Thinking about moving to Latvia? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Latvia stands out for an easier housing market, lighter bureaucracy and an affordable cost of living, while it is worth weighing a long road to citizenship, a weaker healthcare score and a less open social climate.
Latvia at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living50/100
Cost of living here sits a bit below the EU average. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €1200 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €600 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English68/100
English gets you a long way in cities and with younger people. Everyday admin and smaller towns often expect the local language, so some learning helps a lot.
Safety78/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 78/100 means safe: everyday crime is low and the main cities feel comfortable, including at night, with normal precautions.
Healthcare64/100
Scored 64/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). Public healthcare covers the basics but can mean waiting lists; private insurance is common among expats.
ClimateCold
Cold winters and warm summers, with four distinct seasons. Typical daytime highs: winter around -3°C, spring 11°C, summer 22°C, autumn 9°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~10 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 10 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Latvia's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes25.5/33%
Personal income tax: 25.5% up to ~€105k/yr, 33% above (2025 reform). As a freelancer: Micro-enterprise tax: 25% of turnover (limits apply), or regular brackets on profit. Company owners: CIT 0% on retained profits; 20/80 (~25% effective) on distribution, dividends covered by the distribution tax. Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Latvia stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Latvia scores best for:
- An easier housing market.
- Lighter bureaucracy.
- An affordable cost of living.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Latvia, keep an eye on:
- A long road to citizenship.
- A weaker healthcare score.
- A less open social climate.
Is Latvia right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Latvia actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Latvia lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.