Moving to Latvia from Lithuania

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Lithuania to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Lithuania to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 1.3% more expensive than Lithuania overall. A €65,700 salary in Lithuania would need to be roughly €60,268 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Lithuania and Latvia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 €60,268

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 11.6% less

Groceries

pay 0.9% more

Transportation

pay 3.4% less

Housing

pay 3.1% more

Childcare

pay 29.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 1.7% less

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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Lithuania to Latvia.

Moved in 2023
131 ↑ 7% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Latvia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Lithuania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LT
2.4
LV
3.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

LT
64%
LV
75%

Lithuania 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

LT
$4,127
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LT
51.3
LV
33.8

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lithuania 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

LT
39.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LT
4.5t
LV
3.6t

Lithuania generally does better on environment, though Latvia 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

LT
29.4
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LT
1.8%
LV
1.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LT
7.0%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LT
$46,200
LV
$37,800

Lithuania generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LT
75.8 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LT
3.6
LV
4.8

Latvia generally does better on family life, though Lithuania leads in infant mortality.

Data: State Tax Inspectorate, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Vilnius Rain: 27.0 in/yr (685 mm)
51° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Vilnius Riga
Jan–Mar 33°/22°F (0°/-5°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/52°F (21°/11°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 40°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Vilnius Riga
Jan 29°/20°F (-1.6°/-6.4°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.5°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.1°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 54°/36°F (12.2°/2.3°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 70°/51°F (21.0°/10.8°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.1°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.3°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 62°/47°F (16.8°/8.1°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/3.8°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 38°/31°F (3.5°/-0.8°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 31°/23°F (-0.6°/-5.0°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lithuania passport

Lithuania passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Lithuania

Visa Free
Latvia passport holders can enter Lithuania 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 Latvia than Lithuania?

On average Latvia is about 8% less expensive than Lithuania, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Latvia?

Budget about €15,067 for 3 months in Latvia (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 Latvia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Latvia: 26.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Latvia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Latvia safe for expats?

Lithuania generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.4 in Lithuania. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Lithuania?

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lithuania leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 51.3 in Lithuania. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lithuania: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 51°F in Vilnius. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Vilnius gets 27.0 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Lithuania, the official language is Lithuanian.

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At a Glance

LT LV
Population 2,683,546 1,842,226
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Lithuanian Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +370 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112