Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Belgium

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Belgium to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 48.7% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €64,304 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly BAM68,548 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 BAM68,548

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 53.4% less

Groceries

pay 33.0% less

Transportation

pay 35.5% less

Housing

pay 58.0% less

Childcare

pay 76.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 57.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.96 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 Belgium to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
BA
13.7

Belgium 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

BE
$7,489
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
BA
23.2

Belgium 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

BE
15.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
BA
6.4t

Belgium 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

BE
43.5
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
BA
2.0%

Belgium 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

BE
5.5%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
BA
$19,900

Belgium 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

BE
81.9 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
BA
5.2

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

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Sarajevo
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, 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 Belgium 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.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Belgium

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

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 Belgium?

Yes — Bosnia and Herzegovina is on average about 46% cheaper than Belgium. 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 BAM17,137 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a €64,304 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?

Belgium 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 1.1 in Belgium.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Belgium?

Belgium 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 63.9 in Belgium. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE BA
Population 11,847,338 3,816,459
Currency Euro (€) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages Dutch, French, German Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112