Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Serbia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 14.7% cheaper than Serbia overall. A RSD7,694,475 salary in Serbia would need to be roughly BAM110,759 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

RSD7,694,475 BAM110,759

To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 18.5% less

Groceries

pay 12.6% more

Transportation

pay 4.0% less

Housing

pay 21.2% less

Childcare

pay 40.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RSD = 0.0167 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Living there in 2020
9,550 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Serbia 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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RS
1.0
BA
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RS
7.4
BA
13.7

Serbia 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

RS
$2,303
BA
$1,989
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RS
28.4
BA
23.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RS
45.0
BA
55.0

Serbia 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

RS
29.3
BA
27.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RS
5.7%
BA
2.0%

Serbia 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

RS
8.7%
BA
10.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RS
$24,500
BA
$19,900

Serbia 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

RS
74.2 yrs
BA
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RS
4.8
BA
5.2

Serbia generally does better on family life, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in life expectancy.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Republic of Serbia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Belgrade Rain: 26.9 in/yr (683 mm)
62° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Belgrade Sarajevo
Jan–Mar 45°/33°F (7°/0°C) 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/53°F (22°/12°C) 70°/48°F (21°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 79°/56°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/39°F (11°/4°C) 51°/37°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Belgrade Sarajevo
Jan 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C) 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C)
Feb 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C) 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C)
Mar 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C) 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C) 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C)
May 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C) 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C) 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C)
Sep 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C) 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C)
Oct 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C) 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C)
Nov 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C) 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C)
Dec 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C) 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C)

Data: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, 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 Serbia 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.

Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Serbia

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

On average Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 14% less expensive than Serbia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

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

Budget about BAM27,690 for 3 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina (based on a RSD7,694,475 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?

Serbia 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 1.0 in Serbia.

How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Serbia?

Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 28.4 in Serbia. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Serbia: 72).

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

The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 62°F in Belgrade. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Belgrade gets 26.9 in.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

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

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At a Glance

RS BA
Population 6,739,471 3,816,459
Currency Serbian Dinar (RSD) Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
Languages Serbian Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +381 +387
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112