Moving to Latvia from Switzerland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Switzerland to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Switzerland to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 54.2% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF58,584 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly €27,227 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Switzerland to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
CHF58,584 → €27,227
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 64.6% less
Groceries
pay 54.3% less
Transportation
pay 48.1% less
Housing
pay 53.4% less
Childcare
pay 66.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 52.3% 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?
How many people actually move from Switzerland to Latvia, based on official data.
people moved from Switzerland 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
- · · ·
-
43.97
Switzerland
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Latvia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in education spending.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting Switzerland
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 Switzerland?
Yes — Latvia is on average about 58% cheaper than Switzerland. 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 €6,807 in Latvia on a CHF58,584 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Latvia has 26.4 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?
Switzerland 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 Switzerland. About 75% of people in Latvia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland 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 44.4 in Switzerland. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
