Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,270 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,811 per month in Sarajevo vs $2,013 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Sarajevo vs $2,756 in Santiago, rent included.

Sarajevo is about 5% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sarajevo and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 10% lower, Santiago 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 BAM 12.11

$10.93 CLP 9,698

-34.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.65 BAM 59.9

$53.1 CLP 47.1K

-32.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 BAM 15.05

$8.30 CLP 7,367

7.95%

Cappuccino

$2.04 BAM 3.42

$3.11 CLP 2,762

-34.41%

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

$2.01 BAM 3.38

$1.79 CLP 1,587

12.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 BAM 2.38

$1.29 CLP 1,144

10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BAM 4.52

$3.19 CLP 2,829

-15.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BAM 3.90

$4.39 CLP 3,897

-47.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$1.20 CLP 1,061

19.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$1.59 CLP 1,409

-23.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.50

$2.18 CLP 1,931

-4.59%

Eggs

$3.24 BAM 5.45

$4.14 CLP 3,671

-21.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 BAM 17.29

$10.66 CLP 9,456

-3.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 BAM 14.88

$6.48 CLP 5,748

36.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.44 BAM 22.58

$10.79 CLP 9,579

24.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.60

$2.00 CLP 1,779

-22.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BAM 3.15

$1.63 CLP 1,450

14.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 BAM 3.44

$2.13 CLP 1,891

-3.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 BAM 3.84

$1.84 CLP 1,630

24.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.88

$1.95 CLP 1,734

-42.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.68 CLP 1,487

-28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$1.29 CLP 1,147

-5.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.27

$1.19 CLP 1,054

-36.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BAM 6.33

$5.56 CLP 4,935

-32.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.33 BAM 13.99

$6.77 CLP 6,010

23.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$1.54 CLP 1,365

-32.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BAM 2.21

$2.47 CLP 2,195

-46.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BAM 1.82

$0.85 CLP 754

27.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.31 BAM 52.6

$42.05 CLP 37.3K

-25.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.42

$0.50 CLP 445

188.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 BAM 1.31

$1.43 CLP 1,268

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.08 BAM 15.25

$11.70 CLP 10.4K

-22.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BAM 2.55

$1.37 CLP 1,215

10.95%

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

$26.7K BAM 44.9K

$19.6K CLP 17.4M

36.21%

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

$25.9K BAM 43.5K

$22.6K CLP 20.1M

14.69%

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

$197 BAM 331

$133 CLP 118.4K

47.57%

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

$19.00 BAM 31.92

$13.65 CLP 12.1K

39.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.37 BAM 56.1

$21.85 CLP 19.4K

52.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.64 BAM 59.9

$33.74 CLP 29.9K

5.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 BAM 27.62

$20.94 CLP 18.6K

-21.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 BAM 11.67

$6.55 CLP 5,817

5.95%

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

$255 BAM 428

$436 CLP 387.1K

-41.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 BAM 5,583

$8,621 CLP 7.7M

-61.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.3 BAM 153

$55.0 CLP 48.8K

66.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.66 BAM 61.6

$32.75 CLP 29.1K

11.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 182

$76.0 CLP 67.4K

42.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 BAM 168

$83.5 CLP 74.1K

19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 BAM 726

$519 CLP 460.6K

-16.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 526

$468 CLP 415.5K

-33.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 BAM 1,474

$1,012 CLP 897.8K

-13.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 BAM 1,008

$888 CLP 787.7K

-32.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,430 BAM 5,762

$2,891 CLP 2.6M

18.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,383 BAM 4,003

$2,897 CLP 2.6M

-17.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 BAM 1,788

$884 CLP 784.5K

20.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

5.18

-26.64%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santiago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Sarajevo versus $519 in Santiago. 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 reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Sarajevo versus $53.0 in Santiago. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Sarajevo vs $242 in Santiago – so Santiago 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 Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santiago is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Sarajevo and $1,905 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 34% less in Sarajevo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $255 per month in Sarajevo and $436 in Santiago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sarajevo, where all-in costs run around $1,206, than in Santiago at $1,270. In Sarajevo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santiago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sarajevo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Sarajevo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.