Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Sarajevo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Sarajevo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $850 in Tesanj versus $1,176 in Sarajevo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,310 in Tesanj versus $1,784 in Sarajevo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,769 in Tesanj versus $2,393 in Sarajevo.

Living in Tesanj costs roughly 28% less than in Sarajevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tesanj 36% lower, Sarajevo 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 BAM 5.91
$7.14 BAM 12.21
-51.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.59 BAM 28.37
$35.96 BAM 61.5
-53.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.89 BAM 4.95
$8.80 BAM 15.05
-67.16%
Cappuccino
$0.92 BAM 1.57
$2.07 BAM 3.54
-55.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 BAM 2.45
$2.02 BAM 3.45
-29.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 BAM 1.55
$1.39 BAM 2.38
-34.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.01 BAM 3.43
$2.73 BAM 4.67
-26.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 BAM 2.99
$2.39 BAM 4.09
-26.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 BAM 1.39
$1.41 BAM 2.41
-42.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 BAM 1.57
$1.21 BAM 2.07
-23.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 BAM 3.93
$2.04 BAM 3.49
12.75%
Eggs
$2.89 BAM 4.94
$3.25 BAM 5.56
-11.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 BAM 17.39
$10.46 BAM 17.90
-2.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.50 BAM 12.83
$8.84 BAM 15.12
-15.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.13 BAM 22.46
$13.24 BAM 22.64
-0.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 BAM 2.14
$1.55 BAM 2.65
-19.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 BAM 2.77
$1.86 BAM 3.18
-12.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 BAM 3.30
$2.08 BAM 3.55
-7.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 BAM 2.86
$2.30 BAM 3.94
-26.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 BAM 1.43
$1.12 BAM 1.92
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 BAM 1.28
$1.21 BAM 2.08
-38.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 BAM 1.57
$1.27 BAM 2.18
-27.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 BAM 1.74
$0.81 BAM 1.38
25.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 BAM 6.17
$3.77 BAM 6.44
-4.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 BAM 13.78
$8.00 BAM 13.68
0.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 BAM 2.08
$1.05 BAM 1.80
16.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 BAM 3.36
$1.28 BAM 2.19
53.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 BAM 3.12
$1.03 BAM 1.76
76.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.82 BAM 61.3
$31.73 BAM 54.3
12.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 BAM 1.98
$1.49 BAM 2.56
-22.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 BAM 0.96
$0.77 BAM 1.32
-27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.47 BAM 17.91
$8.63 BAM 14.76
21.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 BAM 2.54
$1.49 BAM 2.55
-0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K BAM 39.5K
$26.6K BAM 45.5K
-13.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K BAM 44.6K
$25.8K BAM 44.2K
0.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 BAM 212
$202 BAM 346
-38.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.14 BAM 32.74
$19.03 BAM 32.55
0.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.79 BAM 49.24
$32.94 BAM 56.3
-12.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.97 BAM 51.3
$35.14 BAM 60.1
-14.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.05 BAM 18.90
$16.26 BAM 27.81
-32.04%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97 BAM 5.08
$7.20 BAM 12.31
-58.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 BAM 257
$258 BAM 441
-41.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,244 BAM 5,548
$3,394 BAM 5,805
-4.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 BAM 120
$91.6 BAM 157
-23.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36 BAM 58.8
$37.77 BAM 64.6
-9.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 BAM 167
$108 BAM 184
-9.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 BAM 201
$101 BAM 172
16.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 BAM 437
$436 BAM 746
-41.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 BAM 291
$303 BAM 519
-43.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 BAM 620
$892 BAM 1,525
-59.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 BAM 539
$580 BAM 992
-45.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,468 BAM 4,222
$3,245 BAM 5,551
-23.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,816 BAM 3,106
$2,315 BAM 3,959
-21.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$687 BAM 1,175
$1,042 BAM 1,781
-34.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
3.8
8.95%

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

Last update for Tesanj: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sarajevo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Tesanj and $436 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: $17.00 in Tesanj vs $36.00 in Sarajevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $246 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 38% 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: $255 in Tesanj versus $436 in Sarajevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Tesanj compared to Sarajevo?
A monthly transit pass in Tesanj runs roughly 13% 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 Tesanj and in Sarajevo?
Childcare runs $151 in Tesanj versus $258 in Sarajevo. 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 Tesanj or in Sarajevo?
At $850 in Tesanj versus $1,176 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 $850 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 38% less than in Sarajevo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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