2.83/5
269 reviews
Photo by Natalya Letunova via Unsplash

Cost of Living in Sarajevo

To increase honesty, reviews are anonymous. You can only add one review per city or it replaces/edits your old one. Reviews with URLs or emails are removed. If you're writing about data being wrong, please don't do it here as it'll be removed here.

amazing

great

mountain

friendly

small

cheap

mountains

open

town

safe

speak

english

work

character

war

food

meat

architecture

center

I visited for about 3 weeks for a business trip in Ilidza, so I stayed in Ilidza. People were very kind. I always felt safe, even in the middle of the night. Local men never made me feel uncomfortable. Lots of people speak English, but not all. Google translate served the purpose for when they don't speak English. There are lots of stray cats, and I never saw a single stray dog. The Internet was ok, except when there was a thunderstorm or occasionally it shut off around midnight (which might be an issue if you work US time zones) at the same time as the cell phone signals. The city has a lot of character to it. I checked out a few war museums and took the cable car up the mountain, which was pretty cool. Local food was also good if you like meat and BBQ stuff, but after a while I started wishing I could put salsa verde on the meat.

3 months ago

Sarajevo is a hidden gem. I stayed 2 weeks in the city and I really enjoy the chill vibe. The city is safe and people are very friendly while happy to speak english. The city is small but you can find something new to do everyday. I would 100% recommend Sarajevo for an "exotic" for some days.

2 years ago

Amazing city with plenty of history and character!

Have been here for a month and there are plenty of things to do to keep you occupied, away from work. It's super safe, the food is only OK (but super cheap), the nature/hiking is great (city surrounded by mountains) and nightlife isn't bad at the moment even though clubs still aren't open.

Highly recommend it to other nomads.

3 years ago

A really amazing city, I wouldn't agree that it's small, there's much more to it than just the historical core, 20th century architecture is like 4/5 of the city and there are many vibrant neighbourhoods, restaurants and places where the normie locals hang out.

4 years ago

Nice looking city in the rolling green hills. Quite small. If you're looking for any sort of nightlife you'll be disappointed, there are pretty much just 3 bars in the city center. People and service were more friendly than elsewhere in the Balkans - but that's not staying too much. I'd say it's worth checking out but would not stay for more than a week.

5 years ago

This summer I worked from Sarajevo, and it was great! The city has so much history and character. It's an affordable place to stay and eat, and WiFi was easily accessible at many independent cafes and restaurants. There are public transportation buses and trams (as well as taxis, had a good experience with Crveni taxi - red taxi), but I found walking easier for exploration and getting in 10K steps a day. There are great mountain hikes and parks very close to the city (Trebevic, Skakavac Waterfall, Park Prijateljstva). If you rent a car, historic towns like Mostar, Lukomir village, Konjic and Jablanicko jezero (lake), and the wine country are within ~2 hrs from the city. If you want to take a road trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia, you can go through Sutjeska National Park, which is great for hikes on Via Dinarica trail, mountain biking, and rafting (there are tour groups from Sarajevo as well).

5 years ago

I arrived a couple of days ago in SARAJEVO and first impression was of a ex-comunist capital with a tough/harsh image seen on people's faces. But once you advance and check the Old Town + some pedestrian streets you become astonished about the mix of Austro-Hungarian architecture, Istanbulish streets/markets and so on. Some of the parts of the Center have Orthodox/Catholic + Muslim heritage, so it's a Babel Tower somehow. Fully recommend if you wanna see a city that rised from it's ashes after the 90's war like a Phoenix Bird.

6 years ago

Sarajevo is a fantastic city that offers much to those who visit with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the local people and culture. It compares extremely favourably to other capital cities in the region and more generally, as it open, accessible (it is a small city) and low-cost. It is relatively straightforward to find accommodation (also seek local guidance on this and all other economic interactions) and costs of living are generally low. Local people are friendly and also keen to engage with internationals, which provides a welcome alternative to Croatia, for example, where you are more likely to be treated as tourist fodder. I would be interested to hear more about how Sarajevo is Islamifying, as in my experience this is not definitely not the case. Islam is practised here (along with other religions, as Sarajevo has a long-established tradition of religious tolerance and diversity) by an Islamic community who are clearly distinct from the largely secular society. This applies in Sarajevo to exactly the same extent as it applies in London (my home capital) and any tolerant, open, inclusive city. Setting this aside, Bosnia's Islamic community appear comparatively more 'modernised' and 'progressive' than separate religious communities in the Islamic world or other religious communities within the region. The war, which ended 25 years ago, is still an important part of the city's present: both Sarajevo and the wider country are still struggling to recover and I would encourage readers to take this into account when making judgements/demands about working spaces or the resources available to internationals more generally.

6 years ago

A former progressive beacon of the Balkans, Sarajevo is now Islamifying — fast. Even the locals think so. Otherwise, a beautiful city, jampacked with historical richness, delicious and cheap food, and amazing nature destinations are a day-trip away.

As a non-Yugoslav you'll probably love it. As a progressive Bosnian you'll likely have a love-hate relationship with it.

Coworking spaces are mediocre.

