Moving to Latvia from Poland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Poland to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Poland to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 13.2% more expensive than Poland overall. A PLN284,812 salary in Poland would need to be roughly €63,852 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Poland and Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
PLN284,812 → €63,852
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 4.0% less
Groceries
pay 7.9% more
Transportation
pay 5.1% more
Housing
pay 14.9% less
Childcare
pay 71.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.2% more
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 Poland to Latvia.
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
- · · ·
-
15.767
Poland
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Poland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Poland generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
Poland 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
Latvia performs significantly better than Poland across all environment metrics.
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
Latvia generally does better on infrastructure, though Poland leads in electricity per capita.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Poland 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Poland generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in education spending.
Data: Ministry of Finance, Poland, 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 | Warsaw | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 38°/26°F (3°/-3°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 66°/46°F (19°/8°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/53°F (22°/12°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 44°/33°F (7°/1°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Warsaw | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°/24°F (0.7°/-4.4°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 36°/25°F (2.1°/-3.9°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 44°/30°F (6.9°/-0.9°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 57°/38°F (13.9°/3.6°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 68°/47°F (19.8°/8.6°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 76°/57°F (24.6°/13.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 75°/55°F (23.9°/13.0°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 65°/48°F (18.4°/9.0°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 55°/40°F (12.8°/4.7°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 43°/33°F (5.9°/0.5°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 35°/26°F (1.6°/-3.1°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Institute of Meteorology and Water Management,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Poland 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.
Poland passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting Poland
Visa FreeData: 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 Poland?
On average Latvia is about 3% less expensive than Poland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Budget about €15,963 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a PLN284,812 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?
Poland 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 0.7 in Poland. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Poland?
Poland 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 33.9 in Poland. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Poland: 82).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Poland?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 55°F in Warsaw. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Warsaw gets 20.9 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Poland, the official language is Polish.
