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 22.6% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly €68,978 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.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Japan to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
¥11,948,175 → €68,978
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 70.5% more
Groceries
pay 24.4% less
Transportation
pay 2.4% less
Housing
pay 3.3% more
Childcare
pay 39.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.8% 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.
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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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person.
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
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
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.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
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?
No — Latvia is on average about 7% more expensive than Japan. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €17,244 in Latvia on a ¥11,948,175 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, 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?
Japan performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 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?
Japan 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 26.1 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.
