Bosnia & Herzegovina is one of the most compelling — and most affordable — travel destinations in the Balkans. Sarajevo and Mostar are world-class historic cities at world’s-away-from-world-class prices. The combination of Ottoman architecture, excellent Bosnian coffee culture, and incredibly cheap food makes it one of the best value destinations on the continent.
Daily budget bands
These figures are per person per day, excluding international flights.
| Budget style | Daily total | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €18–28/day | Hostel dorm, local buses and minibuses, pekara meals plus one cheap restaurant, free old towns and mosques |
| Mid-range | €38–58/day | Private hotel room, taxis and shared transfers, 2–3 proper restaurant meals, museum entries and a paid activity |
| Upper-mid | €65–95/day | Comfortable hotel, private transfers, restaurant dining throughout, guided tours and day trips |
Accommodation costs
- Hostel dorms: €8–14/night in Sarajevo and Mostar
- Guesthouse private rooms: €20–38/night — family-run places often include a Bosnian breakfast
- Mid-range hotels: €40–70/night for a comfortable double in Sarajevo
- Boutique hotels (Mostar old town area): €60–100+/night in high season
For a 7-night mid-range Bosnia trip, expect to spend roughly €280–490 on accommodation.
Food and drink
Bosnian food is one of the real pleasures of the Balkans. Cevapi (minced meat sausages in flatbread), burek (filo pastry filled with meat or cheese), and slow-cooked meats are the staples — substantial, delicious, and very cheap.
- Burek or cevapi from a pekara: €1.50–3
- Restaurant meal with drink (Sarajevo): €7–13 for a full meal
- Bosnian coffee and baklava at a kafana: €2–4
- Beer (0.5L) at a bar: €1.50–3
- Restaurant dinner with wine: €14–22 per person
Daily food budget at a glance:
| Budget level | Daily food spend |
|---|---|
| Backpacker | €10–15 |
| Mid-range | €18–27 |
| Upper-mid | €28–40 |
Transport
Bosnia’s intercity transport relies on buses. Trains are limited but the Sarajevo–Mostar route by bus is one of the most scenic journeys in the region.
- City bus in Sarajevo: approximately €0.70–1.00 per ride
- Sarajevo to Mostar bus: approximately €8–12 for the 2.5-hour journey
- Sarajevo to Banja Luka bus: approximately €12–18 for the 4-hour journey
- Cross-border buses (e.g. Sarajevo to Dubrovnik): approximately €15–25
- Taxis in Sarajevo: €3–7 for city rides
For a 7-day Bosnia trip covering Sarajevo, Mostar, and one other stop, expect to spend €30–55 on transport.
Activities and tours
Bosnia’s main sights — the old town of Sarajevo (Baščaršija), the Stari Most bridge in Mostar, and the Srebrenica memorial — carry minimal or no entry fees.
- Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum: approximately €6
- Galeria 11/07/95 (Srebrenica memorial, Sarajevo): approximately €4
- Mostar bridge walk and old town: free
- Guided Sarajevo walking tour: €12–18 per person
- Mostar day trip from Sarajevo (including guide): approximately €25–40 per person
- Rafting on the Una or Neretva rivers: approximately €30–50 per person
Sample trip budgets
5-day Bosnia trip (backpacker)
- Accommodation (5 nights at €11/night hostel): approx. €55
- Food (5 days at €13/day): approx. €65
- Transport: approx. €25–35
- Activities: approx. €20–30
- Total: approximately €165–185 (excluding flights)
7-day Bosnia trip (mid-range)
- Accommodation (7 nights at €48/night): approx. €336
- Food (7 days at €22/day): approx. €154
- Transport: approx. €40–55
- Activities and tours: approx. €50–70
- Total: approximately €580–615 (excluding flights)
Budget tips for Bosnia
- Eat where locals eat — not on the tourist square — the same cevapi cost twice as much on the photogenic spots of Baščaršija versus one street back
- Use buses for intercity travel — private transfers between Sarajevo and Mostar cost €60–80 vs €8–12 by bus
- Visit the War Tunnel and Srebrenica — both have modest entry fees and are among the most affecting historical sites in Europe
- Bosnian currency (BAM) is pegged to the euro — you can mentally divide by 2 to get the rough euro equivalent
- Book Mostar accommodation early in July–August — the town is small and fills up fast; shoulder season prices and availability are much more relaxed
Useful links: Search Bosnia flights · Travel insurance · Balkans eSIM