Moving to Malaysia from Bosnia and Herzegovina

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 5.0% cheaper than Bosnia and Herzegovina overall. A BAM130,000 salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina would need to be roughly MYR290,000 in Malaysia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Malay. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kuala Lumpur averages 90°F vs 62°F in Sarajevo, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

BAM130,000 → MYR290,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 47.9% less

Groceries

pay 14.2% more

Transportation

pay 32.7% less

Housing

pay 8.1% more

Childcare

pay 6.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 36.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BAM = 2.35 MYR (October 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.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Malaysia cost about 7% more than cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mostar 34%

Malaysia

Ipoh 43%
Selangor 40%
Seremban 38%
Shah Alam 38%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BA
1.2
MY
0.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BA
13.7
MY
13.9

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BA
$1,989
MY
$1,441
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BA
25.8
MY
23.4

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina 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
MY
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BA
6.5t
MY
8.3t

Bosnia and Herzegovina performs better than Malaysia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BA
29.4
MY
13.6
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BA
2.1%
MY
3.4%

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on infrastructure, though Malaysia leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BA
11.0%
MY
3.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BA
$10,382
MY
$13,125

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BA
78.0 yrs
MY
76.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BA
5.5
MY
7.0

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on family life, though Malaysia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016), Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

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

Kuala Lumpur Rain: 95.6 in/yr (2427 mm)
90° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sarajevo Kuala Lumpur
Jan–Mar 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) 91°/75°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) 89°/74°F (32°/23°C)
View all months
Month Sarajevo Kuala Lumpur
Jan 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C)
Feb 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C)
Mar 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C)
Apr 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C)
May 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C)
Jun 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C)
Jul 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C)
Aug 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C)
Sep 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C)
Oct 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C)
Nov 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C)
Dec 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C)

Data: Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malaysian Meteorological Department Malaysian Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Malaysia

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

Malaysia passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visa Free
Malaysia 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 Malaysia than Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Yes — Malaysia is on average about 5% cheaper than Bosnia and Herzegovina. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly MYR72,500 in Malaysia on a BAM130,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Malaysia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Malaysia has 13.6 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 Malaysia safe for expats?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

How is healthcare in Malaysia compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 23.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Malaysia, compared to 25.8 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Malaysia scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 66).

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

The average high temperature in Kuala Lumpur is 90°F, compared to 62°F in Sarajevo. Kuala Lumpur receives around 95.6 in of rainfall per year, while Sarajevo gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Malaysia?

The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the official languages are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.

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At a Glance

BA MY
Population 3,140,095 35,977,838
Currency Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM) Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Languages Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian English, Malay
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +387 +60
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999