Bosnia Trip Cost: A Realistic Budget Breakdown (2026)

Bosnia & Herzegovina is one of the cheapest countries in Europe for travelers, and the value is extraordinary. You’ll eat better for €10 than you would for €25 in Dubrovnik. A hotel room with a river view in Mostar costs less than a basic Airbnb in Split. The question isn’t whether you can afford Bosnia — it’s why you’d spend a day longer in Croatia than you need to.

Here are real, current prices.

How much does accommodation cost in Bosnia?

Mostar:

Budget guesthouse/hostel: €15–25/night
Mid-range hotel or pansion: €40–70/night
Boutique hotel with old town views: €80–120/night

Sarajevo:

Hostel: €12–20/night
Mid-range hotel: €50–80/night
Boutique/4-star: €80–130/night

For comparison: A similar mid-range room in Dubrovnik costs €120–200/night in summer. Bosnia gives you the same quality for a third of the price.

How much does food cost in Bosnia?

This is where Bosnia really shines. The food is incredible and absurdly cheap.

Typical meal costs:

Cevapi plate (10 pieces + bread): €8–10
Burek from a bakery: €2–3
Full restaurant lunch (soup, main, drink): €10–15
Nice dinner with wine: €15–22
Turkish/Bosnian coffee: €1–1.50
Beer (0.5L): €2.50–3.50
Water bottle: €0.50–1

Daily food budget:

Budget: €20–30 (bakeries, cevapi, basic restaurants)
Mid-range: €35–50 (restaurants, coffee shops, one nice dinner)
Comfortable: €50–70 (eat wherever you want without thinking about it)

Transport

Between cities (private transfer):

Dubrovnik → Mostar: from €89/car
Split → Mostar: from €135/car
Sarajevo → Mostar: from €100/car
Kotor → Mostar: from €200/car

Split between 2–4 passengers, per-person transfer costs are comparable to bus tickets — with the added benefit of door-to-door service and scenic stops.

Buses:

Dubrovnik → Mostar: €15–20/person (4+ hours)
Sarajevo → Mostar: €8–12/person (2.5 hours)

Taxis in cities:

Short ride in Mostar/Sarajevo: €2–4
Airport transfer in Sarajevo: €10–15

Tram in Sarajevo: ~€0.90/ride

Activities and entrance fees

Most of Bosnia’s best experiences are free or nearly free:

Walking the Mostar old town: Free
Watching bridge divers: Free (donations appreciated)
Pocitelj fortress village: Free
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Mostar): ~€6
Kravica Waterfalls: ~€8
Blagaj Tekija: ~€4
Tunnel of Hope (Sarajevo): ~€10
War Childhood Museum: ~€8
Trebevic Cable Car (Sarajevo): ~€10 return
Burek Masterclass cooking experience: €35–50

Sample budgets

Budget traveler (per person/day)

Hostel: €18
Food: €25
Activities: €5
Local transport: €3
Total: ~€51/day

Mid-range traveler (per person/day)

Hotel: €55 (based on double room)
Food: €40
Activities: €10
Transport/transfers: €15
Total: ~€120/day

Comfortable traveler (per person/day)

Boutique hotel: €90 (based on double room)
Food: €55
Activities: €15
Private transfers: €25
Total: ~€185/day

Currency tips

Bosnia uses the Convertible Mark (BAM/KM). €1 ≈ 1.96 KM. The rate is pegged and stable.

ATMs are everywhere in Mostar and Sarajevo. Use them for best rates.
Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants, and shops in cities.
Carry cash for small cafes, bakeries, market stalls, and smaller towns.
Don’t exchange money at the border — rates are terrible. Use city ATMs.
Some places near the Croatian border accept Euros but give change in KM.

The bottom line

A week in Bosnia with comfortable accommodation, great food, and all the main sights costs about what three days in Dubrovnik would. The value isn’t just about cheap prices — it’s about getting genuinely more for your money. Better food, more authentic experiences, friendlier interactions, and fewer tourists between you and the real culture.

Plan your Bosnia trip →