Life in Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 137 euros more expensive than a year ago.

A family of four in Bosnia and Herzegovina needed 3,810.70 KM, or about 1,948 euros, for basic monthly expenses in August 2026. That is almost 269 KM, or about 137 euros more than in the same month last year. The data was published by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its calculation of the trade union consumer basket for August 2026.

In August 2025, the same consumer basket amounted to 3,541.80 KM, or about 1,811 euros, which means it became approximately 7.6 percent more expensive over the course of a year. These are the estimated minimum costs for a family with two adults and two children, one attending primary school and the other secondary school.

Salary covers less than half of the costs

According to the Federal Institute of Statistics, the average salary for June in the Federation of BiH amounted to 1,714 KM, or about 876 euros. It can cover only 44.98 percent of the consumer basket. The minimum wage of 1,027 KM, about 525 euros, is sufficient for only 26.95 percent of the calculated monthly expenses of a family of four.

A year earlier, the average salary used in the calculation was 1,577 KM, about 806 euros, while the minimum amounted to 1,000 KM, or about 511 euros. Although the average salary has meanwhile grown faster than the consumer basket itself, a family relying on only one average salary still cannot cover even half of the calculated costs.

The largest share of money goes to food

The largest share of this year's basket once again goes to food, as much as 43.58 percent, which corresponds to approximately 1,661 KM or 849 euros per month. This is followed by education and culture with about 700 KM, or 358 euros, and housing and коммунal services with approximately 441 KM or 225 euros. Compared with last year, the growth in the share of food and costs related to education and culture is particularly visible.

Several factors can affect the rise in overall living costs. These include higher prices for food and services, more expensive production and transport of goods, as well as seasonal costs associated with the start of the school year. In August, families with children face increased expenses for school, clothing, and other needs, so that month in particular can be a special burden on the household budget.

The data thus show that incomes in the Federation of BiH have increased, but at the same time basic living costs have also continued to rise. According to the trade union calculation, a family of four now needs almost 1,950 euros per month, about 137 euros more than a year ago, while one average salary still covers less than half of that amount.