Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina

For one person, living is cheaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina: $1,020 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $20,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
🇺🇸 United States
$2,734
/mo nomad
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$1,020
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Bosnia and Herzegovina actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,734 in the United States versus $1,020 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  • United States $2,734
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina $1,020

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in the United States versus $1,531 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  • United States $3,985
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina $1,531

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,235 in the United States versus $2,041 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  • United States $5,235
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina $2,041

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $979 to $5,160, compared to $774–$1,212 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in the United States is roughly 168% more expensive than in Bosnia and Herzegovina on average.

The United States (101% above) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (25% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$6.93 BAM 12.17
189.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0 $80.0
$34.04 BAM 59.8
135.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.80 $11.80
$7.33 BAM 12.87
60.98%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$1.70 BAM 2.98
226.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.89 BAM 3.32
40.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.32 BAM 2.31
64.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$2.30 BAM 4.05
166.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$2.36 BAM 4.14
236.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.28 BAM 2.25
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$1.09 BAM 1.91
229.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.86 BAM 3.27
143.01%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$2.71 BAM 4.76
57.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 $13.22
$8.44 BAM 14.83
56.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.60 $12.60
$7.57 BAM 13.29
66.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.60 $17.60
$12.40 BAM 21.77
41.94%
Apples (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$1.34 BAM 2.36
295.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.68 BAM 2.96
0.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$1.59 BAM 2.79
179.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.87 BAM 3.28
155.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.02 BAM 1.80
191.18%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.20 BAM 2.11
162.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.08 BAM 1.90
103.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.77 BAM 1.36
205.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.98 $10.98
$3.69 BAM 6.48
197.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$7.26 BAM 12.75
107.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.88 BAM 1.54
134.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$1.30 BAM 2.29
191.54%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.29 BAM 2.26
50.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.4 $59.4
$34.72 BAM 61.0
71.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.40 BAM 2.46
155.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.11 BAM 1.95
69.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.84 $29.84
$10.49 BAM 18.43
184.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.62 BAM 2.84
-37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K $28.8K
$29.6K BAM 52.0K
-2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$22.3K BAM 39.2K
17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$163 BAM 286
33.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$17.10 BAM 30.02
265.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 $74.5
$26.96 BAM 47.35
176.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.86 $41.86
$33.94 BAM 59.6
23.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.81 $22.81
$14.14 BAM 24.84
61.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70 $14.70
$5.69 BAM 10.00
158.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,489 $1,489
$209 BAM 368
611.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K $25.3K
$3,851 BAM 6,763
555.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$69.6 BAM 122
-21.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71 $42.71
$32.85 BAM 57.7
30.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 $94.1
$95.2 BAM 167
-1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$106 BAM 187
6.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 $1,659
$316 BAM 555
424.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$242 BAM 424
457.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,682 $2,682
$560 BAM 984
378.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,169 $2,169
$387 BAM 680
460.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,283 $3,283
$2,275 BAM 3,995
44.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$1,727 BAM 3,033
43.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,296 $4,296
$817 BAM 1,435
425.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
4.46
46.86%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bosnia and Herzegovina: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$242 82.1% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
United States
$415
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$215 48.1% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$207 41.7% $148
Eating Out
United States
$328
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$127 61.3% $201
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$137 0.2% $0.3
Getting Around
United States
$80
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$47 41.6% $33
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$71
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$45 36.4% $26

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,620 in the United States, $281 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Capital cities: $2,768 in Washington, DC vs $434 in Sarajevo.

National salary averages: $4,549 in the United States, $717 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 477% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 121% more in the United States.

Public transport is 75% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are about 6.3 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
🕒 Local time
07:21 7:21 AM
12:21 12:21 PM
5 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
3,816,459
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.76 BAM (1 BAM = 0.569 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Bosnia and Herzegovina 8,410 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina compare to the cost in the United States?
At $1,020 per month in Bosnia and Herzegovina and $2,734 in the United States, there’s a 168% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Bosnia and Herzegovina vs the United States?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Bosnia and Herzegovina or in the United States?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 in the United States and $281 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Which country is better for expats: Bosnia and Herzegovina or the United States?
It depends on what you’re after: Bosnia and Herzegovina wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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