Moving to Latvia from New Zealand
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Zealand to Latvia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New Zealand to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 12.1% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €54,162 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from New Zealand to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → €54,162
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 19.7% less
Groceries
pay 26.5% less
Transportation
pay 16.0% less
Housing
pay 12.6% less
Childcare
pay 2.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.8% less
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?
Real numbers on people moving from New Zealand to Latvia, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from New Zealand to Latvia · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Latvia?
Top countries of origin for Latvia's foreign-born residents.
- 116,771
- 42,251
- 32,262
- 14,209
- 5,651
- 3,712
- · · ·
-
76.13
New Zealand
Key Indicator Comparison
How New Zealand and Latvia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Latvia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Latvia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Latvia leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs better than Latvia across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Zealand?
Generally yes: Latvia runs about 18% cheaper than New Zealand on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a NZ$130,152 comparable salary, that's around €13,540 in Latvia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
With 26.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Latvia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in New Zealand and Latvia.
Is Latvia safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
