From 2014 to 2024, citizens of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) have faced increasing living costs, while wage growth has failed to match this rise.

According to the Independent Trade Unions of BiH (SSS BiH), the union consumer basket for June 2024 was 2,964 KM, while the average wage stood at 1,364 KM, covering only 46% of basic living expenses. For minimum wage earners, this coverage drops to just 21%.

Food costs, making up over 40% of the basket, have seen significant increases, with families struggling to meet rising prices. In 2014, the average net wage was 830 KM, with living costs at 1,800 KM. By 2024, while wages rose to 1,364 KM, the living expenses nearly doubled.

This widening gap has left many families, especially in cities like Sarajevo, unable to cover essential costs like housing, education, and healthcare. The economic strain intensified during the 2020 pandemic, and without immediate economic reforms to raise wages and protect workers, financial pressures will continue to grow for citizens across FBiH.