Moving to Latvia from Panama

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Panama to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 16.3% cheaper than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly €55,900 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 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.

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

Is Latvia cheaper than Panama?

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

Restaurants

pay 14.1% more

Groceries

pay 31.8% less

Transportation

pay 31.0% more

Housing

pay 44.0% less

Childcare

pay 38.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.9% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PAB = 0.89 EUR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Latvia?

What does your salary buy?

PAB75,000 → €55,900

To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Latvia

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Panama to Latvia, based on official data.

Moved in 2017
1

people moved from Panama 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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PA
11.7
LV
2.5
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

PA
33%
LV
75%

Latvia generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PA
$3,318
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PA
16.2
LV
34.0

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PA
17.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
LV
3.6t

Panama performs better than Latvia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PA
18.1
LV
25.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
LV
1.0%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
8.4%
LV
6.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$19,790
LV
$26,312

Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

PA
79.8 yrs
LV
76.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
12.0
LV
2.2

Latvia generally does better on family life, though Panama leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2016–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016), State Revenue Service, Latvia (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Weather in Latvia vs Panama

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Riga
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Riga
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Can you move from Panama to Latvia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama 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.

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Latvia passport holders can enter Panama 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 Panama?

Yes — Latvia is on average about 16% cheaper than Panama. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Latvia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €13,975 in Latvia on a PAB75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Latvia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Latvia has 25.8 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 Latvia safe for expats?

Latvia generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Latvia is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.7 in Panama. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Panama?

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index. There are 34.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 16.2 in Panama. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

PA LV
Population 4,571,189 1,847,785
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Euro (€)
Languages Spanish Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +507 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 112