Moving to Latvia from Estonia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Estonia to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Estonia to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 7.7% more expensive than Estonia overall. A €65,577 salary in Estonia would need to be roughly €62,877 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Estonia to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
€65,577 → €62,877
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 25.0% less
Groceries
pay 0.7% less
Transportation
pay 9.0% more
Housing
pay 16.7% less
Childcare
pay 99.5% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 12.2% 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?
How many people actually move from Estonia to Latvia, based on official data.
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
- · · ·
-
7.2,847
Estonia
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Estonia to Latvia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Estonia 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Estonia 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
Estonia 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
Estonia 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
Estonia performs better than Latvia 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
Estonia performs better than Latvia across all family life metrics.
Data: Estonian Tax and Customs Board, 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 | Tallinn | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 31°/21°F (0°/-6°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 57°/41°F (14°/5°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 65°/51°F (19°/10°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 40°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tallinn | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°/20°F (-1.4°/-6.6°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 29°/18°F (-1.8°/-7.5°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 36°/24°F (2.0°/-4.3°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 47°/32°F (8.2°/0.1°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 59°/41°F (14.9°/5.0°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 66°/49°F (19.1°/9.7°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.1°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 68°/53°F (19.9°/11.6°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 58°/45°F (14.5°/7.2°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 48°/38°F (9.1°/3.3°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.3°/-1.2°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.6°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Estonia 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.
Estonia passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting Estonia
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 Estonia?
Yes — Latvia is on average about 4% cheaper than Estonia. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €15,719 in Latvia on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Latvia has 26.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Latvia safe for expats?
Estonia performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Estonia. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Estonia?
Estonia 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 34.4 in Estonia. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Estonia: 79).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Estonia?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 48°F in Tallinn. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Tallinn gets 27.3 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Estonia, the official language is Estonian.
