Moving to
Latvia

The Latvian rental market is primarily driven by SS.lv, the country's main classifieds platform, which lists the vast majority of available apartments. City24.lv and Pp.lv are secondary platforms. Real estate agencies are also common, though they typically charge a fee of one month's rent. Most listings are in Latvian or Russian, so using a translation tool or working with an agent is advisable for non-speakers.

Riga's most popular neighbourhoods for expats include Centrs (the historic centre, walkable to everything), Āgenskalns (a charming, up-and-coming area on the left bank of the Daugava river), Mežaparks (a leafy, prestigious neighbourhood with wooden Art Nouveau villas), Teika, and Purvciems (more affordable, residential areas popular with families). Soviet-era apartment blocks (known as "Khrushchyovkas" or "Brezhnevkas") are common in the suburbs and are often very affordable, though they can be cold in winter.

Foreigners can purchase property in Latvia. EU citizens have the same rights as Latvian citizens. Non-EU citizens can purchase apartments freely but face some restrictions on buying agricultural or forest land. Property prices in Riga centre average €2,000–€3,500 per square metre, making it significantly cheaper than Tallinn, Vilnius, Warsaw, or any Western European capital.

Latvia has a universal public healthcare system funded by taxes and social security contributions, managed by the National Health Service (NVD). Access to public healthcare requires registered residency and social security contributions. Emergency care is available to all residents regardless of contribution status.

The honest assessment of public healthcare in Latvia is that it is adequate for emergencies and basic care, but suffers from underfunding and long waiting times for specialist appointments — sometimes weeks or months. The quality of facilities and equipment varies significantly between Riga and rural areas. Most expats who plan to stay long-term choose to supplement public access with private health insurance.

Private healthcare in Latvia is genuinely excellent and, by Western European standards, remarkably affordable. A GP consultation costs €30–€60, a specialist visit €50–€150. Private hospitals and clinics in Riga offer modern facilities, short waiting times (often same-day or next-day), and English-speaking doctors. Recommended private providers include Veselības centrs 4 (VC4), which has multiple locations across Riga, and BKUS (Children's Clinical University Hospital) for paediatric care.

Private health insurance costs €50–€150 per month depending on coverage level and provider. EU residents can also use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for emergency and medically necessary care when travelling within the EU and EEA.

Latvia's banking sector is dominated by the Baltic branches of major Scandinavian banks — Swedbank and SEB — alongside Luminor (formerly Nordea/DNB) and the Latvian-owned Citadele Bank. All major banks offer excellent online and mobile banking in English, and most have English-speaking staff at their Riga branches.

EU citizens can open a bank account relatively straightforwardly with a passport or ID card, proof of address, and proof of income. Non-EU citizens may need to visit a branch in person and provide additional documentation, including their residence permit and source of funds declaration. Swedbank is generally considered the most expat-friendly option for day-to-day banking.

For international transfers, Wise and Revolut are both extremely popular in Latvia and offer significantly better exchange rates than traditional banks. Revolut in particular has very high adoption among younger Latvians and expats. Paysera, a Lithuanian fintech, is also widely used across the Baltic states for lower-cost transfers.

Latvia's tax system is one of the most competitive in the European Union, ranking 2nd globally on the Tax Foundation's International Tax Competitiveness Index in 2025. The headline features are a relatively straightforward personal income tax structure and the exceptional 0% corporate tax on reinvested profits.

Personal income tax (PIT) is progressive but with a high threshold: 25.5% applies to annual income up to €105,300, and 33% applies to income above that level. For the vast majority of earners, the effective rate is 25.5%. Capital gains, interest, and royalties are also taxed at a flat 25.5% rate from 2025 onwards.

Social security contributions are split between employer and employee: employers pay 23.59% and employees pay 10.5% of gross salary. Self-employed individuals pay both portions, though there are minimum and maximum contribution thresholds. You become a tax resident in Latvia if you spend 183 or more days in the country within a calendar year, or if Latvia is your permanent place of abode.

For entrepreneurs, the 0% corporate tax on reinvested profits is the standout feature. Profits distributed as dividends are taxed at 20% (applied to the gross amount before distribution, effectively 25% on net profits). But profits reinvested in the business — equipment, salaries, R&D, expansion — attract no corporate tax at all. Latvia has double taxation treaties with over 60 countries, reducing the risk of being taxed twice on the same income.

For families relocating with children, Riga has a solid selection of international schools offering English-language curricula. The Riga International School (RISA) and the International School of Latvia both offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, while Nord Anglia International School follows the British curriculum. Fees range from €8,000 to €15,000 per year — significantly lower than equivalent schools in London, Amsterdam, or Zurich.

For higher education, Latvia has several strong universities. The University of Latvia is the largest and offers numerous English-language programmes. Riga Technical University (RTU) is highly regarded for engineering and technology. Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) is particularly popular with international students studying medicine, with tuition fees far lower than Western European medical schools. The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga offers internationally recognised business degrees in English.

Riga has a well-developed public transport network of trams, trolleybuses, and buses, operated by Rīgas Satiksme. The system covers the entire city and most suburban areas, with a monthly pass costing €50. The e-talons card is the standard contactless payment method for public transport and can be loaded with credit or monthly passes at machines throughout the city.

Taxis are affordable and widely available through the Bolt app (Latvia's own ride-hailing success story, founded in Tallinn but with major operations in Riga). A typical city trip costs €5–€15. Cycling is practical in Riga thanks to the city's flat terrain and a growing network of dedicated cycle lanes.

For international travel, Riga International Airport is the hub for airBaltic, Latvia's national carrier, which offers direct flights to over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, and other major carriers also operate from Riga. The airport is just 10km from the city centre, accessible by bus or taxi in 20–30 minutes.