Moving to Ireland from Latvia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Latvia to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 93.8% more expensive than Latvia overall. A €67,000 salary in Latvia would need to be roughly €130,000 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Irish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Is Ireland cheaper than Latvia?

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

Restaurants

pay 62.3% more

Groceries

pay 45.3% more

Transportation

pay 59.4% more

Housing

pay 3.4 times more

Childcare

pay 0.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 51.0% 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.

What salary do you need in Ireland?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → €130,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Ireland cost about 64% more than cities in Latvia.

Latvia

Riga ★ 43%
Liepaja 40%
Jelgava 33%

Ireland

Cork 69%
Carlow 66%
Athlone 65%
Drogheda 64%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
25,371 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Latvia live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

LV
2.5
IE
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

LV
75%
IE
75%

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

LV
$3,034
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

LV
34.0
IE
38.8

Ireland 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
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
IE
6.0t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LV
25.8
IE
32.3
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LV
1.0%
IE
8.1%

Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Latvia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LV
6.6%
IE
4.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$26,312
IE
$131,592

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

LV
76.4 yrs
IE
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
2.2
IE
3.4

Latvia generally does better on family life, though Ireland leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State Revenue Service, Latvia (2016), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Ireland vs Latvia

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Dublin
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Riga Dublin
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Can you move from Latvia to Ireland?

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

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
Ireland 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 Ireland than Latvia?

No — Ireland is on average about 94% more expensive than Latvia. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €32,500 in Ireland on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ireland has 32.3 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 Ireland safe for expats?

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Latvia. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Latvia?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 38.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 34.0 in Latvia. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.

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At a Glance

LV IE
Population 1,847,785 5,484,367
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Latvian English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +371 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112