Cost of Living in Sarajevo: Let’s analyze the cost of food, real estate, entertainment and transport in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Are you considering moving to the Balkans? Check below the data for cost of living in Sarajevo, the capital and biggest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Cost of Living in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been known for centuries as a crossing of the different cultures. Diversity is what makes Sarajevo an unique city in the Old Continent, as there is no other capital where you can see a mix of three different cultures in such high level of harmony and integration.
Although the economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina is growing every year and the expat community is thriving, salaries aren’t following. If you are planning to move to Sarajevo, you should definitely not expect Western European salaries.. The salaries are significantly lower than the rest of Europe, but the costs are equally comparable. If you like going out, meeting friendly welcoming locals, you will surely love Sarajevo.
Let’s check some of the data for the cost of living in Sarajevo:
The currency in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the convertible mark. The conversion rate to the USD is 1 dollar to 1.84 BAM as of April 19, 2024.
If you want to suggest your own values based on your experiences in this city, click on edit and insert the values. Upon moderation they will be calculated to be displayed with the average prices below.
| Food | Price [EDIT] |
|---|---|
| 1 liter of milk | 0.90 USD |
| 1 loaf of bread | 0.80 USD |
| 1 kg of tomatoes | 1.60 USD |
| 1 kg of chicken | 5.35 USD |
| 1 single meal cheap restaurant | 6.00 USD |
| 1 single meal high-end restaurant | 23.00 USD |
| 1 cappuccino or latte | 1.90 USD |
| 1 big pizza delivery | 11.00 USD |
| Real Estate | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) rent per month | 320.00 USD |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) utilities per month | 85.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) rent per month | 470.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) utilities per month | 152.00 USD |
| Price per square meter (city center) | 2,100.00 USD |
| Transport | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 single ride public transport | 1.00 USD |
| Monthly public transport ticket | 35.00 USD |
| 1 km taxi or similar transport app | 0.80 USD |
| 1 liter of gasoline (1/4 gallon) | 1.70 USD |
| Toyota Corolla (new) basic version | 20,587.00 USD |
| Salaries | Price [EDIT] |
| Minimum Salary | 400.00 USD |
| Average Salary (net) | 560.00 USD |
| Extras | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 ticket to the movies (adult price) | 6.00 USD |
| High speed internet per month | 27.00 USD |
| 1 month gym subscription | 30.00 USD |
Cost of Living for Students in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are not that many international students at Sarajevo. The amount of international higher education students is rather low, being most of them for neighboring countries or exchange students.
Very few faculties have programs available in English. One of them is available at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo. If you are planning to study in Sarajevo, in most cases you’ll have to learn Bosnian.
Scholarships are mostly reserved for domestic students, so you’ll probably have to pay your scholarship by yourself. Tuition fees start from as low as 900 USD per year, depending what major are you in. There are both public and private higher education institutions in Sarajevo.
Here are the most popular universities in Sarajevo:
International University of Sarajevo
Sarajevo School of Science and Technology
Getting a job in Sarajevo
Bosnia is an open country when it comes to the economy, with low taxes and a dynamic banking system. However, getting a job if you don’t speak any the local language could be pretty hard.
Most jobs requiring only English as a language are in the IT and management fields, following a trend seen in most Central and Eastern European countries. Sarajevo might also be a good option if you want to open a business or work remotely, as operation and payroll expenses are low.
Online sites to look job at:
Quality of Life in Sarajevo
Sarajevo is a multicultural city, as Bosnians, Serbs and Croats live together giving the city a perfect balance of diversity. Most of the citizens have a rather good command of English and are eager to help foreigners.
The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian, which are very similar and mutually intelligible. Other international spoken languages are French and German, but the best way to communicate if you don’t speak one of the local languages is by speaking English.
Sarajevo is a very vibrant and inviting capital and there are always different events in the city. It is well known for its taverns where you can listen to the local music while eating kebabs and drinking beer.
Public transport is a reliable way to get around the city, it’s cheap and very well connected. Taxi is also reliable, inexpensive option.
If you are visiting Sarajevo soon you may want to check some of our guides to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Check the best places to places to stay in Sarajevo and our article on the where to stay in Mostar. For those willing to stay longer, check our guide on how to find a job in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Other Resources for Expats and Travelers
Salaries Worldwide: check our articles on wages worldwide and understand better the economics of the countries you may be considering to move or invest.
Retire Abroad: check our retirement guides and maximize your retirement income and quality of life.
Jetradar: compare and find the cheapest air fares worldwide.