Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 12.8% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly BAM104,070 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.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

¥11,948,175 BAM104,070

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 41.6% more

Groceries

pay 28.0% less

Transportation

pay 15.0% less

Housing

pay 31.4% less

Childcare

pay 56.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JPY = 0.0105 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.

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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
BA
13.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
BA
23.2

Japan 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

JP
12.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
BA
6.4t

Japan 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

JP
37.2
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
BA
2.0%

Japan 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

JP
2.6%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
BA
$19,900

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
BA
5.2

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

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Sarajevo
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, 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 Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Japan

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

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 Japan?

Yes — Bosnia and Herzegovina is on average about 17% cheaper than Japan. 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 BAM26,018 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a ¥11,948,175 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?

Japan 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 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

Share this

At a Glance

JP BA
Population 124,214,766 3,816,459
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages Japanese Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 112