Moving to Hungary from Latvia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Latvia to Hungary — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Latvia to Hungary, you would find that Hungary is 12.7% cheaper than Latvia overall. A €65,577 salary in Latvia would need to be roughly HUF21,403,231 in Hungary to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Hungarian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Budapest averages 60°F vs 50°F in Riga, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Latvia to Hungary.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 HUF21,403,231

To maintain the same standard of living in Hungary

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 12.4% less

Groceries

pay 4.7% more

Transportation

pay 0.1% less

Housing

pay 3.8% less

Childcare

pay 44.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 13.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 362.83 HUF (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?

How many people actually move from Latvia to Hungary, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
28 ↓ 12% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Hungary?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Latvia to Hungary.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LV
3.6
HU
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LV
9.8
HU
7.4

Hungary performs significantly better than Latvia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LV
$3,034
HU
$2,875
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LV
33.8
HU
33.0

Hungary generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

LV
40.0
HU
42.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
HU
4.5t

Latvia performs better than Hungary across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LV
26.4
HU
35.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LV
1.1%
HU
8.1%

Latvia generally does better on infrastructure, though Hungary leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LV
6.5%
HU
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$37,800
HU
$40,600

Hungary performs significantly better than Latvia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LV
75.9 yrs
HU
77.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
4.8
HU
4.6

Latvia generally does better on family life, though Hungary 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Budapest Rain: 21.0 in/yr (534 mm)
60° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Budapest
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 43°/31°F (6°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 71°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 49°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Riga Budapest
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 37°/27°F (2.6°/-3.0°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 41°/29°F (5.1°/-1.8°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.0°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 63°/44°F (17.1°/6.8°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 72°/53°F (22.4°/11.5°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.4°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 82°/62°F (27.9°/16.4°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 81°/61°F (27.4°/16.0°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.8°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 61°/45°F (16.1°/7.0°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 47°/36°F (8.5°/2.3°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.7°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Hungarian Meteorological Service Hungarian Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Hungary

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

Hungary passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
Hungary 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 Hungary than Latvia?

Yes — Hungary is on average about 10% cheaper than Latvia. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Hungary?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly HUF5,350,808 in Hungary on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Hungary?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Hungary has 35.5 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 Hungary safe for expats?

Hungary performs significantly better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hungary is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Latvia.

How is healthcare in Hungary compared to Latvia?

Hungary generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Hungary, compared to 33.8 in Latvia. Hungary scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Budapest is 60°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Budapest receives around 21.0 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Hungary?

The official language in Hungary is Hungarian. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.

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At a Glance

LV HU
Population 1,842,226 9,699,577
Currency Euro (€) Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Languages Latvian Hungarian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +371 +36
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112