🙂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: Tesanj36% lower, Sarajevo12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45BAM 5.91
$7.14BAM 12.21
-51.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.59BAM 28.37
$35.96BAM 61.5
-53.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.89BAM 4.95
$8.80BAM 15.05
-67.16%
Cappuccino
$0.92BAM 1.57
$2.07BAM 3.54
-55.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43BAM 2.45
$2.02BAM 3.45
-29.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91BAM 1.55
$1.39BAM 2.38
-34.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01BAM 3.43
$2.73BAM 4.67
-26.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75BAM 2.99
$2.39BAM 4.09
-26.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81BAM 1.39
$1.41BAM 2.41
-42.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92BAM 1.57
$1.21BAM 2.07
-23.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30BAM 3.93
$2.04BAM 3.49
12.75%
Eggs
$2.89BAM 4.94
$3.25BAM 5.56
-11.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.17BAM 17.39
$10.46BAM 17.90
-2.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.50BAM 12.83
$8.84BAM 15.12
-15.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.13BAM 22.46
$13.24BAM 22.64
-0.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25BAM 2.14
$1.55BAM 2.65
-19.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62BAM 2.77
$1.86BAM 3.18
-12.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BAM 3.30
$2.08BAM 3.55
-7.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68BAM 2.86
$2.30BAM 3.94
-26.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84BAM 1.43
$1.12BAM 1.92
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75BAM 1.28
$1.21BAM 2.08
-38.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92BAM 1.57
$1.27BAM 2.18
-27.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02BAM 1.74
$0.81BAM 1.38
25.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61BAM 6.17
$3.77BAM 6.44
-4.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.06BAM 13.78
$8.00BAM 13.68
0.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22BAM 2.08
$1.05BAM 1.80
16.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96BAM 3.36
$1.28BAM 2.19
53.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.82BAM 3.12
$1.03BAM 1.76
76.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.82BAM 61.3
$31.73BAM 54.3
12.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BAM 1.98
$1.49BAM 2.56
-22.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56BAM 0.96
$0.77BAM 1.32
-27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.47BAM 17.91
$8.63BAM 14.76
21.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48BAM 2.54
$1.49BAM 2.55
-0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KBAM 39.5K
$26.6KBAM 45.5K
-13.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KBAM 44.6K
$25.8KBAM 44.2K
0.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124BAM 212
$202BAM 346
-38.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.14BAM 32.74
$19.03BAM 32.55
0.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.79BAM 49.24
$32.94BAM 56.3
-12.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.97BAM 51.3
$35.14BAM 60.1
-14.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.05BAM 18.90
$16.26BAM 27.81
-32.04%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97BAM 5.08
$7.20BAM 12.31
-58.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151BAM 257
$258BAM 441
-41.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,244BAM 5,548
$3,394BAM 5,805
-4.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3BAM 120
$91.6BAM 157
-23.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36BAM 58.8
$37.77BAM 64.6
-9.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.4BAM 167
$108BAM 184
-9.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117BAM 201
$101BAM 172
16.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255BAM 437
$436BAM 746
-41.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170BAM 291
$303BAM 519
-43.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363BAM 620
$892BAM 1,525
-59.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315BAM 539
$580BAM 992
-45.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468BAM 4,222
$3,245BAM 5,551
-23.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,816BAM 3,106
$2,315BAM 3,959
-21.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Sarajevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$687BAM 1,175
$1,042BAM 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.