Cost of Living Comparison Between Zenica and Bijeljina Cost of Living Comparison Between Zenica and Bijeljina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $858 per month in Zenica vs $944 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,256 per month in Zenica vs $1,475 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,654 per month in Zenica vs $2,006 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Zenica is about 9% cheaper than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zenica and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Zenica 36% lower, Bijeljina 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.93 BAM 11.67

$8.89 BAM 14.97

-22.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 BAM 31.68

$34.86 BAM 58.7

-46.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.01 BAM 6.75

$4.99 BAM 8.40

-19.64%

Cappuccino

$1.58 BAM 2.67

$1.44 BAM 2.43

9.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 BAM 2.93

$1.78 BAM 3.00

-2.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.04 BAM 1.75

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.11 BAM 3.56

$1.79 BAM 3.02

17.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 BAM 3.52

$2.29 BAM 3.86

-8.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 BAM 2.06

$1.56 BAM 2.63

-21.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 BAM 1.50

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-26.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 BAM 3.01

$1.75 BAM 2.95

2.29%

Eggs

$2.74 BAM 4.61

$3.24 BAM 5.45

-15.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 BAM 12.84

$7.71 BAM 12.99

-1.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.56 BAM 12.72

$7.99 BAM 13.46

-5.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 BAM 22.01

$12.00 BAM 20.20

8.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 BAM 2.27

$1.63 BAM 2.75

-17.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.91 BAM 3.21

-14.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 BAM 2.68

$1.91 BAM 3.21

-16.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 BAM 3.19

$2.67 BAM 4.50

-28.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BAM 1.76

$1.58 BAM 2.67

-34.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 BAM 2.20

$1.46 BAM 2.46

-10.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 BAM 1.01

$1.17 BAM 1.97

-48.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$0.63 BAM 1.07

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 BAM 5.89

$3.78 BAM 6.36

-7.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.01 BAM 6.76

$8.89 BAM 14.97

-54.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 BAM 1.46

$0.86 BAM 1.46

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 BAM 1.67

$1.48 BAM 2.50

-33.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 BAM 1.45

$2.32 BAM 3.91

-62.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.56 BAM 54.8

$17.41 BAM 29.33

87.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 BAM 2.69

$1.50 BAM 2.52

6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 BAM 1.41

$0.56 BAM 0.95

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.73 BAM 14.70

$12.02 BAM 20.24

-27.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BAM 2.54

$1.47 BAM 2.48

2.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.3K BAM 39.3K

$26.6K BAM 44.9K

-12.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K BAM 43.7K

$26.0K BAM 43.8K

-0.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$167 BAM 281

$142 BAM 239

17.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.73 BAM 31.55

$19.02 BAM 32.03

-1.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 BAM 41.03

$24.48 BAM 41.24

-0.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.82 BAM 41.80

$31.16 BAM 52.5

-20.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 BAM 24.95

$8.78 BAM 14.79

68.79%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 BAM 8.13

$4.93 BAM 8.30

-2.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$153 BAM 257

$206 BAM 348

-26.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,226 BAM 5,432

$3,290 BAM 5,541

-1.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 BAM 85.0

$58.2 BAM 98.1

-13.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.37 BAM 52.8

$26.61 BAM 44.81

17.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 BAM 157

$135 BAM 227

-30.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.0 BAM 150

$121 BAM 204

-26.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 BAM 336

$262 BAM 441

-23.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 BAM 250

$169 BAM 285

-12.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 BAM 459

$359 BAM 605

-24.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 BAM 347

$296 BAM 498

-30.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 BAM 2,754

$1,861 BAM 3,134

-12.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,293 BAM 2,177

$1,363 BAM 2,295

-5.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$725 BAM 1,222

$775 BAM 1,306

-6.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

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

Last update for Zenica: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $200 in Zenica versus $262 in Bijeljina. 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 7% higher in Bijeljina, 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 $19.00 in Zenica versus $35.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $232 – making Zenica 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

Zenica vs Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $858 in Zenica, $944 in Bijeljina – roughly 10% apart. Bijeljina costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,286 per month in Zenica and $1,416 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zenica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $858 in Zenica and $944 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 87% less in Zenica. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $858 in Zenica and $944 in Bijeljina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Zenica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Zenica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bijeljina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.