Moving to Latvia from Bulgaria
What to Expect
Considering a move from Bulgaria to Latvia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Bulgaria to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 46.5% more expensive than Bulgaria overall. A BGN125,781 salary in Bulgaria would need to be roughly €76,561 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 59°F in Sofia, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Bulgaria and Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
BGN125,781 → €76,561
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 25.4% more
Groceries
pay 2.9% more
Transportation
pay 28.8% more
Housing
pay 68.4% more
Childcare
pay 85.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 66.3% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Bulgaria 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
- · · ·
-
37.112
Bulgaria
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Bulgaria.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Bulgaria performs better than Latvia 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Latvia performs significantly better than Bulgaria across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Bulgaria 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
Bulgaria generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in gdp per capita.
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
Latvia performs significantly better than Bulgaria across all family life metrics.
Data: National Revenue Agency, Bulgaria, 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 | Sofia | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sofia | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.7°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bulgaria 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.
Bulgaria passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting Bulgaria
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 Bulgaria?
On average Latvia is around 19% pricier than Bulgaria, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Budget about €19,140 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a BGN125,781 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Bulgaria performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Bulgaria. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Bulgaria?
Bulgaria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in health coverage index. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 49.0 in Bulgaria. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bulgaria: 73).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Bulgaria?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 59°F in Sofia. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Sofia gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Bulgaria, the official language is Bulgarian.