6 years ago

Nestled in a valley surrounded by amazing mountains, the once host city to the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, is a charming and adorable city. It is very friendly to foreigners. The city itself is a wonderful mix of Western and Eastern cultures, and you can sample architecture from the Ottoman period, Austo-Hungarian period, as well as the Yugoslav period. It is a cosmopolitan city, with a mix of Catholic, Muslim, Orthodox and Jewish religions. It has a great caffe culture with many different cafes all across the city. The central and old town areas are the most interesting to both live and work. Amazing mountains, for the outdoorsy types are just minutes away. If you are a fan of hiking, the mountains surrounding Sarajevo and elsewhere across Bosnia will offer you an unforgettable experience. There are several co-working places, with new ones seemingly coming up every year. I've been spending time in Sarajevo for the past three years on and off. I would definitely recommend coming in late spring through summer and early fall. The winters can be harsh, and the city covered in fog and smog which is not fun (sometimes the airport closes due to the density of fog). In August there is a phenomenal film festival - SFF - which lasts for a week and is a Mecca for filmophiles and party animals alike. Should definitely not be missed. The beautiful town of Mostar is a mesmerizing two hour drive from Sarajevo and also has much character and history.
The cost of living is relatively inexpensive and you can find decent accommodation for very reasonable amounts. Eating out is also cheap with many different offerings. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may find it slightly more challenging as Bosnia and the Balkans in general are very meat intensive in their cuisine.
If you are based in the center or old part of town, walking everywhere is easy and convenient. Taxis are also cheap. There are enough decent gyms for exercise that are relatively inexpensive, as well as trails for jogging. Biking is also popular in the summer months, especially mountain biking and you can easily find people and crews to join in on tours.

6 years ago

✅ Very safe

✅ Friendly locals

✅ Low cost of living

✅ Rich cultural history

✅ Great for outdoor activities

✅ Good internet access

✅ Vibrant mix of cultures

✅ Walking-friendly city

✅ Pretty safe

✅ Fast internet

✅ Good air quality usually

✅ Nomads.com members liked going here a lot

✅ Many Nomads.com members have been

✅ Spacious and not crowded

✅ High quality of education

✅ Roads are pretty safe

✅ Freedom of speech

✅ People can speak basic English

✅ Safe for women

❌ Harsh winters

❌ Limited nightlife

❌ Coworking spaces are mediocre

❌ Challenging for vegetarians/vegans

❌ Not very democratic

❌ Very expensive

❌ Not much to do

❌ Cold now

❌ Gets cold in the winter

❌ Very damp now

❌ Not many Nomads.com members right now

❌ Difficult to do business

❌ Hospitals are not that great

❌ Not family friendly

❌ Hostile towards LGBTQ+

❌ People smoking tobacco a lot

❌ Marijuana is illegal

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Feels

34 1°
cold

0°
freezing

41 5°
cold

45 7°
cold

59 15°
cool

72 22°
mild

73 23°
mild

55 13°
cool

52 11°
cool

39 4°
cold

36 2°
cold

Real

34 1°
very cold

32 0°
freezing

40 5°
very cold

45 7°
cold

59 15°
cool

72 22°
mild

73 23°
mild

55 13°
cool

52 11°
cool

39 4°
very cold

36 2°
very cold

Humidity

nice
36%

nice
33%

nice
36%

nice
35%

nice
33%

nice
35%

nice
33%

too dry
29%

nice
31%

nice
36%

nice
37%

Most common

Rain

rainy
83mm

rainy
95mm

rainy
100mm

rainy
103mm

rainy
55mm

dry
48mm

rainy
90mm

dry
41mm

dry
38mm

rainy
89mm

rainy
98mm

rainy
107mm

Cloud

pockets
43%

pockets
31%

pockets
39%

pockets
36%

pockets
21%

pockets
17%

pockets
22%

pockets
27%

pockets
41%

pockets
45%

Air quality

bad
154 US AQI

bad
119 US AQI

okay
82 US AQI

okay
84 US AQI

clean
42 US AQI

okay
54 US AQI

okay
56 US AQI

okay
64 US AQI

okay
61 US AQI

okay
83 US AQI

okay
65 US AQI

bad
124 US AQI

Sun

safe
1 UVI

safe
2 UVI

seek shade
3 UVI

seek shade
4 UVI

seek shade
5 UVI

avoid sun
7 UVI

seek shade
5 UVI

seek shade
3 UVI

safe
2 UVI

safe
1 UVI

Remote workers

400 people

433 people

457 people

400 people

575 people

509 people

709 people

800 people

700 people

622 people

440 people

300 people

Green is good. Red is bad. Values shown are the medians of all daily highs in a month based on past few years, not necessarily current numbers. Remote worker count is estimated based on the total amount of trips logged by Nomads.com members. Not all nomads are on Nomads.com, and not all Nomads.com members log their trips. So the data is only indicative.

