Sarajevo - Post Report Question and Answers
How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Groceries are available. Fresh produce varies. Some items are only available seasonally, but the basics are all here. - Mar 2024
Groceries are easy to find. There are lots of farmers markets around town (called green markets) where you can buy fresh local produce. I've been able to find several gluten-free options at the DM store (sort of like a CVS in the US). Some larger chains started doing grocery delivery during COVID. - Apr 2021
I'm a bad one to answer this because two years in Havana really teaches you how to get by with what you have. We really haven't had any problems finding what we need, and can order stuff through the DPO if we get a bad craving. The fruits and vegetables here are delicious and mostly organic. They do spoil faster, but that's what happens when food hasn't been genetically modified to last forever. Frozen options are available for when they are out of season. Plus, groceries are MUCH cheaper than in the US! - Dec 2017
The availability of fruits and vegetables is very seasonal in Bosnia. Costs are cheap in comparison to the United States, but the fruits and vegetables you buy at post perish a lot faster after purchase. Other than the local fish that gets trucked in from local fish farms, the seafood that makes it to Sarajevo is imported. You can buy pork from Konzum (a Croatian chain) when it is available. You can also get pork in the Republic of Srpska. There is also a small exchange in the embassy that you can buy foodstuff from the U.S.. - Sep 2017
All basic groceries available and cheap. Wonderful fruit and vegetable markets. Good meat selection, however the cuts are different that in the U.S. and not all meat shops will sell pork. - Feb 2017
Super cheap and you can get just about anything. - May 2016
Cost of food is amazingly low if you do most of your shopping at the fresh markets. Fruits and vegetables are seasonable, so you have to plan ahead and freeze if you want strawberries in December. Meat = lots of chicken, beef is a bit weird--funny taste and lack of butchering skills, and pork (aside from ham for sandwiches) has to be purchased at special stores. Household supplies can be Bosnia expensive, but not too bad compared to Stateside prices. - Aug 2014
Inexpensive. I would say you spend 10-20% less than you would in DC if you are a diplomat not paying VAT. - Nov 2012
There are a couple of large groceries stores. Western goods are not prevalent, but the embassy has a commissary now where many American items can be purchased. Pork is not easily purchased (and is not served at restaurants), unless you travel into the Republika Srpska entity for a meal (which we did a few times). - Aug 2011
Very reasonable. - May 2011
Groceries and household supplies seem cheaper than in DC, for the most part, although some specialty items will cost you. There are excellent green markets around town to buy wonderful fruits and vegetables 7 days a week. The grocery stores are big and well stocked. Not many American products, but plenty of German. - May 2010
You can get most things. Sometimes you need help figuring out which item matches what you're trying to buy (with regard to baking ingredients, in particular). An asian food store has just opened, and they appear to have anything you might want. Things you can't get include: chocolate chips, cheddar cheese, hotdogs, bacon, American-style bread. - Jun 2009
Prices are reasobable depending on where you buy. - Mar 2009
Cheap. - Dec 2008
