Cost of Living in Riga

I read the hideous comments so I decided to leave one too. Can clearly tell most of them are written by a single person that hates that city for some reason. First of all, 1 man to 10 woman-how do you even imagine that to work? There are more boys born every day everywhere, Riga is no different. Secondly, job opportunities. Unemployment rate is about 4%, so the ones unemployed are unemployed by choice. And thirdly, it's the largest city in Baltics with amazing art nuveau architecture and medieval old town.

I am an it professional and got a job in riga in a reputated company.

Should I move to riga?how riga treats with indian people?can I get a chance to apply jobs in other eu countries while working?

Hurry ladies nato men are guarding Riga now better grab a husband so you won't need to resort to large male dogs anymore.

Once away from Riga prices drop dramatically for land etc.However infrastructure is severely lacking as in horrible roads power outages are the norm not just for a few hours though but instead at times 24 hours. Once you drive outside of Riga it's totally different,but whores,are abundant though.

I,m driver man so i surching the job like transport

Riga has 7 to 10 women to 1 man. Latvia as a whole has many more women than men. In reference to the other comment concerning wife hunting don't waste your time hunting for a wife or Latvian gf if visiting. It's a woman's world in Latvia and Latvian women don't have positive opinions about men. Women take care of each other intimately so the majority of women hate men this is true.At times Latvian women do need satisfaction but that's not a problem. Many women have large male dogs to make up for the discrepancies in men plus dogs are better than men ever could be.

Irina

Young Latvians work as prostitutes and street laborers in Western Europe,sometimes they don’t even get paid. Even so, they don’t return to Latvia.

Richer people in Latvia is Russian ( from Russia).
Poor people in Latvia is Russian ( Latvia Russian).
Many Latvians are actually Russians. In order not to be discriminated against, they changed their names to Latvian names.
They don't even recognize their relatives, how can they accept a foreigner.
A country without status.

Just keep away there. The Best option.

Latvia is a dump. Old Town in Riga is pretty and that is where it ends. So many Eastern foreigners come here to try and get into the rest of Europe. Ever Lativan wants out and every Russian Latvia heads East. Easter foreigners coming here are shocked. A racist country if you are black or brown skin. The population is majority Russian. The work ethic is horrific. The government is extremely corrupt. If you move to Latvia be prepared for no services and everyone will want your money. Rent is far too high for ugly tiny apartments and utilities are far too expensive. It's more expensive in Latvia than many Western European countries. Food is affordable at some supermarkets, but that is about it. DO NOT COME HERE TO STUDY!!! I cannot say enough how not worth it, it is. Try to get into Germany or go elsewhere. The prices above aren't true to the reality here.

Latvia is almost the poorest country in the EU. and the country looks worse than Ukraine. Half of the population are Russians. A large part of the country's income depends on foreign investment from immigration, and there are many scams. The gov is not concerned about other than collecting money. Most of young Latvians go to Western and Nordic countries to work as low-level workers, sometimes even without a salary. But it's better than staying in Latvia without a job opportunity. The prices in Latvia are not low, it can be said that the cost of living is relatively expensive(except rental, because their properties have no values). When you walk out of the airport, you mistakenly think that it is a developed country. After living for a period of time, you will understand how poor they are.

How much would be the decent amount to survive in Riga as a single person

Riga is biggest city among Baltic states with 700 thousand inhabitants. Life there is nice and beautiful, old town is amazing. Salary for simple workers is around 800 and for specialist 1200 €, rent of apartment is around 400€ for simple flat and 600€ for better ones website city24...LOL

The city is international as half of inhabitants are russians and other part local latvians...two languages are used for communication...LOL

I fell from a ladder last week in Riga at 20 years old on Thursday. I woke up in Tbilisi Georgia 8 days later aged 47.

Anonymous, Riga is more beautiful city compared with UK...LOL

A very beautiful place to live and work, more international companies establishing offices there...LOL

Rent is very high in Riga but food at open markets is half the price of supermarkets

Riga is rapidly turning into a ghost town and I noticed small villages are deserted for the most part during my visit last September.Several people in Latvia told me many have left permanently due to skyrocketing costs imposed but government.But people seemed nice during my visit but I don't blame them for leaving Latvia especially since there's no real opportunities.

