Moving to Latvia from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 14.5% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly €56,347 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 Des Moines, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €56,347
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 25.7% less
Groceries
pay 27.5% less
Transportation
pay 24.9% more
Housing
pay 32.1% less
Childcare
pay 36.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.5% 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 Iowa to Latvia.
people moved from United States to Latvia · OECD (latest data available)
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
- · · ·
-
20.543
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Latvia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Latvia performs significantly better than Iowa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Latvia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Latvia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Iowa?
On average Latvia is about 14% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Budget about €14,087 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
From major Latvia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Latvia are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Iowa?
Latvia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Iowa, the official language is English.
