Moving to Austria from Latvia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Latvia to Austria, you would find that Austria is 54.9% more expensive than Latvia overall. A €65,700 salary in Latvia would need to be roughly €97,014 in Austria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German.

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 Latvia and Austria.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 €97,014

To maintain the same standard of living in Austria

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 83.2% more

Groceries

pay 86.0% more

Transportation

pay 54.7% more

Housing

pay 2.0 times more

Childcare

pay 10.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 30.3% more

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.

Get free moving quotes to Austria

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
274 ↑ 1% vs 2022

people moved from Latvia to Austria · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Austria?

Top countries of origin for Austria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Austria compared to Latvia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LV
3.6
AT
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LV
9.8
AT
4.6

Austria performs significantly better than Latvia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

LV
$3,034
AT
$8,250
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LV
33.8
AT
55.1

Austria 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

LV
40.0
AT
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
AT
6.3t

Latvia generally does better on environment, though Austria leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LV
26.4
AT
29.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LV
1.1%
AT
8.7%

Austria 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

LV
6.5%
AT
5.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$37,800
AT
$64,600

Austria 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

LV
75.9 yrs
AT
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
4.8
AT
3.2

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

Data: State Revenue Service, Latvia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Vienna Rain: 24.4 in/yr (620 mm)
58° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Vienna
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 43°/31°F (6°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 67°/50°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 75°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 48°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Riga Vienna
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, GeoSphere Austria GeoSphere Austria

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Latvia and Austria. To live, work, or study long-term in Austria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Austria's immigration authority.

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Austria

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

Austria passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
Austria passport holders can enter Latvia 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 Austria than Latvia?

On average Austria is around 48% pricier than Latvia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Austria?

Budget about €24,254 for 3 months in Austria (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Austria?

Connectivity is usually fine (Austria: 29.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Austria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Austria safe for expats?

Austria performs significantly better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Austria is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Latvia.

How is healthcare in Austria compared to Latvia?

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 55.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Austria, compared to 33.8 in Latvia. Austria scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Vienna is 58°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Vienna receives around 24.4 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Austria?

The official language in Austria is German. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.

Share this

At a Glance

LV AT
Population 1,842,226 8,913,088
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Latvian German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +371 +43
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112