Latvia

Riga

#1 Top 5 cities

Riga is clearly the strongest city for expats in Latvia thanks to work opportunities, services, flight connections, and its international environment.

Country overview

Population

742 572

Year-round temperatures

Day: 0°C až 24°C

Night: -5°C až 15°C

Climate

A cool northern European climate with mild summers, wind, and a darker winter.

Distance to the sea

0 km

Social atmosphere

6/10

Costs

Housing cost 7/10
Food cost 4/10

Business friendliness

8/10

Safety

7/10

Riga is generally safe for everyday life, but pickpocketing, bicycle theft, and late-night incidents require normal big-city caution, especially in busy central areas.

Natural disaster resilience

7/10

Severe earthquakes are unlikely, but storms, intense rain, and flooding along the Daugava and low-lying areas can occasionally disrupt the city.

Other scores

Other scores

Internet availability 8/10
Internet speed 8/10
Internet stability 8/10
Electricity stability 8/10

Community types

  • Corporate expats
  • Digital nomads
  • Students
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Long-term expats

Largest nationality groups

  • 🇷🇺Russians
  • 🇺🇦Ukrainians
  • 🇮🇳Indians
  • 🇺🇿Uzbeks
  • 🇩🇪Germans
  • 🇪🇺Scandinavians

Pros / Cons

Pros

  • +Large international community
  • +Quality services
  • +Airport access
  • +Cafe culture
  • +Good for long-term stay

Cons

  • −Higher prices
  • −Noise
  • −Less peaceful lifestyle