Moving to Latvia from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 5.1% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,000,000 salary in Japan would need to be roughly €64,200 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, 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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Japan to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,000,000 → €64,200
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 63.3% more
Groceries
pay 28.8% less
Transportation
pay 3.6% more
Housing
pay 20.0% less
Childcare
pay 26.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.9% more
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 2% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Japan 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
- · · ·
-
64.27
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan 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
Japan 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 Japan 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
Japan 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
Japan 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
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in top income tax 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
Japan generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), National Tax Agency Japan (2016), State Revenue Service, Latvia (2016), The World Factbook (2013). 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 | Tokyo | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting Japan
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 Japan?
Yes — Latvia is on average about 5% cheaper than Japan. 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 €16,050 in Latvia on a ¥12,000,000 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 25.8 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?
Japan performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Japan?
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in health coverage index. There are 34.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 26.5 in Japan. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
