🙂A single person spends $872 per month in Tesanj vs $1,133 in Banja Luka, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,322 per month in Tesanj vs $1,675 in Banja Luka, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,772 per month in Tesanj vs $2,217 in Banja Luka, rent included.
🙂Tesanj is about 23% cheaper than Banja Luka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tesanj and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Tesanj35% lower, Banja Luka15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51BAM 5.89
$8.90BAM 14.95
-60.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.66BAM 27.99
$41.26BAM 69.3
-59.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.00BAM 5.04
$8.70BAM 14.61
-65.52%
Cappuccino
$0.85BAM 1.43
$1.63BAM 2.74
-47.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48BAM 2.49
$1.99BAM 3.34
-25.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90BAM 1.50
$1.15BAM 1.93
-21.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09BAM 3.51
$2.02BAM 3.40
3.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81BAM 3.05
$2.72BAM 4.57
-33.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85BAM 1.43
$1.36BAM 2.29
-37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90BAM 1.51
$1.25BAM 2.10
-28.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40BAM 4.03
$1.57BAM 2.64
52.87%
Eggs
$2.78BAM 4.67
$2.88BAM 4.83
-3.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.76BAM 16.40
$9.25BAM 15.54
5.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.30BAM 12.27
$8.71BAM 14.64
-16.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.16BAM 22.10
$12.26BAM 20.59
7.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25BAM 2.09
$1.40BAM 2.34
-10.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69BAM 2.85
$1.65BAM 2.77
2.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92BAM 3.22
$1.93BAM 3.24
-0.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66BAM 2.78
$2.03BAM 3.41
-18.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80BAM 1.34
$1.25BAM 2.09
-36.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70BAM 1.18
$1.26BAM 2.11
-44.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93BAM 1.56
$1.28BAM 2.16
-27.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96BAM 1.62
$0.77BAM 1.29
24.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49BAM 5.86
$3.72BAM 6.25
-6.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49BAM 14.26
$8.36BAM 14.04
1.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25BAM 2.11
$0.74BAM 1.25
68.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06BAM 3.46
$1.10BAM 1.84
87.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.85BAM 3.11
$1.36BAM 2.29
36.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.58BAM 59.8
$36.41BAM 61.2
-2.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BAM 1.95
$1.49BAM 2.50
-22.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52BAM 0.88
$1.10BAM 1.84
-52.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.67BAM 17.93
$8.94BAM 15.02
19.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44BAM 2.42
$1.46BAM 2.45
-1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KBAM 39.3K
$28.4KBAM 47.7K
-17.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KBAM 44.9K
$26.9KBAM 45.2K
-0.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124BAM 209
$174BAM 292
-28.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.29BAM 32.41
$19.29BAM 32.41
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.67BAM 48.17
$23.24BAM 39.05
23.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.51BAM 49.58
$27.95BAM 46.96
5.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.80BAM 18.15
$9.92BAM 16.66
8.87%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94BAM 4.94
$4.69BAM 7.89
-37.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150BAM 251
$238BAM 399
-37.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,312BAM 5,565
$3,758BAM 6,314
-11.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8BAM 121
$74.5BAM 125
-3.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.38BAM 59.5
$36.14BAM 60.7
-2.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9BAM 168
$88.9BAM 149
12.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120BAM 201
$124BAM 208
-3.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262BAM 440
$465BAM 781
-43.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168BAM 283
$322BAM 542
-47.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$370BAM 621
$646BAM 1,085
-42.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313BAM 526
$477BAM 802
-34.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,603BAM 4,373
$3,163BAM 5,314
-17.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,839BAM 3,090
$2,023BAM 3,399
-9.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Banja Luka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$715BAM 1,201
$901BAM 1,514
-20.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
5.02
-17.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tesanj: May 31, 2026
Last update for Banja Luka: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Tesanj versus $465 in Banja Luka. 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 26% higher in Banja Luka, 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 $17.00 in Tesanj versus $41.00 in Banja Luka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $230 – making Tesanj 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
Tesanj vs Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banja Luka cheaper than Tesanj?
Yes – Banja Luka is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,308 per month in Tesanj and $1,699 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tesanj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tesanj and Banja Luka?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Banja Luka, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Tesanj or Banja Luka?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Tesanj and $41.00 in Banja Luka. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tesanj or Banja Luka?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tesanj, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Banja Luka at $1,133. In Tesanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Banja Luka it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tesanj or Banja Luka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tesanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tesanj or Banja Luka?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tesanj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Banja Luka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.