Moving to Latvia from Kansas

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kansas to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 12.5% cheaper than Kansas. A $75,000 salary in Kansas would need to be roughly €56,186 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 66°F in Topeka, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €56,186

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 22.1% less

Groceries

pay 29.6% less

Transportation

pay 25.1% more

Housing

pay 37.9% less

Childcare

pay 28.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 23.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8744 EUR (July 2026)

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 Kansas to Latvia.

Moved in 2023
49 ↓ 29% vs 2022

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.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Kansas.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

KS
36.8%
LV
23.6%

Latvia performs significantly better than Kansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

KS
89.5%
LV
89.8%

Latvia performs significantly better than Kansas across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

KS
3.4%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

KS
$60,996
LV
$37,800

Kansas performs better than Latvia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

KS
76.4 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs

Kansas 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.

Topeka Rain: 38.9 in/yr (989 mm)
66° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Topeka Riga
Jan–Mar 46°/25°F (8°/-4°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/63°F (30°/17°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/32°F (12°/0°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Topeka Riga
Jan 39°/19°F (4.1°/-7.3°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 44°/23°F (6.9°/-5.1°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 56°/32°F (13.4°/0.1°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 66°/43°F (19.1°/5.9°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 75°/53°F (24.1°/11.8°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 84°/63°F (28.9°/17.0°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 90°/68°F (32.2°/19.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 89°/65°F (31.6°/18.6°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 80°/55°F (26.7°/13.0°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 67°/44°F (19.6°/6.6°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 54°/32°F (12.3°/0.2°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 41°/21°F (4.9°/-5.9°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre 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

United States passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Latvia without a visa.
Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Latvia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Kansas?

On average Latvia is about 14% less expensive than Kansas, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Latvia?

Budget about €14,046 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 Kansas and Latvia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Kansas?

Latvia performs significantly better than Kansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 66°F in Topeka. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Topeka gets 38.9 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Kansas, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

LV
Population 2,853,118 1,842,226
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +371
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112