Moving to Latvia from France
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from France to Latvia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from France to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 36.1% cheaper than France overall. A €67,000 salary in France would need to be roughly €42,800 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 60°F in Paris, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from France to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
€67,000 → €42,800
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 36.5% less
Groceries
pay 35.1% less
Transportation
pay 24.2% less
Housing
pay 48.4% less
Childcare
pay 19.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.9% 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.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Latvia cost about 34% less than cities in France.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from France to Latvia, and how the trend has changed.
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
- · · ·
-
24.279
France
Key Indicator Comparison
How France and Latvia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
France 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
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France 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
France 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
France 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
France generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in unemployment 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
France generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in infant mortality.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (2016), State Revenue Service, Latvia (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 | Paris | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Paris | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Météo-France,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.
France passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting France
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 France?
Generally yes: Latvia runs about 36% cheaper than France on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €67,000 comparable salary, that's around €10,700 in Latvia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
With 25.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Latvia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in France and Latvia.
Is Latvia safe for expats?
France performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in France. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to France?
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in health coverage index. There are 34.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 32.8 in France. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to France?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In France, the official language is French.
