Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Germany

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 47.0% cheaper than Germany overall. A €64,304 salary in Germany would need to be roughly BAM71,681 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 BAM71,681

To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 50.8% less

Groceries

pay 31.7% less

Transportation

pay 38.9% less

Housing

pay 61.3% less

Childcare

pay 71.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 55.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (June 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 Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
516 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Germany 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DE
0.8
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DE
3.3
BA
13.7

Germany performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

DE
$8,826
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

DE
45.2
BA
23.2

Germany 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

DE
15.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DE
6.9t
BA
6.4t

Germany 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

DE
45.0
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DE
35.4%
BA
2.0%

Germany 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

DE
3.0%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
BA
$19,900

Germany 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

DE
81.5 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DE
3.2
BA
5.2

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

Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Sarajevo
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst, 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 Germany 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.

Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Germany

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

Yes — Bosnia and Herzegovina is on average about 43% cheaper than Germany. City-level variation can be significant.

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

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BAM17,920 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a €64,304 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bosnia and Herzegovina has 27.1 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina safe for expats?

Germany performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Germany?

Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

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At a Glance

DE BA
Population 84,316,622 3,816,459
Currency Euro (€) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages German Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112