The trade union consumer basket in the Federation of BiH for March 2026 amounted to 3,335.50 KM, or about €1,705.

The data was published by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of BiH, which in its calculation takes into account the minimum monthly living costs of a family of four. It is a family with 2 adults and 2 children, one of whom is in primary school and the other in secondary school.

Average salary sufficient for 50.10% of the basket

According to the same trade union data, the average salary paid in the Federation of BiH for January 2026 amounted to 1,671 KM, or about €854. This is the latest data from the Federal Office of Statistics used in the calculation. Such a salary covers 50.10% of the trade union consumer basket, while the minimum wage of 1,027 KM, or about €525, covers 30.79% of basic monthly costs.

The basket refers to a family

It should be kept in mind that the trade union consumer basket refers to a family of four, while the average salary refers to the average income of one employed person.

If 2 people in such a household work and both receive the average salary in the Federation of BiH, their total monthly income amounts to 3,342 KM, which almost entirely covers the amount of the trade union basket. But if both people work for the minimum wage, together they would receive 2,054 KM, which covers about 61.58% of the estimated monthly costs.

Most money goes on food

The largest part of the consumer basket relates to food, which makes up 43.61% of total costs. This is followed by housing and коммунal services with 14.87%, clothing and footwear with 10.80%, education and culture with 10.50%, hygiene and health maintenance with 9.45%, household maintenance with 6%, and transport with 4.80%. The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of BiH states that for the food category, prices from 3 shopping centres for 86 items were used.

It is important to emphasize that the trade union basket is not a reflection of luxury, but an estimate of the necessary means for a dignified life, including everything from utilities and transport to school supplies and basic healthcare.

What does the consumer basket mean?

The consumer basket is not the actual spending of every family, but an estimate of how much a typical family of four would need for basic monthly needs. It includes food, utilities, housing, transport, hygiene, health, education, culture, clothing, footwear, and household maintenance. That is why this indicator is often used to compare living costs with average and minimum wages.

The measures have not yet reversed the trend

N1 BiH in its report on rising prices states that citizens feel the increase in food prices, utilities, and basic necessities the most, while the announced measures include limiting margins, controlling retail prices, and maximum prices for basic bakery products. But the data from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of BiH show that the key problem remains the same: the regular income of a large part of citizens does not keep pace with the costs of basic living.

The data particularly affects families with lower incomes. If only one adult in a four-member household works for the minimum wage, only 30.79% of the trade union consumer basket is covered. Even if 2 adults worked for the minimum wage, their total income would not be enough to cover basic monthly costs according to the trade union calculation. Therefore, these data best show how sensitive the standard of living is to the number of employed household members and the level of their income.