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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Sarajevo vs $1,288 in Santiago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,784 per month in Sarajevo vs $2,020 in Santiago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Sarajevo vs $2,752 in Santiago, rent included.

Sarajevo is about 9% cheaper than Santiago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sarajevo and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Sarajevo 12% lower, Santiago 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.14 BAM 12.22

$10.72 CLP 10.0K

-33.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.96 BAM 61.6

$54.8 CLP 51.1K

-34.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 BAM 15.07

$8.16 CLP 7,621

7.84%

Cappuccino

$2.07 BAM 3.55

$3.16 CLP 2,948

-34.49%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.46

$1.78 CLP 1,665

13.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BAM 2.38

$1.25 CLP 1,165

11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 BAM 4.67

$3.31 CLP 3,094

-17.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BAM 4.10

$4.24 CLP 3,956

-43.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BAM 2.41

$1.18 CLP 1,104

19.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$1.53 CLP 1,433

-20.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.50

$2.18 CLP 2,036

-6.42%

Eggs

$3.25 BAM 5.57

$4.19 CLP 3,908

-22.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 BAM 17.92

$10.65 CLP 9,939

-1.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 BAM 15.14

$6.59 CLP 6,151

34.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 BAM 22.67

$11.13 CLP 10.4K

18.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 BAM 2.65

$2.09 CLP 1,952

-25.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 BAM 3.18

$1.55 CLP 1,443

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$2.07 CLP 1,928

0.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.95

$1.86 CLP 1,735

23.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 BAM 1.92

$1.95 CLP 1,824

-42.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 BAM 2.08

$1.63 CLP 1,518

-25.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 BAM 2.18

$1.28 CLP 1,197

-0.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BAM 1.38

$1.25 CLP 1,163

-35.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.45

$5.75 CLP 5,373

-34.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 BAM 13.70

$6.50 CLP 6,066

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 BAM 1.80

$1.56 CLP 1,456

-32.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$2.48 CLP 2,314

-48.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BAM 1.77

$0.85 CLP 790

21.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 BAM 54.4

$42.60 CLP 39.8K

-25.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 BAM 2.56

$0.51 CLP 478

192.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 BAM 1.32

$1.45 CLP 1,354

-46.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.63 BAM 14.78

$11.30 CLP 10.5K

-23.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.55

$1.39 CLP 1,293

7.19%

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

$26.6K BAM 45.5K

$19.5K CLP 18.3M

35.98%

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

$25.8K BAM 44.3K

$22.6K CLP 21.1M

14.55%

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

$202 BAM 346

$134 CLP 124.9K

51.04%

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

$19.03 BAM 32.60

$13.59 CLP 12.7K

40.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.94 BAM 56.4

$22.02 CLP 20.6K

49.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.14 BAM 60.2

$34.67 CLP 32.4K

1.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.26 BAM 27.85

$21.24 CLP 19.8K

-23.45%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 BAM 12.33

$6.29 CLP 5,872

14.47%

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

$258 BAM 442

$436 CLP 407.5K

-40.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 BAM 5,813

$8,744 CLP 8.2M

-61.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BAM 157

$55.3 CLP 51.7K

65.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.77 BAM 64.7

$32.30 CLP 30.2K

16.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BAM 184

$77.3 CLP 72.1K

39.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 BAM 172

$85.5 CLP 79.8K

17.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 BAM 747

$515 CLP 480.5K

-15.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 BAM 519

$462 CLP 431.2K

-34.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$892 BAM 1,527

$989 CLP 923.1K

-9.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 BAM 994

$920 CLP 858.8K

-36.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,245 BAM 5,559

$2,871 CLP 2.7M

13.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,315 BAM 3,965

$2,757 CLP 2.6M

-16.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 BAM 1,784

$803 CLP 749.6K

29.73%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Santiago: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $436 in Sarajevo versus $515 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 30% 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 $55.0 in Santiago. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Sarajevo vs $243 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 10%, 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 $1,764 per month in Sarajevo and $1,932 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 $258 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 $1,176, than in Santiago at $1,288. 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.