM 6.64

1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 BAM 14.03

$4.24 BAM 7.15

96.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 BAM 1.52

$0.76 BAM 1.28

18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 BAM 2.54

$0.94 BAM 1.58

59.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 BAM 2.22

$1.18 BAM 1.98

11.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.61 BAM 60.1

$34.69 BAM 58.5

2.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.51

$1.82 BAM 3.07

-18.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$0.57 BAM 0.97

115.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 BAM 14.92

$10.51 BAM 17.72

-15.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 BAM 2.86

$1.54 BAM 2.60

10.39%

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

$31.1K BAM 52.5K

$31.0K BAM 52.3K

0.50%

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

$23.8K BAM 40.2K

$22.3K BAM 37.7K

6.67%

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

$224 BAM 377

$125 BAM 211

78.93%

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

$14.67 BAM 24.73

$18.33 BAM 30.91

-19.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.33 BAM 47.79

$26.88 BAM 45.33

5.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.45 BAM 69.9

$36.24 BAM 61.1

14.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.34 BAM 34.31

$11.94 BAM 20.14

70.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 BAM 11.90

$5.71 BAM 9.64

23.64%

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

$216 BAM 364

$153 BAM 258

40.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,961 BAM 6,680

$13.9K BAM 23.5K

-71.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.8 BAM 153

$61.5 BAM 104

47.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 BAM 67.0

$33.95 BAM 57.3

17.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 BAM 161

$89.3 BAM 151

7.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BAM 176

$85.3 BAM 144

22.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 BAM 802

$438 BAM 738

8.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 BAM 545

$262 BAM 441

23.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,076 BAM 1,815

$681 BAM 1,149

58.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 BAM 1,017

$468 BAM 790

28.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,397 BAM 5,728

$2,374 BAM 4,004

43.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 BAM 4,201

$1,637 BAM 2,760

52.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,089 BAM 1,836

$875 BAM 1,475

24.48%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mostar: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Sarajevo versus $438 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 24% 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 $42.00 in Sarajevo versus $29.00 in Mostar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $192 – making Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Sarajevo, $943 in Mostar – roughly 34% apart. Sarajevo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Sarajevo and $1,415 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 $216 per month in Sarajevo and $153 in Mostar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $943, than in Sarajevo at $1,266. 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 $943 in Mostar to $1,266 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.