Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Bosnia and Herzegovina? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 49.1% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly BAM59,601 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Sarajevo averages 62°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → BAM59,601
To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 48.4% less
Groceries
pay 47.2% less
Transportation
pay 24.4% less
Housing
pay 68.8% less
Childcare
pay 88.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 66.9% less
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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to California.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. To live, work, or study long-term in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bosnia and Herzegovina's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visa Free
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting United States
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 Bosnia and Herzegovina than California?
On average Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 54% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Budget about BAM14,900 for 3 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Bosnia and Herzegovina?
From major Bosnia and Herzegovina cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Bosnia and Herzegovina are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to California?
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to California?
The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In California, the official language is English.
