Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Estonia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Estonia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 27.5% cheaper than Estonia overall. A €65,700 salary in Estonia would need to be roughly BAM94,816 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 48°F in Tallinn, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 BAM94,816

To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 38.7% less

Groceries

pay 2.8% less

Transportation

pay 5.6% less

Housing

pay 41.1% less

Childcare

pay 39.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 51.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (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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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

EE
1.5
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

EE
4.4
BA
13.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

EE
$3,741
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

EE
34.4
BA
23.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Estonia 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

EE
13.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EE
7.8t
BA
6.4t

Estonia generally does better on environment, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

EE
40.4
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EE
10.8%
BA
2.0%

Estonia 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

EE
6.3%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

EE
$42,000
BA
$19,900

Estonia 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

EE
77.9 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EE
3.4
BA
5.2

Estonia generally does better on family life, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in life expectancy.

Data: Estonian Tax and Customs Board, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tallinn Rain: 27.3 in/yr (693 mm)
48° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Sarajevo Rain: 37.4 in/yr (950 mm)
62° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tallinn Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 31°/21°F (0°/-6°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 57°/41°F (14°/5°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 65°/51°F (19°/10°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 40°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Tallinn Sarajevo
Jan 29°/20°F (-1.4°/-6.6°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.8°/-7.5°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 36°/24°F (2.0°/-4.3°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 47°/32°F (8.2°/0.1°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 59°/41°F (14.9°/5.0°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 66°/49°F (19.1°/9.7°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.1°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 68°/53°F (19.9°/11.6°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 58°/45°F (14.5°/7.2°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 48°/38°F (9.1°/3.3°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.3°/-1.2°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.6°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Estonia 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.

Estonia passport

Estonia passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Estonia

Visa Free
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holders can enter Estonia 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina than Estonia?

On average Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 26% less expensive than Estonia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Budget about BAM23,704 for 3 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina (based on a €65,700 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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 27.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bosnia and Herzegovina offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe for expats?

Estonia generally does better on safety, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Estonia.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Estonia?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Estonia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 34.4 in Estonia. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Estonia: 79).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 48°F in Tallinn. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Tallinn gets 27.3 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

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At a Glance

EE BA
Population 1,211,524 3,816,459
Currency Euro (€) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages Estonian Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +372 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112