Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from France

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from France to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 51.1% cheaper than France overall. A €67,000 salary in France would need to be roughly BAM64,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → BAM64,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 51.8% less

Groceries

pay 42.3% less

Transportation

pay 29.2% less

Housing

pay 62.6% less

Childcare

pay 62.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 57.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (October 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.

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 Bosnia and Herzegovina cost about 37% less than cities in France.

France

Paris ★ 64%
Cannes 64%
Antibes 61%

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mostar 34%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
162 ↓ 7% vs 2015

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

Who's moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Top countries of origin for Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.3
BA
1.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
BA
13.7

France 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

FR
$6,868
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
32.8
BA
25.8

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
BA
6.5t

France performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
48.9
BA
29.4
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.4%
BA
2.1%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.5%
BA
11.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$48,986
BA
$10,382

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

FR
83.0 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.4
BA
5.5

France performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (2016), Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Paris Sarajevo
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, 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 France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holders can enter France 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 France?

On average Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 51% less expensive than France, with major cities narrowing the gap.

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

Budget about BAM16,000 for 3 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina (based on a €67,000 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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 29.4 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?

France generally does better on safety, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in France.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 32.8 in France. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

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At a Glance

FR BA
Population 68,720,337 3,140,095
Currency Euro (€) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages French Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +387
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 112