Cost of Living in Bosnia And Herzegovina

Updated:

NovoExpat

If you've ever considered moving to Bosnia And Herzegovina, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Bosnia And Herzegovina?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Bosnia And Herzegovina and whether the reported $991 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $539.39.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries

Bosnia And Herzegovina

restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

3.92 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

19.58 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

3.92 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

1.47 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.47 $

Cappuccino (regular)

1.06 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

1.22 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.69 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

0.73 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

0.6 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.21 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.66 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

5.61 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

5.58 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

7.6 $

Apples (1 lb)

0.9 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.18 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.24 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.19 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.62 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.73 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.75 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.55 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

4.89 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

0.69 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

0.92 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

2.94 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.88 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

24.47 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

0.98 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.59 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

7.34 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.32 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

18597.33 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

18184.27 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

128.48 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.1 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

20.77 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

21.05 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

11.25 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

3.92 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

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

128.13 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

2346.02 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

56.01 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

28.38 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

67.6 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

76.95 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

190.36 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

135.76 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

320.92 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

223.13 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

1366.71 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

967.1 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

539.39 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

3.57 %

Cost of Living in Bosnia And Herzegovina Overview

Welcome! Here’s a guide to understanding the typical costs of living in Bosnia And Herzegovina, from dining out and groceries to housing and utilities. Use this overview to help plan your budget and make informed decisions about living expenses.

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 3.92 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 19.58 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 0.73 USD, a loaf of bread 0.6 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.66 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.88 USD and a monthly pass around 24.47 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 128.48 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 21.05 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 11.25 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 128.13 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 2346.02 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 56.01 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 67.6 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 190.36 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 135.76 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 1366.71 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 967.1 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 539.39 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 3.57% annually.

Bosnia And Herzegovina

How Safe Is Bosnia And Herzegovina for Travel?

Warnings & Dangers in Bosnia And Herzegovina

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally a safe country. Its people are very kind and happy to help, and tourists especially shouldn't encounter any bigger problems in this country. Small towns do not face almost any serious crimes, though that's not the case with its capital, Sarajevo.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transportation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is overall safe. Just be on the lookout for pickpockets on public transportation, and double-check if the taximeter is on when you enter a taxi.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpocketing and bag snatching are the most common form of street crime in Sarajevo, so if you do encounter any problems it will probably be pickpocketing that mostly happens in public transportation. Be extremely careful when entering any bus in this country's capital, since its pickpockets are very skillful.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

In the past couple of years, the only natural disaster that severely affected Bosnia and Herzegovina was flooding of large proportions, with even fatal results. The flooding in 2014 shifted some land mines and also some notices about unsafe areas.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Mugging exists in this country, but is rare. There have been reports of kidnapping either as a consequence of someone failing to pay a debt, or kidnapping by rival criminal organizations, since this sort of organized street crime is usually the most common of crime. Tourists are not under any sort of threat.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Terrorist attacks are more likely to happen in most popular European capitals such as Paris, London etc., than in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even more so because it's mostly inhabited by people of Muslim religion.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

Any newcomer is in danger of scams when visiting a new country, and the same applies to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The most common scams are people ripping you off in bars or clubs, or by the street vendors, as well as drink spiking in strip clubs.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Bosnia and Herzegovina is very safe for women travelers. Attacks rarely happen, if ever, but still, be on the lookout at all times, especially at night, or in deserted areas, empty, poorly lit streets, etc.

Useful Information & Tips

credit_card

Visas

Visa is not required for any stays in Bosnia and Herzegovina that are shorter than 90 days. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months from your planned date of return to the country you're visiting. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit your local Bosnian embassy which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality.

currency_exchange

Currency

Bosnian Convertible Marka is the currency in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Do avoid street money changers and exchange your money at official exchange offices and you'll find the best rate in the National Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can also withdraw BCM at a local ATM.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Bosnia and Herzegovina is surrounded with mountains so it is known to have somewhat warm winters (reaching up to 25℃) and cold winters (reaching to around -5℃). Still, Bosnian climate is considered to be mild.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Sarajevo International Airport, also referred to as Butmir Airport, is the main international airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located around 6.1 km southwest of the Sarajevo railway station.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

As in any country, travelers are highly advised to get a travel insurance that covers not only medical issues but also theft and loss of personal items.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Bosnia And Herzegovina with other countries

Cost of living in countries