Moving to China from Latvia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Latvia to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Latvia to China, you would find that China is 36.2% cheaper than Latvia overall. A €65,700 salary in Latvia would need to be roughly CN¥332,619 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 50°F in Riga, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Latvia and China.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → CN¥332,619
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 66.1% less
Groceries
pay 15.0% less
Transportation
pay 44.5% less
Housing
pay 48.3% less
Childcare
pay 10.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 34.9% less
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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared 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
China generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths.
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
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Latvia performs better than China across all environment metrics.
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
Latvia generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Latvia generally does better on family life, though China leads in life expectancy.
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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Riga | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Riga | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Latvia and China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.
Latvia passport holder visiting China
Visa Free
China passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in China than Latvia?
On average China is about 35% less expensive than Latvia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥83,155 for 3 months in China (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 China?
Connectivity is usually fine (China: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is China safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Latvia. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in China compared to Latvia?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 33.8 in Latvia. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).
What's the weather like in China compared to Latvia?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.
