Moving to Germany from Bosnia and Herzegovina

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany, you would find that Germany is 2.3 times more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina overall. A BAM128,216 salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina would need to be roughly €115,267 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

BAM128,216 €115,267

To maintain the same standard of living in Germany

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.1 times more

Groceries

pay 59.9% more

Transportation

pay 89.2% more

Housing

pay 2.8 times more

Childcare

pay 3.8 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BAM = 0.5115 EUR (July 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
20,449

people moved from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Germany?

Top countries of origin for Germany's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

BA
13.7
DE
3.3

Germany performs significantly better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BA
$1,989
DE
$8,826
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BA
23.2
DE
45.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BA
6.4t
DE
6.9t

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BA
27.1
DE
45.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BA
2.0%
DE
35.4%

Germany 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

BA
10.4%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BA
$19,900
DE
$61,900

Germany 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

BA
78.0 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BA
5.2
DE
3.2

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

Data: Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sarajevo Berlin
Jan–Mar 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Sarajevo Berlin
Jan 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Germany

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

Germany passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visa Free
Germany passport holders can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 Germany than Bosnia and Herzegovina?

No — Germany is on average about 76% more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €28,817 in Germany on a BAM128,216 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Germany?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Germany has 45.0 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 Germany safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 23.2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 66).

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

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 62°F in Sarajevo. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Sarajevo gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

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

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At a Glance

BA DE
Population 3,816,459 84,316,622
Currency Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM) Euro (€)
Languages Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +387 +49
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112