Moving to Netherlands from Bosnia and Herzegovina

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Netherlands? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 3.0 times more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina overall. A BAM125,999 salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina would need to be roughly €135,990 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Netherlands.

What does your salary buy?

BAM125,999 €135,990

To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.4 times more

Groceries

pay 62.8% more

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 3.9 times more

Childcare

pay 6.8 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.9 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BAM = 0.5104 EUR (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.

Get free moving quotes to Netherlands

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Netherlands.

Moved in 2023
137 ↓ 20% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Netherlands?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Netherlands compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

BA
13.7
NL
3.4

Netherlands 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
NL
$8,195
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BA
23.2
NL
39.1

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands 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
NL
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BA
6.4t
NL
6.6t

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on environment, though Netherlands 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
NL
44.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BA
2.0%
NL
16.1%

Netherlands 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%
NL
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BA
$19,900
NL
$69,300

Netherlands 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
NL
82.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BA
5.2
NL
3.4

Netherlands 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

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sarajevo Amsterdam
Jan–Mar 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) 69°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Sarajevo Amsterdam
Jan 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C)
Feb 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C)
Mar 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C)
Apr 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C)
May 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C)
Jun 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C)
Jul 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C)
Aug 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C)
Sep 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C)
Oct 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C)
Nov 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C)
Dec 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

Netherlands passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visa Free
Netherlands 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 Netherlands than Bosnia and Herzegovina?

On average Netherlands is around 111% pricier than Bosnia and Herzegovina, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?

Budget about €33,998 for 3 months in Netherlands (based on a BAM125,999 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Netherlands?

Connectivity is usually fine (Netherlands: 44.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Netherlands offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Netherlands safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 23.2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 66).

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

The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 62°F in Sarajevo. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Sarajevo gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

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

Share this

At a Glance

BA NL
Population 3,816,459 17,400,824
Currency Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM) Euro (€)
Languages Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Dutch
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +387 +31
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112