Moving to Latvia from Belgium
What to Expect
Considering a move from Belgium to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Belgium to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 27.4% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €65,577 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly €46,334 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Belgium and Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → €46,334
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 44.3% less
Groceries
pay 28.7% less
Transportation
pay 25.4% less
Housing
pay 37.3% less
Childcare
pay 17.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.5% less
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 Belgium to Latvia.
Who's moving to Latvia?
Top countries of origin for Latvia's foreign-born residents.
- 116,771
- 42,251
- 32,262
- 14,209
- 5,651
- 3,712
- · · ·
-
36.123
Belgium
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Belgium generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia 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
Belgium generally does better on environment, though Latvia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Latvia leads in water stress level.
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
Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in top income tax rate.
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
Belgium performs better than Latvia across all family life metrics.
Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Brussels | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Brussels | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Institut Royal Météorologique,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium and Latvia. To live, work, or study long-term in Latvia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Latvia's immigration authority.
Belgium passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Latvia than Belgium?
On average Latvia is about 29% less expensive than Belgium, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Budget about €11,584 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Latvia: 26.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Latvia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Latvia safe for expats?
Belgium generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Belgium?
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Belgium?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.
