Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Macedonia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Macedonia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 15.1% more expensive than Macedonia overall. A MKD3,963,666 salary in Macedonia would need to be roughly BAM128,102 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 Macedonia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What does your salary buy?

MKD3,963,666 BAM128,102

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 15.5% more

Groceries

pay 25.9% more

Transportation

pay 13.7% more

Housing

pay 14.5% more

Childcare

pay 30.1% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MKD = 0.0318 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 Macedonia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
2,875 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Macedonia 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 Macedonia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

MK
5.7
BA
13.7

Macedonia 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

MK
$1,808
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

MK
29.6
BA
23.2

Macedonia performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MK
62.0
BA
55.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MK
4.0t
BA
6.4t

Macedonia generally does better on environment, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MK
24.6
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MK
38.0%
BA
2.0%

Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Macedonia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MK
13.1%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MK
$23,400
BA
$19,900

Macedonia generally does better on employment & economy, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MK
76.8 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MK
7.3
BA
5.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on family life, though Macedonia leads in literacy rate.

Data: Public Revenue Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Skopje Rain: 19.8 in/yr (504 mm)
65° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Skopje Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/49°F (23°/9°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/57°F (29°/14°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/35°F (12°/2°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Skopje Sarajevo
Jan 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia, 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 Macedonia 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.

Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Macedonia

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

Costs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

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

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BAM32,026 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a MKD3,963,666 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?

Macedonia 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 Macedonia.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Macedonia?

Macedonia performs better than Bosnia and Herzegovina across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 29.6 in Macedonia. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Macedonia: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 65°F in Skopje. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Skopje gets 19.8 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

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At a Glance

MK BA
Population 2,130,936 3,816,459
Currency Macedonian Denar (MKD) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages Macedonian Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +389 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112