Cost of Living in Sarajevo

Summary of cost of living in Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 10.00 KM 7.00-15.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 50.00 KM 35.00-100.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 11.00 KM 10.00-14.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 4.00 KM 3.00-5.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 4.00 KM 3.00-6.00
Cappuccino (regular) 3.10 KM 2.00-4.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 2.94 KM 2.00-4.00
Water (12 oz small bottle) 1.72 KM 1.00-3.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 8.88 KM 6.44-10.41
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 1.57 KM 0.91-2.09
Rice (white), (1 lb) 1.49 KM 0.91-2.27
Eggs (regular) (12) 4.62 KM 2.76-6.00
Local Cheese (1 lb) 6.65 KM 3.18-9.07
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.50 KM 3.63-6.80
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 8.19 KM 6.35-9.98
Apples (1 lb) 0.91 KM 0.45-1.13
Banana (1 lb) 1.42 KM 0.91-1.81
Oranges (1 lb) 1.22 KM 0.91-1.81
Tomato (1 lb) 1.43 KM 0.91-2.27
Potato (1 lb) 0.74 KM 0.45-0.91
Onion (1 lb) 0.77 KM 0.45-1.36
Lettuce (1 head) 1.70 KM 1.00-4.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 1.08 KM 1.00-1.50
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 11.00 KM 8.00-15.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.79 KM 1.00-3.50
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 2.13 KM 1.00-4.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 6.00 KM 6.00-6.50
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.60 KM 1.40-1.80
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 53.00 KM 50.00-60.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 2.50 KM 2.00-2.50
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 2.41 KM 1.61-3.22
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 10.00 KM 10.00-15.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 10.35 KM 9.50-12.11
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 40,000.00 KM 38,000.00-52,500.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 41,164.71 KM 35,000.00-47,800.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 308.14 KM 212.50-463.64
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 29.81 KM 20.00-40.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 49.44 KM 30.00-62.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 54.66 KM 42.00-70.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 34.55 KM 25.00-50.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 10.00 KM 8.00-15.00
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 352.31 KM 300.00-450.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 4,975.00 KM 3,600.00-7,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 129.09 KM 40.00-230.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 53.18 KM 40.00-80.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 153.46 KM 110.00-200.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 165.79 KM 100.00-225.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 599.07 KM 400.00-800.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 423.21 KM 300.00-600.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 938.46 KM 700.00-1,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 695.45 KM 500.00-1,200.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 455.94 KM 371.61-557.41
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 278.17 KM 204.38-371.61
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 1,553.28 KM
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 3.11 2.50-4.00

Prices in Sarajevo

This city had 1378 entries in the past 12 months by 123 different contributors.
Last update: March 2024
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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14 Comments so far
Anonymous on Mar 27, 2023:
There's really nothing attractive about Sarajevo or suburbs.The people seem nice enough but they're living in a time warp removed from reality which is much better than living in the reality of today's society globally.Smart move not to join the EU and become crippled financially though.Bosnia is a very strange place indeed caught in a different dimension but they seem happy which matters.
Sarajlija on Mar 02, 2023:
As citizen of Sarajevo all I can say to all reading this "average" numbers is - it depends. Average price of coke is 3 KM BUT in center you will pay 4 at least. Average price of new apartment for sure is not 4000 km square meter than 6000 or more in center. If you go after used apartment expect between 4000 and 4500 KM (approx 2000 to 2500 euro) and for that price you do not get what you pay for. Parking is a HELL but we are speaking of center of the city so what do you expect?

In suburbs you might get lower prices and that's how average is calculated. Price of property that nobody wants plus price that everyone wants divided by 2. That's average. In real life you cant buy anything for average than you need to calculate at least 1000 more and if you find consider your self very lucky.

If you are "rich" and spoiled your average expectations are much higher, if you are poor even modest service looks as its best in world. You traveled the world - very few things excite you, its your first trip abroad - you will be ecstatic. Get my point?

