Moving to South Africa from Bosnia and Herzegovina
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Bosnia and Herzegovina to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Bosnia and Herzegovina to South Africa, you would find that South Africa is 20.6% more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina overall. A BAM130,000 salary in Bosnia and Herzegovina would need to be roughly ZAR1,490,000 in South Africa to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Johannesburg averages 71°F vs 62°F in Sarajevo, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is South Africa cheaper than Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.9% more
Groceries
pay 2.1% more
Transportation
pay 16.4% more
Housing
pay 56.1% more
Childcare
pay 22.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.2% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in South Africa?
What does your salary buy?
BAM130,000 → ZAR1,490,000
To maintain the same standard of living in South Africa
Calculate with your salary →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 South Africa cost about 9% more than cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to South Africa
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?
How many people actually move from Bosnia and Herzegovina to South Africa, based on official data.
people born in Bosnia and Herzegovina live in South Africa · UN DESA
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
96.243
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Bosnia and Herzegovina to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on family life, though South Africa 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), South African Revenue Service (2017), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this
Weather in South Africa vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sarajevo | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) | 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) | 66°/45°F (19°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) | 67°/44°F (20°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sarajevo | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) | 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) | 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C) |
| Mar | 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) | 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C) |
| May | 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) | 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C) |
| Jun | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) | 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C) |
| Jul | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) | 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C) |
| Aug | 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) | 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C) |
| Sep | 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) | 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C) |
| Oct | 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) | 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C) |
| Nov | 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) | 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C) |
| Dec | 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C) |
Data:
Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
South African Weather Service
Can you move from Bosnia and Herzegovina to South Africa?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Required
South Africa passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in South Africa than Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No — South Africa is on average about 21% more expensive than Bosnia and Herzegovina. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to South Africa?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ZAR372,500 in South Africa on a BAM130,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 5.3 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 South Africa safe for expats?
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Africa is 43.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 7.9 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 25.8 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 66).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The average high temperature in Johannesburg is 71°F, compared to 62°F in Sarajevo. Johannesburg receives around 28.1 in of rainfall per year, while Sarajevo gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the official languages are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.
Compare further: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. South Africa
More relocation comparisons
At a Glance
BA
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,140,095 | 64,747,319 |
| Currency | Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +387 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 112 | 10111 |