Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Australia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Australia to Bosnia and Herzegovina — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Australia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 44.1% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$104,312 salary in Australia would need to be roughly BAM70,628 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Australia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What does your salary buy?

A$104,312 BAM70,628

To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 41.0% less

Groceries

pay 35.2% less

Transportation

pay 21.9% less

Housing

pay 56.5% less

Childcare

pay 81.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 63.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 AUD = 1.21 BAM (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Australia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AU
0.8
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AU
4.5
BA
13.7

Australia performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AU
$7,691
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AU
39.8
BA
23.2

Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AU
10.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AU
14.1t
BA
6.4t

Australia generally does better on environment, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AU
35.1
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AU
4.6%
BA
2.0%

Australia generally does better on infrastructure, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
3.7%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AU
$59,500
BA
$19,900

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AU
83.1 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AU
3.0
BA
5.2

Australia performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all family life metrics.

Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Sarajevo Rain: 37.4 in/yr (950 mm)
62° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Canberra Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Canberra Sarajevo
Jan 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology, Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. To live, work, or study long-term in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bosnia and Herzegovina's immigration authority.

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visa Free
Australia passport holders can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa.
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Bosnia and Herzegovina than Australia?

Yes — Bosnia and Herzegovina is on average about 44% cheaper than Australia. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BAM17,657 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a A$104,312 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bosnia and Herzegovina has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe for expats?

Australia performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Australia?

Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).

What's the weather like in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Australia?

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In Australia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

AU BA
Population 26,141,369 3,816,459
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages English Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +61 +387
Time zones 8 1
Emergency number 000 112