Moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Syria
What to Expect
Considering a move from Syria to Bosnia and Herzegovina? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Syria to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you would find that Bosnia and Herzegovina is 46.3% more expensive than Syria overall. A SYP980,000,000 salary in Syria would need to be roughly BAM192,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Sarajevo averages 62°F vs 78°F in Damascus, making it significantly cooler.
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 Syria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What does your salary buy?
SYP980,000,000 → BAM192,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 26.0% more
Groceries
pay 42.3% more
Transportation
pay 54.7% more
Housing
pay 43.0% more
Childcare
pay 4.2 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.6% more
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 Syria.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Syria generally does better on environment, though Bosnia and Herzegovina leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Syria across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on family life, though Syria leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), The World Factbook (2009–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance, Syria (2016), Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Damascus | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) | 45°/30°F (7°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) | 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) | 79°/56°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) | 51°/37°F (11°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Damascus | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.9°C) |
| Feb | 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) | 44°/29°F (6.6°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) | 53°/35°F (11.5°/1.4°C) |
| Apr | 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) | 62°/41°F (16.5°/5.1°C) |
| May | 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) | 71°/48°F (21.4°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) | 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.6°C) |
| Jul | 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.2°C) |
| Aug | 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) | 83°/58°F (28.3°/14.3°C) |
| Sep | 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) | 72°/51°F (22.5°/10.4°C) |
| Oct | 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) | 63°/44°F (17.3°/6.5°C) |
| Nov | 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) | 51°/37°F (10.6°/2.8°C) |
| Dec | 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) | 40°/29°F (4.3°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department,
Federal Hydrometeorological Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria 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.
Syria passport holder visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visa Required
Bosnia and Herzegovina passport holder visiting Syria
Visa Online (e-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 Syria?
On average Bosnia and Herzegovina is around 46% pricier than Syria, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Budget about BAM48,000 for 3 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina (based on a SYP980,000,000 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: 29.4 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?
Bosnia and Herzegovina performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Syria.
How is healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Syria?
Bosnia and Herzegovina generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 15.2 in Syria. Bosnia and Herzegovina scores 66 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).
What's the weather like in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Syria?
The average high temperature in Sarajevo is 62°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. Sarajevo receives around 37.4 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.
What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.