If you'd like to filter destinations based on their climate, try Nomads.com's Climate Finder

Based on Sarajevo's cost of living, here's selected remote jobs that would cover your costs:

	Frontend Engineer Intern @ Peakflo
	Software Engineer Product @ Prelim
	Software Engineer Product @ Prelim
	Product Manager Facility Management... @ Storable
	Clinical Support Representative @ Radformation
	Senior Software Engineer Identity @ Alpaca
	Senior AI Engineer @ Awin
	Job 19056 Junior UI Designer Brazil @ CI&T
	Lead Software Engineer Platform @ Alpaca
	Job 19004 Junior Quality Assurance ... @ CI&T
	Senior Technical Product Support En... @ RefleXion Medical

Help pick the best photos for Sarajevo and improve this page's look by tappingclicking on them and the site saves your feedback Vote photos

184pts

74pts

40pts

28pts

22pts

12pts

8pts

7pts

6pts

5pts

4pts

3pts

2pts

1pts

166pts

48pts

37pts

23pts

20pts

10pts

8pts

7pts

6pts

5pts

4pts

3pts

2pts

1pts

163pts

46pts

34pts

23pts

17pts

8pts

7pts

6pts

5pts

4pts

3pts

$2,278 / mo

23 Mbps

Members who have been here

Values shown are estimated visits by traveling remote workers based on the total amount of trips logged by Nomads.com members. Visits to a place are only counted once per year per user, even if they visit more in that year. Not all nomads are on Nomads.com, and not all Nomads.com members log their trips. So the data is only indicative.

The chart below shows visitors by nationality normalized for population size. This means we take all trips logged on Nomads.com, check which country of origin the user is from, then divide that total visit count by the country of origin's population. If we didn't, it'd just show the big countries like US, Brazil and India always on top. Instead, this shows which nationalities worldwide proportionally visit more or less, which is more useful.

⭐️ Total score	2.83/5 (Rank #189) 269 reviews
❤️ Liked by members	👍16 liked it 👎0 disliked it
👍 Quality of life score	Okay
👶 Family score	Okay
🎒 Community score	Okay
💵 Cost	🧐 Pricey: $3,060 / mo
📡 Internet	😡 Slow: 10Mbps (avg)
😝 Fun	Bad
⛅️ Temperature (now)	🥶 Too cold: 0°C33°F (feels 0°C32°F)
💦 Humidity (now)	💦 Damp: 100%
💨 Air quality (now)	😐 Moderate: 99 US AQI
💨 Air quality (annual)	🌱 Good: 61 US AQI
👌 Safety	Good
🤮 Food safety*	Good
👮‍♀️ Lack of crime*	Good
🎓 Education level*	Mediocre
⚡️ Power grid	Great
💰 Income level*	Very low: $401 / mo
🙊 English speaking*	Okay
🚶 Walkability	Great
🚦 Traffic safety*	Okay
✈️ Airline scores*	Great
🧳 Lost luggage*	Great
🏥 Hospitals	Bad
🍸 Nightlife	Good
📶 Free WiFi in city	Bad
🖥 Places to work from	Great
❄️ A/C or heating	Bad
😁 Friendly to foreigners	Great
🗯 Freedom of speech*	Good
👩 Female friendly	Okay
🌈 LGBTQ+ friendly	Bad
🎅 Startup Score	Okay

🌍 Continent	Europe
🚩 Country	Bosnia
🗓️ Average trip length	5 days
📡 Internet speed (avg)	10 Mbps
⛅️ Weather (now)	🌨 0°C 33°F + 💦 Damp (100%) = feels 0°C 32°F
💨 Air quality (now)	👎😷 99 US AQI = 🚬 / day
💨 Air quality (annual avg)	👎😷 61 US AQI
🔌 Power	230V 50Hz
🚕 Best taxi app*	MojTaxi
🚑 Travel medical insurance	Safetywing
💸 10 BAM in USD	USD 5.38
🏧 Suggested ATM take out:	BAM 1,000 = USD 538
💻 Best coworking space	NEST71
🚰 Tap water	👌 Yes, safe to drink
♻️ Return rate	7% of visitors return
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Population	530,000 people
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 GDP per capita*	$4,808 / year
👫 Gender ratio (population)	👨 47% 👱‍♀️ 53%
👫 Gender ratio (young adults)	👨 0% 👱‍♀️ 100%
👫 Gender ratio (nomads)	👨 82% 👱‍♀️ 18%
🏞 Foreign land ownership allowed	Yes
⛪️ Religious government	Religious
🏠 Apartment listings	Pik
✈️ Best short-haul air carrier	Lufthansa
✈️ Best int'l air carrier	Etihad Airways

💵 Cost of living for nomad	$3,060 / month
💵 Cost of living for expat	$1,288 / month
💵 Cost of living for family	$2,528 / month
💵 Cost of living for local	$722 / month
🏨 Hotel (median price)	$3,972 / month
🏡 Airbnb (median price)	$1,477 / month
🏠 1br studio rent in center	$600 / month
🏨 Hotel (median price)	$186 / night
🏠 Airbnb (median price)	$48 / night
🏢 Coworking hot desk	$209 / month
🍛 Dinner	$9
🥤 Coca-Cola (0.3L)	$1
🍺 Beer in cafe (0.5L)	$3
☕️ Coffee in cafe	$1