Bosnia and Herzegovina
How much does a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina cost? Daily budget and prices
Budget 70–120 KM (about €35–60) per day as a backpacker, 150–270 KM mid-range, and 370–680 KM for comfort, per person sharing. Sarajevo in Film Festival week and Mostar's old town run higher; the countryside is cheaper. Cash matters: bakeries, markets and taxis often take marks only.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Key facts
- Currency
- Convertible mark (BAM/KM), fixed at 1.95583 KM = €1, so 2 KM ≈ €1
- Backpacker day
- 65–120 KM: hostel dorm, ćevapi and burek, buses and trams
- Mid-range day
- 150–270 KM: guesthouse or 3★, restaurant dinners, a day tour
- Comfort day
- 370–680 KM: 4–5★ hotel, private driver days, wine
- Ćevapi, 10 pieces with somun
- 9–14 KM
- Bosnian coffee
- 2–4 KM
- Beer (0.5 L) in a bar
- 3–5 KM
- Guided day tour
- Adds 70–150 KM per person (Herzegovina or Srebrenica)
- Cards vs cash
- Cards in hotels and larger restaurants; bakeries, markets, taxis and guesthouses often cash only
- Leftover marks
- Hard to exchange outside the country; spend or change before leaving
Daily budget by travel style
These are per person per day, with a room shared at mid-range and comfort. Prices are a 2026 estimate. The gap between tiers is mostly accommodation and how you move: buses and trams versus private driver days.
Two people travelling together land near the middle of each band. A solo traveller pays more per night for a private room but the same for food and transport.
| Style | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 25–45 KM | 25–35 KM | 5–15 KM | 5–15 KM | 5–10 KM | 65–120 KM |
| Mid-range | 60–110 KM | 45–70 KM | 15–30 KM | 20–40 KM | 10–20 KM | 150–270 KM |
| Comfort | 150–280 KM | 90–140 KM | 60–120 KM | 40–80 KM | 30–60 KM | 370–680 KM |
2026 estimate, per person per day, room shared at mid-range and comfort.
What individual things cost
Street and bakery food is the cheapest part of a Bosnian day. A portion of burek by weight, a plate of ćevapi and a coffee can cover lunch for under 20 KM. Restaurant dinners with a drink push the food line to 45–70 KM.
Sights are modest: the Tunnel of Hope and the Trebević cable car are each around 20 KM, and many mosques, bridges and old towns are free to walk. Guided day tours are the big single add-on.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ćevapi, 10 pieces with somun | 9–14 KM | 2026 estimate |
| Bosnian coffee | 2–4 KM | 2026 estimate |
| Burek by weight (a portion) | 3–6 KM | 2026 estimate |
| Beer (0.5 L) in a bar | 3–5 KM | 2026 estimate |
| Tunnel of Hope ticket | About 20 KM | 2026 estimate |
| Trebević cable car return | About 20 KM | 2026 estimate |
| Guided day tour | 70–150 KM per person | 2026 estimate |
When and where it costs more
Mostar's old town and Sarajevo during Film Festival week are the two places where beds and meals climb fastest. Book those dates early or shift a night to a nearby town.
The countryside is cheaper across the board, and there are no domestic flights to pay for: buses and trains link the main towns. Add Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Croatia or Montenegro trip instead of covering the whole country, and the transport line stays low.
- Mostar old town: highest room rates in the country in summer
- Sarajevo Film Festival week: city beds and taxis spike
- Countryside towns: cheaper rooms and food, fewer tours
- No domestic flights: buses and trains only
Cash, cards and currency
The currency is the convertible mark (BAM, written KM). It is fixed to the euro at 1.95583 KM = €1, so a quick rule is 2 KM ≈ €1. That makes euro-to-mark mental maths easy, but the mark itself is hard to exchange outside the country: spend or change what is left before you leave.
Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants. Bakeries, markets, taxis and many guesthouses want cash, so carry a few hundred marks. Near the Croatian border some places accept euros informally at a rounded rate; pay in marks where you can.
| Payment | Where it works | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Card | Hotels, larger restaurants, some shops | Keep a cash backup for the day |
| Cash (KM) | Bakeries, markets, taxis, guesthouses | Withdraw or change in towns |
| Euros | Sometimes accepted near the Croatian border | Expect a rounded rate; pay in marks |
How to cut the bill
Eat where locals eat: bakeries, grills and market stalls rather than old-town terraces. Take the bus or train between Sarajevo and Mostar instead of a private transfer, and pick one guided day tour rather than several.
Travel in the shoulder months, when rooms in Mostar and Sarajevo drop, and stay in guesthouses or apartments rather than hotels. Splitting a private room between two people is usually cheaper than two dorm beds.
- Bakery and grill lunches instead of restaurant lunches
- Bus or train between towns, not private transfers
- One guided day tour, not three
- Shoulder-season rooms in Mostar and Sarajevo
- Guesthouse or apartment over hotel
- Share a private room rather than two dorm beds
Questions people ask
How much money do you need per day in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Budget 65–120 KM per day as a backpacker, 150–270 KM mid-range and 370–680 KM for comfort, per person, sharing a room at the higher tiers. These are 2026 estimates; Mostar's old town and Sarajevo in Film Festival week cost more.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina expensive for tourists?
No. It is cheaper than Croatia, Austria or Italy for food, beds and transport. A coffee is 2–4 KM and ćevapi 9–14 KM. Costs rise mainly in Mostar's old town in summer and in Sarajevo during festival week.
What do meals, hotels and transport cost in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Burek by weight is 3–6 KM, ćevapi 9–14 KM, a bar beer 3–5 KM. Beds run 25–45 KM for a hostel dorm, 60–110 KM for a guesthouse or 3★, 150–280 KM for 4–5★. Buses and trams are cheap; a guided day tour adds 70–150 KM.
Do I need cash in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Carry some. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but bakeries, markets, taxis and many guesthouses take marks only. The mark is hard to exchange outside the country, so spend or change leftovers before you leave.
Can I pay in euros in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Sometimes, informally, near the Croatian border, usually at a rounded rate. The official currency is the convertible mark, fixed at 1.95583 KM = €1. Pay in marks where you can, and treat euros as a fallback.
How much should I budget for a week in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
A mid-range week is roughly 1,050–1,900 KM per person, covering a guesthouse or 3★ room, restaurant meals, buses and a day tour. Backpackers can do a week for about 450–850 KM. Add your flights and any private driver days.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check