🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $954 in Tesanj versus $1,241 in Sarajevo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,390 in Tesanj versus $1,920 in Sarajevo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,825 in Tesanj versus $2,598 in Sarajevo.
🌍Living in Tesanj costs roughly 23% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tesanj31% lower, Sarajevo10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46BAM 5.81
$8.74BAM 14.68
-60.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42BAM 27.59
$40.93BAM 68.7
-59.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.94BAM 4.93
$8.77BAM 14.72
-66.48%
Cappuccino
$0.91BAM 1.53
$2.36BAM 3.97
-61.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44BAM 2.42
$2.25BAM 3.78
-36.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86BAM 1.44
$1.53BAM 2.57
-43.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07BAM 3.48
$2.98BAM 5.01
-30.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81BAM 3.03
$2.93BAM 4.92
-38.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81BAM 1.36
$1.22BAM 2.05
-33.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86BAM 1.44
$1.23BAM 2.07
-30.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31BAM 3.88
$2.29BAM 3.85
0.87%
Eggs
$3.06BAM 5.13
$3.28BAM 5.51
-6.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.88BAM 16.60
$11.06BAM 18.58
-10.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27BAM 12.22
$7.97BAM 13.38
-8.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43BAM 22.55
$15.17BAM 25.48
-11.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25BAM 2.10
$1.57BAM 2.63
-20.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81BAM 3.04
$1.76BAM 2.96
2.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85BAM 3.10
$1.85BAM 3.11
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74BAM 2.93
$2.11BAM 3.54
-17.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79BAM 1.33
$1.00BAM 1.67
-21.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68BAM 1.15
$1.23BAM 2.06
-44.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95BAM 1.59
$1.15BAM 1.93
-17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01BAM 1.70
$0.71BAM 1.20
42.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00BAM 6.72
$4.06BAM 6.81
-1.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02BAM 13.48
$8.39BAM 14.10
-4.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31BAM 2.19
$0.92BAM 1.54
42.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32BAM 3.90
$1.55BAM 2.60
49.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31BAM 2.20
$1.28BAM 2.16
2.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$36.13BAM 60.7
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17BAM 1.97
$1.46BAM 2.45
-19.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57BAM 0.96
$1.21BAM 2.03
-52.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.75BAM 18.06
$9.17BAM 15.39
17.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53BAM 2.57
$1.71BAM 2.87
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6KBAM 53.1K
$31.1KBAM 52.2K
1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KBAM 37.6K
$24.5KBAM 41.1K
-8.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124BAM 209
$226BAM 380
-45.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92BAM 31.78
$14.70BAM 24.69
28.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33BAM 47.59
$28.66BAM 48.14
-1.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.48BAM 57.9
$41.96BAM 70.5
-17.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.09BAM 50.6
$20.15BAM 33.85
49.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01BAM 5.05
$6.92BAM 11.62
-56.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152BAM 256
$218BAM 367
-30.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,994BAM 6,709
$4,055BAM 6,811
-1.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116BAM 195
$91.7BAM 154
26.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.80BAM 58.5
$38.97BAM 65.5
-10.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6BAM 164
$95.0BAM 160
2.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117BAM 197
$104BAM 174
13.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349BAM 586
$467BAM 785
-25.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262BAM 441
$328BAM 551
-19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$528BAM 888
$1,083BAM 1,819
-51.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380BAM 638
$600BAM 1,008
-36.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,544BAM 4,272
$3,438BAM 5,774
-26.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,825BAM 3,065
$2,422BAM 4,068
-24.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$715BAM 1,201
$1,085BAM 1,823
-34.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
4.08
5.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tesanj: September 6, 2026
Last update for Sarajevo: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Tesanj and $467 in Sarajevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sarajevo pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Tesanj vs $41.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $245 per month, with Tesanj cheaper across the board.
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 Sarajevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tesanj or Sarajevo?
Tesanj wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Sarajevo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tesanj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tesanj or in Sarajevo?
On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Sarajevo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tesanj compared to Sarajevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Tesanj versus $467 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tesanj or in Sarajevo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Sarajevo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Tesanj compared to Sarajevo?
All in, you'll spend $954 per month in Tesanj versus $1,241 in Sarajevo – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Tesanj or in Sarajevo?
At $954 in Tesanj versus $1,241 in Sarajevo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tesanj but tight or insufficient in Sarajevo. The gap between the two cities makes Tesanj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tesanj or Sarajevo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tesanj delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $954 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tesanj hard to pass up.
How safe is Tesanj compared to Sarajevo?
Safety-wise, Tesanj and Sarajevo 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 Tesanj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.