Sarajevo, Universitätsgebäude
Bridge on Neretva river, damaged in WW2.
The topography of the Balkan Peninsula, as defined by the Danub…
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brčk…
Stecci-gravar i Radimlja (i Hercegovina), bosniska-gravstenar
Występ zespołu Seljo z Sarajewa (Bośnia i Hercegowina) podczas …

Bosnia And Herzegovina

Adriatic Sea, Medite…
Climate
BAM
Currency
Moderate
Safety
Low
Cost of Living
Bosnian
Language
Country Information Bosnia And Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex, multiethnic country located in the western Balkans region of Southeastern Europe. Bordered by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, the nation emerged from the devastating Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and has since been...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average19% cheaper
Rent
BAM610Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
BAM14.00Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
BAM2.40Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
BAM3.00One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Bosnia And Herzegovina Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

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With a safety index of 59/100, Bosnia And Herzegovina offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries enjoy visa-free entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina for tourist or business purposes, allowing stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period (6 months from first entry).[6][5][1] A valid passport is required, with validity extending at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the country, at least one blank page for entry stamps, and issued within the last 10 years.[6][4] Proof of sufficient funds,...

Visa-free entry: 90 days
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Bosnia And Herzegovina

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Location Intelligence for Bosnia And Herzegovina
Cost of Living37.9

19% below EU avg

Safety59.1

9% below EU avg

Quality of Life139.1

10% below EU avg

Purchasing Power71.2

Near EU average

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Sarajevo

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Area

51,209 km²

Population

3,280,815

Bosnia And Herzegovina shows a purchasing power index of 71/100, indicating good economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Bosnia And Herzegovina

GDP

$27.51B

HDI

0.8

Quality of Life

60/100

+17 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

30/100

-12 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Bosnia And Herzegovina. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Very High

Very affordable (CPI: 38.5, NYC=100). Groceries: 38.9, Rent: 7.7, Restaurant: 32.1; single person costs ~$664 excl. rent.

Housing Market

Poor

Property prices average 12.7 years of income. Rent remains very low (index: 7.7), with 1-bed city center ~$227, but buying challenging.

Average Income Levels

Poor

Purchasing power index: 69.6 indicates below average buying power. Average net salary ~$748, minimum ~$620.

Tax System

Good

Flat income tax 10% up to BAM 60k, progressive to 15% above; VAT 17%; property taxes low ~0.5% with regional variations in Federation and RS.

Business Environment

Moderate

Moderate ease of doing business (World Bank legacy rank ~90/190); high bureaucracy, corruption concerns, but improving startup scene in Sarajevo.

Social Security

Moderate

Universal public healthcare with moderate quality; contributory pension system; unemployment benefits ~40% prior salary for 3-12 months.

Work & Business in Bosnia And Herzegovina
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Bosnia and Herzegovina features a diverse climate shaped by its mountainous terrain and regional variations, spanning temperate continental in the north, alpine in central mountains, and Mediterranean in southern Herzegovina. Summers are mildly warm with average highs of 25-35°C, while winters are cool to cold with lows reaching 0°C or below and occasional snow.

Climate
Continental, Mediterranean
Summer
23–35°C
Winter
0–15°C
Sunshine
2800+ hrs/yr

3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Bosnia And Herzegovina

Life Expectancy

76.9

Population

3,280,815

Religions

Currently under research

Ethnic Composition

Currently under research

What Expats Say About Bosnia And HerzegovinaBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Bosnia And Herzegovina. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Bosnia And Herzegovina
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Bosnia And Herzegovina
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Bosnia And Herzegovina
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Bosnia and Herzegovina operates as a complex federal parliamentary republic under the Dayton Agreement, with a tripartite presidency and a Council of Ministers navigating ethnic divisions. The current government, formed in 2023, faces persistent challenges from entity-level disputes and EU integration hurdles. Political stability remains fragile amid decentralization and electoral reforms.

System
Federal parliamentary republic
Legal System
Civil law system with entity-level variations
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Bosnia And Herzegovina
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Bosnia And Herzegovina flag
Bosnia And Herzegovina at a Glance

Capital

Sarajevo

Languages

Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Bosnia And Herzegovina

Population

3,280,815

Currency

BAM

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Calling Code

+387

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

33 (2011)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.