Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Zepce Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarajevo and Zepce

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,206 in Sarajevo versus $1,008 in Zepce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,811 in Sarajevo versus $1,530 in Zepce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,416 in Sarajevo versus $2,053 in Zepce.

Living in Sarajevo is roughly 20% more expensive than Zepce, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sarajevo 10% lower, Zepce 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.21 BAM 12.11
$8.64 BAM 14.51
-16.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.65 BAM 59.9
$41.42 BAM 69.6
-13.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 BAM 15.05
$9.03 BAM 15.17
-0.78%
Cappuccino
$2.04 BAM 3.42
$1.57 BAM 2.64
29.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 BAM 3.38
$1.94 BAM 3.25
3.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 BAM 2.38
$1.15 BAM 1.94
23.48%
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
$2.78 BAM 4.66
-16.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 BAM 2.40
$1.34 BAM 2.26
6.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 BAM 2.03
$1.27 BAM 2.14
-4.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 BAM 3.50
$1.56 BAM 2.63
33.33%
Eggs
$3.24 BAM 5.45
$3.00 BAM 5.04
8.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 BAM 17.29
$9.35 BAM 15.72
10.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.86 BAM 14.88
$8.56 BAM 14.39
3.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.44 BAM 22.58
$12.10 BAM 20.33
11.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 BAM 2.60
$1.43 BAM 2.40
8.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 BAM 3.15
$1.63 BAM 2.74
14.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 BAM 3.44
$1.94 BAM 3.26
5.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 BAM 3.84
$2.02 BAM 3.39
13.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 BAM 1.88
$1.20 BAM 2.02
-6.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 BAM 2.02
$1.27 BAM 2.13
-5.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 BAM 2.06
$1.22 BAM 2.05
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 BAM 1.27
$0.77 BAM 1.29
-1.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 BAM 6.33
$3.77 BAM 6.33
-0.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 BAM 13.99
$8.24 BAM 13.85
1.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 BAM 1.75
$0.71 BAM 1.19
46.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 BAM 2.21
$1.14 BAM 1.91
14.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 BAM 1.82
$1.76 BAM 2.95
-38.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.31 BAM 52.6
$35.83 BAM 60.2
-12.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 BAM 2.42
$1.50 BAM 2.52
-4.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 BAM 1.31
$1.15 BAM 1.94
-32.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.08 BAM 15.25
$8.77 BAM 14.74
3.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 BAM 2.55
$1.47 BAM 2.47
3.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K BAM 44.9K
$28.7K BAM 48.2K
-6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K BAM 43.5K
$26.4K BAM 44.3K
-1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 BAM 331
$169 BAM 284
16.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.00 BAM 31.92
$18.80 BAM 31.59
1.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.37 BAM 56.1
$23.60 BAM 39.66
41.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.64 BAM 59.9
$29.62 BAM 49.76
20.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44 BAM 27.62
$11.09 BAM 18.64
48.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.94 BAM 11.67
$2.90 BAM 4.87
139.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$255 BAM 428
$240 BAM 404
5.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,323 BAM 5,583
$3,688 BAM 6,196
-9.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3 BAM 153
$74.5 BAM 125
22.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.66 BAM 61.6
$37.25 BAM 62.6
-1.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 BAM 182
$89.6 BAM 151
21.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9 BAM 168
$123 BAM 206
-18.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 BAM 726
$259 BAM 436
66.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 BAM 526
$166 BAM 280
87.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$877 BAM 1,474
$361 BAM 607
142.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 BAM 1,008
$320 BAM 538
87.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,430 BAM 5,762
$2,375 BAM 3,991
44.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,383 BAM 4,003
$1,822 BAM 3,061
30.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarajevo
Zepce
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,064 BAM 1,788
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
5.02
-24.30%

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

Last update for Sarajevo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zepce: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Sarajevo and $259 in Zepce. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Sarajevo vs $41.00 in Zepce. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $229, with Zepce cheaper for home cooking.

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 Zepce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sarajevo or Zepce?
Zepce wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Sarajevo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zepce the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sarajevo vs Zepce?
You'd need roughly $1,808 in Sarajevo and $1,512 in Zepce to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sarajevo vs Zepce?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Sarajevo versus $259 in Zepce. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Sarajevo vs Zepce?
A monthly transit pass in Zepce runs roughly 14% less than in Sarajevo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Sarajevo and Zepce?
Childcare runs $255 in Sarajevo versus $240 in Zepce. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Sarajevo or Zepce?
At $1,008 in Zepce versus $1,206 in Sarajevo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zepce but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Zepce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sarajevo or Zepce?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zepce delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,008 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zepce hard to pass up.
How safe is Sarajevo compared to Zepce?
Safety-wise, Sarajevo and Zepce are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zepce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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