Same goes for money - person having 2000 usd does not feel 100% better than person having 1000 USD avg salary. Its all in perception. Those with more money spend more, those with less spend less. I been on both sides of coin. Having too little and also having more than enough and I did not see HUGE increase in quality of life. I do same things, buy same things only now I'm not stressed as when i had to spend very carefully.

Now as for Sarajevo - I love it with all of my heart BUT for some it might be boring, for some small and for some - wonderful.

Again and as with everything else its all personal preference and how high they have their expectations. You cant come to Sarajevo or any other city expecting to see Vienna or Istanbul or Paris or London or Zagreb or Belgrade .... why than you try to compare - go to Paris instead and do not compare. Point of visiting some new places is to experience something new.

Best way to actually experience is to come and see. Do not believe what we (residents) say - of course its our city and we love it so we will wear pink glasses and without doubts say it's most beautiful in the world, dont believe those that comment but never actually came. Go check what people that visit it from your city/country say - for you that will be the truth. Most likely your expectations are close to theirs, your standard of living is similar so your experience of the city will be similar. Not one opinion than average - from all that came.

So please - Vienna citizens chill out. Those poised with nationalism - go cure your self and all others ---- If you wanna come to be our guests and experience how we live welcome, if not happy life. We ppl from Sarajevo will continue our life and will continue to love our city either way.

And we expect you to do the same. Love your city, live your life, enjoy life and maybe I will be coming to visit your city too :)
Anonymous on May 28, 2022:
Seeing some of these comments - I felt the need to clarify what living in Sarajevo is truly like. I can only give my own perspective: as an individual living in a low income family, while going to university.

I personally know people that earn both very high and very low wages. I've known people who worked third shifts to earn a living while studying at university; and people whose parents earned well beyond the 1.400KM listed here. I agree that Sarajevo cannot come close to Vienna, both in regards to its economic and political situation, and culturally as well. Fact of the matter is, Bosnia and Hercegovina has a big issue with our politicians being corrupt (granted, not all politicians), earning 3 times as much as an average working Joe. That means, while my father works for 1.000KM a month, a politician will earn as high as 3.000KM (and higher). There's a huge gap between the highest and lowest wage in Sarajevo, the lowest being 400KM (which is absolutely puny and almost worthless in comparison to the actual costs of living) and the highest going as high to 3.000KM and over.

When it comes to the "cultural" aspect of Sarajevo - while I do agree that it does hold some beautiful scenery and architecture, the government does not (or rather doesn't want to) invest into anything other than lavish villas and weekend retreats of aforementioned politicians. The old Austro-Hungarian buildings look dishevelled, and some of them (around the area of the SCC mall) are downright in ruin. Comparing it to Vienna or any other European city is a joke, since we do not come close to any of them.

I can go on about the bad in my country, but at the end of the day, tourists don't really care about these things. It's easy to deem a city "beautiful" and "breath taking" if you visit its absolute best parts. But what about neighbourhoods such as Donji and Gonji Velešići, Dobrinja 1, Doglodi etc. And the saddest part about this is - Sarajevo is a relatively small city, these neighbourhoods aren't miles and miles away from the centre. This town can be as beautiful and astonishing as many people say - and yet, as of now, I see its potential but potential is wasted unless its acted upon.
Anonymous on Feb 10, 2022:
Sarajevo and Istanbul cannot even come close to Vienna when it comes to intelligence, class,and money.Sarajevo and Istanbul will let anyone visit since Bosnia and Turkey desperately need the money but Vienna has never needed money from any countries.People just don't drop by and decide to visit Vienna unlike many other countries. The vast majority of visas from other countries are rejected simply because we don't want you in Vienna. Also Vienna isn't friendly like other countries are but we aren't beggars like other countries are either.

