Cost Of Living For a Family in Medjugorje 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Medjugorje

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Medjugorje?

Families in Medjugorje spend around 3,100 BAM per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,100 BAM or as high as 20,000 BAM. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Medjugorje

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Medjugorje

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Medjugorje spend around 81% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 73% of their income while some as high as 88%.

How do families spend their money in Medjugorje?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Medjugorje typically spend from 21% to 36% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 980 BAM with expenditure ranging from 340 BAM to 6,400 BAM. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Medjugorje ranges from 3% to 8% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 150 BAM with 53 BAM and 990 BAM being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 110 BAM to 2,000 BAM in a month on commuting with 310 BAM being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 7%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Medjugorje is 550 BAM. The cost of groceries can range between 190 BAM to 3,600 BAM. Families spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Medjugorje allocate 7% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 96 BAM to 1,600 BAM with 310 BAM being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 53 BAM to 990 BAM with 150 BAM being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 430 BAM per month with 150 BAM being the minimum spent amount and 2,800 BAM being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Medjugorje are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 49% of surveyed families in Medjugorje said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 51% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 7.2% to 23% of their monthly income to their savings, with 13% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 1,100 BAM with 380 BAM and 7,000 BAM being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Medjugorje

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Medjugorje. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 14% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Medjugorje

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Medjugorje

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Medjugorje?

Around 57% of surveyed families think that living in Medjugorje is affordable with proper budgeting while 43% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Medjugorje

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options53%

Few low-cost options47%

Based on the survey, 53% of the families living in Medjugorje have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 47% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Medjugorje whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes56%

No45%

Based on the survey, 45% of the families living in Medjugorje said that they don't have an emergency fund while 56% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy59%

We asked family guardians and parents in Medjugorje whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 41% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 59% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Bosnia and Herzegovina have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 36% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 64% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance36%

Easily manages finances64%

Financial goals of families in Medjugorje

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Medjugorje, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 40% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 13% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Medjugorje

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 24% of the families in Medjugorje have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 76% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Medjugorje

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 28% of a family's monthly income in Medjugorje goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Medjugorje pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 16% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 11% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Medjugorje

9% of debtors in Medjugorje confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 29% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 17% of people and personal loans rose at 41%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Medjugorje.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Medjugorje

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Medjugorje how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Medjugorje

Rent Cost in Medjugorje

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

170 BAM

260 BAM

690 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$95

$140

$380

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

260 BAM

410 BAM

1,000 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140

$230

$570

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

340 BAM

520 BAM

1,400 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$290

$760

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

410 BAM

690 BAM

1,900 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$380

$1,000

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

830 BAM

2,100 BAM

4,100 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$460

$1,100

$2,300

Townhouse monthly rent cost

690 BAM

1,000 BAM

2,900 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380

$570

$1,600

House monthly rent cost

830 BAM

2,100 BAM

4,100 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$460

$1,100

$2,300

Villa monthly rent cost

1,000 BAM

2,600 BAM

4,100 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$570

$1,400

$2,300

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Medjugorje ranges between 170 BAM and 690 BAM, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 260 BAM to 1,000 BAM. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 340 BAM and 1,400 BAM per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 410 BAM to 1,900 BAM. The average rent of a townhouse in Medjugorje is around 1,000 BAM while house rental costs can be as high as 2,100 BAM per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 1,000 BAM to 4,100 BAM per month.

Apartment and house prices in Medjugorje

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

34,000 BAM

52,000 BAM

100,000 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19,000

$29,000

$57,000

1-bedroom apartment price

41,000 BAM

69,000 BAM

260,000 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23,000

$38,000

$140,000

2-bedroom apartment price

69,000 BAM

210,000 BAM

410,000 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$38,000

$110,000

$230,000

3-bedroom apartment price

230,000 BAM

340,000 BAM

1M BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130,000

$190,000

$570,000

Townhouse price

290,000 BAM

690,000 BAM

2.6M BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160,000

$380,000

$1.4M

House price

340,000 BAM

2.1M BAM

2.9M BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190,000

$1.1M

$1.6M

Villa price

410,000 BAM

2.3M BAM

3.4M BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230,000

$1.3M

$1.9M

The average price of a studio apartment in Medjugorje can range from 34,000 BAM to 100,000 BAM depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 41,000 BAM to 260,000 BAM. A villa can cost you 2.3M BAM on average with prices ranging from 410,000 BAM to 3.4M BAM.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Medjugorje can be x87 to x177 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x87 multiples of the average monthly salary in Medjugorje.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Medjugorje is around 27%. This means that people pay 27% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 36% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Medjugorje

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Medjugorje

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

53 BAM

150 BAM

990 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$30

$85

$550

Internet and cable cost

11 BAM

23 BAM

31 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.4

$13

$17

Mobile phone bill and charges

9.2 BAM

15 BAM

46 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.1

$8.5

$25

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 150 BAM. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 11 BAM to 31 BAM with 23 BAM being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 15 BAM but can range between 9.2 BAM and 46 BAM depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Medjugorje is around 5.4%. This means that people pay 5.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.7% to 9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Medjugorje

Prices and cost of goods and services in Medjugorje

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

2.3 BAM

4.6 BAM

7.6 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$2.5

$4.2

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Medjugorje is approximatly 4.6 BAM with meal cost ranging from 2.3 BAM to 7.6 BAM. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

7.3 BAM

11 BAM

22 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4

$6

$12

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 7.3 BAM and 22 BAM with 11 BAM being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Medjugorje.

Fine dining meal for one price

15 BAM

22 BAM

87 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.1

$12

$48

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 15 BAM to 87 BAM with the average cost being 22 BAM for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Medjugorje.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

1.9 BAM

3.1 BAM

4.6 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.7

$2.5

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Medjugorje is around 3.1 BAM. Price ranges between 1.9 BAM and 4.6 BAM depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

1.5 BAM

1.8 BAM

2.3 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.85

$1

$1.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Medjugorje is 1.8 BAM. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 2.3 BAM and the minimum being 1.5 BAM depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

1.1 BAM

1.5 BAM

2.3 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.64

$0.85

$1.3

A dozen eggs costs around 1.5 BAM on average with 1.1 BAM and 2.3 BAM being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

2.6 BAM

3.4 BAM

4.8 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.9

$2.7

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Medjugorje is between 2.6 BAM and 4.8 BAM depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 3.4 BAM.

Pack of beef price

3.1 BAM

4.6 BAM

9.2 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.5

$5.1

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 4.6 BAM. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

1.2 BAM

1.7 BAM

2.4 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.68

$0.94

$1.3

A bag of rice in Medjugorje costs around 1.7 BAM on average with prices rangeing between 1.2 BAM and 2.4 BAM depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

0.46 BAM

0.61 BAM

1.1 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.25

$0.34

$0.64

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 0.46 BAM to 1.1 BAM. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

0.82 BAM

1.1 BAM

1.8 BAM

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.45

$0.60

$0.98

A bag of apples costs 1.1 BAM on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Medjugorje is around 24%. This means that families spend 24% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 30% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families