Moving to Latvia from Ohio

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ohio to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 14.9% cheaper than Ohio. A $75,000 salary in Ohio would need to be roughly €55,625 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 76°F in Columbus, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €55,625

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 24.0% less

Groceries

pay 27.3% less

Transportation

pay 3.0% more

Housing

pay 39.2% less

Childcare

pay 36.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 14.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.876 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Ohio 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 Ohio.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

OH
39.5%
LV
23.6%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

OH
89.0%
LV
89.8%

Latvia performs significantly better than Ohio across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

OH
4.0%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

OH
$60,669
LV
$37,800

Ohio 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

OH
75.3 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs

Latvia performs significantly better than Ohio 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.

Columbus Rain: 46.8 in/yr (1188 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbus Riga
Jan–Mar 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/62°F (29°/16°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/71°F (32°/21°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Columbus Riga
Jan 58°/37°F (14.2°/2.7°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 62°/40°F (16.7°/4.5°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 77°/53°F (24.8°/11.4°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 84°/62°F (28.9°/16.6°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 90°/70°F (32.2°/20.9°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.4°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 86°/67°F (30.2°/19.3°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.1°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 59°/39°F (15.2°/3.8°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 Ohio?

On average Latvia is about 15% less expensive than Ohio, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Latvia?

Budget about €13,906 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 Ohio and Latvia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Ohio?

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

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 76°F in Columbus. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Columbus gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

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

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At a Glance

LV
Population 11,536,504 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