Moving to Latvia from Greece

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Greece to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Greece to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 5.5% more expensive than Greece overall. A €65,700 salary in Greece would need to be roughly €60,456 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 72°F in Athens, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Greece to Latvia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 €60,456

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 7.3% more

Groceries

pay 9.3% less

Transportation

pay 17.1% less

Housing

pay 16.6% less

Childcare

pay 76.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 7.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown

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 Greece to Latvia, based on official data.

Moved in 2021
4 ↓ 33% vs 2020

people moved from Greece to Latvia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Latvia?

Top countries of origin for Latvia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Greece to Latvia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GR
1.1
LV
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GR
7.3
LV
9.8

Greece performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GR
$3,454
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

GR
63.7
LV
33.8

Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GR
23.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GR
5.0t
LV
3.6t

Greece generally does better on environment, though Latvia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GR
43.0
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GR
20.7%
LV
1.1%

Greece generally does better on infrastructure, though Latvia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GR
11.0%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GR
$36,300
LV
$37,800

Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Greece leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GR
81.5 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GR
3.5
LV
4.8

Greece generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in education spending.

Data: GSIS, Greece, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Athens Rain: 16.3 in/yr (414 mm)
72° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Athens Riga
Jan–Mar 57°/42°F (14°/6°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/57°F (26°/14°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/67°F (32°/20°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Athens Riga
Jan 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Hellenic National Meteorological Service Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Greece 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.

Greece passport

Greece passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
Greece passport holders can enter Latvia without a visa.
Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Greece

Visa Free
Latvia passport holders can enter Greece without a visa.

Data: 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 Greece?

Yes — Latvia is on average about 8% cheaper than Greece. 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 €15,114 in Latvia on a €65,700 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?

Greece 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 Greece.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Greece?

Greece 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 63.7 in Greece. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Greece: 77).

What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Greece?

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 72°F in Athens. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Athens gets 16.3 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Greece, the official language is Greek.

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At a Glance

GR LV
Population 10,533,871 1,842,226
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Greek Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +30 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112