Lifetime Vienna Citizen
Ante on Feb 02, 2022:
Sarajevo indeed is a wonderful city that has a lot in common both with Vienna and Istanbul. It is deservadly considered a meeting point of the east and the west and its people are warm, friendly and so lovable.
Anonymous on Dec 23, 2021:
Don't compare my birthplace of Vienna to Sarajevo or Jerusalem. Neither country has anything in common with mine in Vienna.
Jason on Sep 01, 2021:
Sarajevo - the European Jerusalem is unbelievable meeting point of the west and east. Here you feel -at the same time - as you were in Istanbul and Vienna.
Anonymous on Mar 23, 2021:
Looks like Bosnia won't have many people left since so many are dieing from covid19. It's just as well though they never did fit in to society.
Anonymous on Dec 23, 2020:
Sarajevo as a city feels safe,good food, friendly people but rather boring.
Ali on Oct 29, 2020:
Beautiful city I hope to have travel there and spend time on street and talk with beautiful women's
Mario on Jul 11, 2020:
Sarajevo, ljubavi moja! I can't help loving this fantastic city - it offers everything one needs for a joyful, fulfilling and harmonious life. ZG ♥ SA, jedna dusa, a nas dvoje! :)
Pietro on May 31, 2020:
Wait, the average salary should be at 605,01€ for Sarajevo according to our Agency for Statistics, but for some reason it's impossible to edit. Like Valert already said, it's even higher in Centar municipality (640€) and couple of euros lower in other municipalities.

Just for your information, Sarajevo has the highest salary in former Yugoslavia if you don't count Croatia and Slovenia that are already in the EU. Skopje, Belgrade, Podgorica, Novi Sad, Priština, not to mention Tirana (a non-ex yu city) all have lower averages than Sarajevo even though their (especially Serbian) propaganda works very hard to make Sarajevo look like a small, unimportant, unsignificant and poor Turskih/Muslim city while it's actually a bursting European, multicultural and capital city with many beautiful buildings built in Vienna secession, pseudo-maurish, art nouveau and many other gorgeous mostly European styles that were popular at the time. There is also a very romantic and vibrant Ottoman part of the city that is probably the most interesting one for the tourists as most of them already have many elegant Habsburg buildings at their home cities.There is also a commie area that is very well-planed with many greenery, parks and avenues. Not to mention the stunning "Great Alley", Spring of the Bosna river, parks, cable-car in the city-center, nature and fortifications that surround the city, mountains, Olympic games, assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian terorrist, terrible war after which Sarajevo has risen like a phoenix, churches, synagogues, mosques... Also don't forget to visit or check out Lukomir and Rakitnica canyon in the vincinity. There is also a very respectable number of modern skyscrapers and shopping malls (BBI Center, S2, Sarajevo City Center, Bosmal, Avaz and UNITIC towers and many others). You won't regret if you pay a visit to the Old Jewish cemetery that is absolutely magnificent. It served like a sniper's nest for the Serbian army from where they terorized the city as well, here you can learn a lot about history too, but today it has regained its former beauty.

What else can I say, come to see our city, we are eager to meet you! Join more than 770k tourists that left Sarajevo in 2019 with best memories.
Valert on Apr 17, 2020:
Average salary in Central municipality is 1250 BAM, it is official data... To be honest I don't know anyone, literally anyone who works for less than 1500.
Because of bad politics in Bosnia there is trend to underestimate everything domestic...
Hrvoje on Mar 14, 2020:
Such a wonderful, unique city, with some unbelievably warmhearted people. In fact, Sarajevo is a perfect blend of the Orient and the West... it offers you the taste of Istanbul and the vibe of New York, and all of that in a relatively small metropolitan area... I looooovvve Sarajevo and cannot wait to be back! Also, food... my God, food, wonderful food that is almost better than any home-made dish, and great traditional food is so affordable in Sarajevo, in spite of the fact that it is becoming a famous tourist destination. Impressive! Needless to say that the nature throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina is breathtaking and that beauty perfectly blends with the neighbouring Croatia, which, in my humble opinion is the most beautiful country in the world, i.e. to be fair and honest, "BiH", Bosnia and Croatia are undoubtedly cover the most wonderful piece of Earth.