Moving to Russia from Bosnia and Herzegovina

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Russia, you would find that Russia is 7.8% more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina overall. A BAM128,216 salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina would need to be roughly RUB6,417,223 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 62°F in Sarajevo, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

BAM128,216 RUB6,417,223

To maintain the same standard of living in Russia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 21.1% less

Groceries

pay 10.6% less

Transportation

pay 28.3% less

Housing

pay 6.7% more

Childcare

pay 97.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BAM = 45.7 RUB (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 Russia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
513

people born in Bosnia and Herzegovina live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

Top countries of origin for Russia'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 Russia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BA
1.1
RU
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BA
13.7
RU
10.6

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BA
$1,989
RU
$3,204
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

BA
23.2
RU
38.3

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia 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
RU
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BA
6.4t
RU
14.0t

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on environment, though Russia 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
RU
24.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BA
2.0%
RU
4.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BA
10.4%
RU
3.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BA
$19,900
RU
$39,800

Russia 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
RU
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BA
5.2
RU
6.4

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on family life, though Russia leads in literacy rate.

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

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sarajevo Moscow
Jan–Mar 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Sarajevo Moscow
Jan 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Russia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Russia.
Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visa Free
Russia 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 Russia than Bosnia and Herzegovina?

No — Russia is on average about 10% more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Russia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RUB1,604,306 in Russia on a BAM128,216 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Russia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 24.8 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 Russia safe for expats?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 23.2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 66).

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

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 62°F in Sarajevo. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Sarajevo gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

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

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At a Glance

BA RU
Population 3,816,459 142,021,981
Currency Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +387 +7
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 112