Moving to Latvia from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Kingdom to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 28.8% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly €44,539 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Kingdom and Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
£55,958 → €44,539
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 26.1% less
Groceries
pay 19.6% less
Transportation
pay 35.5% less
Housing
pay 49.4% less
Childcare
pay 42.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.4% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from United Kingdom to Latvia.
people moved from United Kingdom to Latvia · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics.
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
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom 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
share of households with internet
United Kingdom 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
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom generally does better on family life, though Latvia leads in education spending.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Free
Latvia passport holder visiting United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom?
On average Latvia is about 32% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Budget about €11,135 for 3 months in Latvia (based on a £55,958 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?
United Kingdom performs better than Latvia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to United Kingdom?
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in health coverage index. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 60°F in London. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
