According to the data from Semi-annual real estate market report in FBiH for 2025. year, The price of rentals and the value of residential real estate in Sarajevo continues to grow, while the scope of traffic declines. That paradox best depicts the current market, the value is growing, but is less purchased and rented.
The data show that the average price of the apartment is in the first half of 2025. year greater by 7%, while houses have risen by 11% compared to the same period in 2024. At the same time, the average price of construction land records a decrease of 6%, indicating saturation in new construction and a greater investment concentration in existing residential buildings.
In the first six months of this year, 10,038 implemented sales contracts were recorded, which has been a decrease of 11% compared to last year, but the total value of transactions increased by 3% and amounted to almost 870 million KM. In other words, it is less purchased, but is purchased more expensive, and the market is increasingly polarized between luxury real estate and the old price.
The most realized prices are still recorded in Sarajevo, where luxury apartments and houses break records. The capital has been experiencing the construction expansion, prompted by the growing interest of the diaspora, foreign nationals and investors see the real estate as a secure form of investment. According to the registry price of real estate (RCN), which now functions in 74 of the FBiH municipalities, and in all tax returns, almost all relevant purchase data were collected in late July 2025. year what this report is most complete so far.
Student budget under pressure
The growth of the price of the leases affects students who come from other parts of BiH in Sarajevo. We asked students studying in Sarajevo how they get on the growing rental rental prices. Their experiences reveal how difficult it is to match housing costs with a limited student budget.
One student from Brcko says that she and roommates pay 450km for an apartment of 50 square meters, which today consider a favorable price, given the location (Chengić Villa op.a.) and a square. Another student states that a 550 km without direction, but it considers that the prices are not accompanied by the real needs or opportunities for young people. Only since he was employed, he says he can afford such a “luxury”. During regular studies and part-time business, he could afford an apartment in a remote location with one apartment with one, and sometimes two roommates.
A student from Konjic studying and working in Sarajevo lives on the islands, in an apartment of 50 square meters, which pays 400km without calculated directions, which he considers a reasonable price with respect to the location. Nevertheless, it is aware that such apartments are a real rarity and certainly overprolls students who do not work or funded by parents. On the rent and arrangements are arrangements that are more expensive from year to year.
“Not to work, I would probably have to look for more roommates to share the costs because the HNK government has not traditionally subsidized, not Mostar, adding that students are not just learning but also everyday survival.
In common to all students are to rent apartments directly from the owner through advertisements, Facebook Group, without mediation agencies, because in this way, it is easier to agree on the price and conditions. However, in addition to savings on commissions, the total cost of living in the capital, including directors from year to year grow, which further burdens the student budget and reduces the availability of quality accommodation.
How much is the rent of the apartment in Sarajevo
We contacted several real estate agencies in Sarajevo and based on their data and experiences, an analysis of the average price of rentals per municipalities was performed. The results show current trends and approximate prices of long-term lease for apartments of different surfaces.
According to the information collected, the average rental prices by municipalities move like this:
Centar Sarajevo Municipality: The apartment of 50 m2 can be rented for 700 to 900 km, while the apartment of 70 m2 costs between 980 and 1,260 km, depending on the location, floors and regulations. (14-18 Km / m2)
Novo Sarajevo Municipality: For an apartment of 50 m2 rental price range from 650 to 800 km, and for an apartment of 70m² from 910 to 1,120 km, with the highest prices in Grbavica, Hrasno and Kovačići. (13-16 Km / m2)
The Municipality of Novi City: apartment of 50 m2 can be rented for 700 to 900 km, while the apartment of 70 m2 costs around 980 to 1,260 KM, which is a more new building that affect price growth. (14-18km / m2)
The Municipality of Stari Grad is the most, so the apartment of 50 m2 often costs more than 1,000 km, while the apartment of 70 m2 exceeds 1,400 KM and a limited number of apartments issued on tourist purposes. (Over 20 km / m2)
Municipality of Ilidža: The apartment of 50 m2 can cost from 900 to 1,100 km while the apartment of 70 m2 is 1,260 to 1,540 km, with more demand and reduced availability to raise prices. (18-22 km / m2),
It is important to note that the rental price is determined individually and depends on multiple factors, including: microlocation, storey, degree of landscaping, or garage, and proximity to the city center and business zones.
The ranges of the prices we have referred to the apartments for which there is the greatest interest of the tenants and which are relatively easily issued, according to the information agencies that follow the real estate market in Sarajevo.
World cities with the highest rental prices of real estate in 2025. Years
Rental prices of apartments around the world continue to grow, and the most expensive cities in which one room in the city center can cost more than 3,500 euros (about 6,845 km) per month. According to the data for 2025. year, New York leads the list, with an average rental price of a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of 3,522 € (about 6,888 km). In the second and third place are Boston from 2,885 € (about 5,642 km) and San Francisco from 2,832 € (about 5,539 km), while the Asian City of Singapore is 2,692 € (about 5,265 km), and London 2,537 € (about 4,962 km).
Swiss Zurich records a price of 2,312 € (about 4,521 km), while in the United States of America, 2,221 € (about 4,343 km), in the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai 2,041 € (3,991 km). In Europe, Dublin is among the most expensive and dublin with a rental price of 2,021 € (about 3,952 km) and Amsterdam with the amount of 2,004 € (about 3,919 km).
These data clearly show that housing world metropolises differ drastically in relation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where renting in Sarajevo, even in luxurious complexes, rarely exceeds 1,900 KM for an apartment of 70 square meters.
Social housing in Europe – Example Vienna
While in the majority of the world’s metropolis, the rental is moving towards market prices, in some European countries, social apartments are a key segment of housing policy. It is estimated that more than 28 million apartments are part of social housing in Europe.
One of the most famous examples is Vienna in Austria, where the right to social housing is realized by every citizen along the Viennese housing card. Authorities actively build apartments available to a wider population, not just socially vulnerable groups. Among the most famous projects of this construction is the Karl Marx-Hof complex, which symbolizes accessible housing in metropolis with high real estate costs.
The rental market in Sarajevo, although partly reflects global trends, faces unique challenges characteristic of the local context – price growth, limited bid and insufficient social housing support. The role of the state in the design of housing policy, examples of successful European models and the active private sector involvement are key to achieving the balance and demand, and thus and for the creation of a sustainable and available housing market for all citizens, especially for students and young people, writes Radio Sarajevo.
