Moving to Latvia from Ireland

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Ireland to Latvia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ireland to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 19.9% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €64,304 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly €39,869 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Ireland and Latvia.

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 €39,869

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 31.2% less

Groceries

pay 29.3% less

Transportation

pay 41.6% less

Housing

pay 47.2% less

Childcare

pay 39.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 36.7% 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?

What the data shows about people moving from Ireland to Latvia.

Moved in 2021
8 ↑ 60% vs 2020

people moved from Ireland 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

The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Ireland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
LV
3.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IE
75%
LV
75%

Ireland performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IE
$8,772
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
LV
33.8

Ireland 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

IE
13.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
LV
3.6t

Ireland 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

IE
32.1
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
LV
1.1%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
LV
$37,800

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IE
81.7 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
LV
4.8

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

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Riga
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Riga
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
Latvia passport holders can enter Ireland 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 Ireland?

On average Latvia is about 38% less expensive than Ireland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Latvia?

Budget about €9,967 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a €64,304 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?

Ireland performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Ireland?

Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE LV
Population 5,275,004 1,842,226
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages English, Irish Latvian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +353 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112