Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Illinois
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Illinois to Bosnia and Herzegovina — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Illinois to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 42.8% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly BAM75,546 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Illinois to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → BAM75,546
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 39.4% less
Groceries
pay 35.3% less
Transportation
pay 11.4% less
Housing
pay 63.1% less
Childcare
pay 87.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.2% 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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Illinois to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois 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
Illinois performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Illinois 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 | Springfield | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°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 Illinois?
Yes — Bosnia and Herzegovina is on average about 41% cheaper than Illinois. 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 BAM18,886 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Usually fine from major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Illinois?
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In Illinois, the official language is English.
