Moving to Latvia from South Korea
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Korea to Latvia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Korea to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 11.8% more expensive than South Korea overall. A ₩113,056,500 salary in South Korea would need to be roughly €61,300 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 63°F in Seoul, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Korea and Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
₩113,056,500 → €61,300
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 52.2% more
Groceries
pay 42.2% less
Transportation
pay 15.6% more
Housing
pay 8.8% more
Childcare
pay 15.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.5% 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.
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 South Korea to Latvia.
people moved from South Korea 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
- · · ·
-
61.33
South Korea
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to South Korea.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Korea 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
South Korea 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
South Korea 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
South Korea generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Service, South Korea, 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 | Seoul | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Seoul | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Korea Meteorological Administration,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea 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.
South Korea passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting South Korea
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 South Korea?
On average Latvia is about 5% less expensive than South Korea, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Budget about €15,325 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a ₩113,056,500 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
South Korea 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 0.5 in South Korea. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to South Korea?
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in health coverage index. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 25.2 in South Korea. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to South Korea?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.
