Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Ireland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ireland to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 46.8% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,700 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly BAM61,312 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 BAM61,312

To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 41.6% less

Groceries

pay 32.5% less

Transportation

pay 48.6% less

Housing

pay 63.6% less

Childcare

pay 67.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 66.3% 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.

Get free moving quotes to Bosnia and Herzegovina

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IE
2.8
BA
13.7

Ireland 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

IE
$8,772
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
BA
23.2

Ireland 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
BA
6.4t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IE
32.1
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
BA
2.0%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
BA
$19,900

Ireland 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

IE
81.7 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
BA
5.2

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

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Sarajevo
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, 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 Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Required
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holders need a visa to enter Ireland.

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 Ireland?

On average Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 52% less expensive than Ireland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

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

Budget about BAM15,328 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?

Ireland 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 0.9 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Ireland?

Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

Share this

At a Glance

IE BA
Population 5,275,004 3,816,459
Currency Euro (€) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages English, Irish Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +353 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112