Moving to Ukraine from Latvia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Latvia to Ukraine, you would find that Ukraine is 45.8% cheaper than Latvia overall. A €65,700 salary in Latvia would need to be roughly UAH2,254,703 in Ukraine to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Ukrainian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 UAH2,254,703

To maintain the same standard of living in Ukraine

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 52.7% less

Groceries

pay 33.5% less

Transportation

pay 37.4% less

Housing

pay 51.0% less

Childcare

pay 58.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 60.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 50.84 UAH (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 Ukraine, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
19,821 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Latvia live in Ukraine · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ukraine?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LV
3.6
UA
3.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LV
9.8
UA
10.5

Latvia performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LV
$3,034
UA
$1,382
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LV
33.8
UA
29.9

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine 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
UA
66.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
UA
3.1t

Latvia generally does better on environment, though Ukraine leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LV
26.4
UA
18.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LV
1.1%
UA
12.3%

Latvia generally does better on infrastructure, though Ukraine leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LV
6.5%
UA
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$37,800
UA
$16,200

Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Ukraine 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
UA
73.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
4.8
UA
7.3

Latvia generally does better on family life, though Ukraine leads in literacy rate.

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

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Kiev
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 68°/51°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 76°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 43°/33°F (6°/1°C)
View all months
Month Riga Kiev
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Ukraine

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

Ukraine passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
Ukraine 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 Ukraine than Latvia?

Yes — Ukraine is on average about 32% cheaper than Latvia. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Ukraine?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly UAH563,676 in Ukraine on a €65,700 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Ukraine?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ukraine has 18.3 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 Ukraine safe for expats?

Latvia performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ukraine is 3.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Latvia.

How is healthcare in Ukraine compared to Latvia?

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Ukraine, compared to 33.8 in Latvia. Ukraine scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Kiev is 56°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Kiev receives around 23.8 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Ukraine?

The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.

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At a Glance

LV UA
Population 1,842,226 43,528,136
Currency Euro (€) Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
Languages Latvian Ukrainian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +371 +380
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112