Moving to Latvia from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Minnesota to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 20.9% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly €50,183 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €50,183

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 31.4% less

Groceries

pay 35.5% less

Transportation

pay 6.5% more

Housing

pay 36.5% less

Childcare

pay 45.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 30.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8744 EUR (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.

Get free moving quotes to Latvia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
49 ↓ 29% vs 2022

people moved from United States 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 Minnesota.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
LV
23.6%

Latvia performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
LV
89.8%

Minnesota performs better than Latvia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
LV
$37,800

Minnesota performs better than Latvia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs

Minnesota performs better than Latvia across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Saint Paul Riga
Jan–Mar 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Saint Paul Riga
Jan 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Latvia without a visa.
Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Latvia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Minnesota?

On average Latvia is about 23% less expensive than Minnesota, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Latvia?

Budget about €12,546 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Latvia?

From major Latvia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Minnesota and Latvia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Minnesota?

Latvia performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

LV
Population 5,303,925 1,842,226
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +371
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112