Moving to Finland from Latvia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Latvia to Finland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Latvia to Finland, you would find that Finland is 31.4% more expensive than Latvia overall. A €64,304 salary in Latvia would need to be roughly €82,152 in Finland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Latvia to Finland.
What does your salary buy?
€64,304 → €82,152
To maintain the same standard of living in Finland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 46.6% more
Groceries
pay 40.3% more
Transportation
pay 57.9% more
Housing
pay 38.5% more
Childcare
pay 30.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 63.6% 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 Latvia to Finland, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Latvia to Finland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Finland performs significantly 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
Finland 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
Latvia generally does better on environment, though Finland leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Finland 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
Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Finland leads in gdp per capita.
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
Finland 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Riga | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) | 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) | 58°/40°F (14°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) | 65°/49°F (19°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) | 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Riga | Helsinki |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) | 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C) |
| Feb | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) | 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C) |
| Mar | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) | 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) | 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C) |
| May | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) | 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C) |
| Jun | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) | 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C) |
| Jul | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) | 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C) |
| Aug | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C) |
| Sep | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) | 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C) |
| Oct | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) | 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) | 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C) |
Data:
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre,
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Latvia and Finland. To live, work, or study long-term in Finland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Finland's immigration authority.
Latvia passport holder visiting Finland
Visa Free
Finland passport holder visiting Latvia
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 Finland than Latvia?
No — Finland is on average about 28% more expensive than Latvia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Finland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €20,538 in Finland on a €64,304 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Finland?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Finland has 34.5 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 Finland safe for expats?
Finland performs significantly better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Finland is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Latvia. About 86% of people in Finland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Finland compared to Latvia?
Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 33.8 in Latvia. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).
What's the weather like in Finland compared to Latvia?
The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.
What language do they speak in Finland?
The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.