There are many nigh clubs and you can have good choice any time...LOL

The city is changing very fast, many kind of apartments can be afforded, many jobs, many opportunities...LOL

English speaking specialist have high opportunity to find job with comfortable salary...note, that there are high range of choices of accommodation...LOL

The salaries is much higher as the shadow economy is quite huge...LOL

Riga is beautiful place to stay when you salary is more than 1000 € after taxes and you can have comfortable life, otherwise you need to have your own apartments that you would be able to have comfortable life...LOL

More and more latvians are going to work in Tallinn while there are better and higher salaries around 300 €...LOL

Riga is very comfortable place for living to couple when each of other has jobs with salaries 800 € and per both getting home 1600 € that means that for rent can be spent 400 €, for food 300 €, clothes 100 €, for transportation 100 € for gasoline and for free time 100 and the rest of 600 € for saving...of course local persons can work for less due to reason that has accommodation...LOL

There are many kinds of beer for a reasonable price 1 € in markets for one bottle and 3 €/glass in bars...enjoy...LOL

Tallinn can afford 400€ higher salaries, that means there in Riga exist shadow economy still...LOL

Camel: the fastest economy growing in Latvia that made banks closed down offices??? You don't know how to make a perfect story.
Economic growth is 5%, but it is still a small economy. Even if the growth is 20%, the people still can not feel it.

If you decide to migrate to Latvia then move to western part, better to forget this plan. Unreal.

Some EU countries already NO MORE issue EU permanent residency card.
With local Latvian PR not possible legally working in other countries.
And there are many conditions to apply for Latvian local PR:

To stay in Latvia for 4 years and 2 months in 5 years period.
With language exam ,some taxes payment records for past years.

Foreigner students are not possible to apply for PR.

Be careful, full of scams there. Be clear before moving there.

If you an Indian and trying to immigrate to Latvia this service will help you out http://www.immigration-residency.eu/immigration-to/latvia/for-indians/

Riga has biggest job market among Baltic states and it looks that more international companies are going to establish offices there...high improvement, but still some soviet mentality still exist and more time is required to achieve the level of Tallinn...LOL

---> Ahsan, but economy is growing very fast and becoming a modern western EU standards country...LOL

Latvia - Riga economy is growing very fast at nowadays 5% per year and more opportunities are coming.

Latvia unemployment rate is 6% keep going and reduce more in the near Future

I stayed in a dungeon for 50 euro a night. Where is this cheap rent in riga? Is it even possible for non Russians / Latvians to get it or is there a so called "foreigner" rent premium, unspoken but there.

I'm impressed on how rents are very low priced and the quality of apartments are very high , for just 1000€ monthly it's possible to rent a dream apartment... In Sweden is really difficult to find a modern apartment and most of them are really old styled and very expensive. And the presence of arabics and africans in Sweden is really annoying :/

Can any Latvian suggest me to live here? Is the city free of immigrants?

I hope africans will stay in their f%cking sh*t hole because they are ruining Europe.

...still high corruption and shadow economy but city is very beautiful who earning 1000€

@Explorer,

1. The question is not immediately clear. Please expand.
2. As in any city, it depends on the way of life. You can check housing prices on this local website: www.ss.com
Food prices are outlined in my previous post where I left the link to consumer price report (it's also in English).
Hence, it's simply a matter of calculation based on your demands.
Long story short, most people live on the net salary of around EUR 800 per month and are able to rent a small apartment, get around and purchase food. If I remember right, net salary of EUR 1,500 is a prerogative of around 4% of country's population.
3. Depends on the job. If you are graduate, speak English, Latvian and, possibly, some additional language, it shouldn't be a problem to find an office job with salary of around EUR 800 after taxes for the start.
4. It will be hard. You can make it easier for yourself by sharing accommodation, riding a bicycle around the town and cooking by yourself.
5. The question is not entirely clear, but I'll take a guess. The studies are hard enough and proper uni will be paying attention to your attendance. There is a slight shortage of cash jobs in town as the economy is quite small. Hence, it may be problematic finding yourself a second job for cash to make a living. But, as always, it's a matter of your connections and how active you are.

Just an advise: start learning Latvian right away. The language is not hard and municipality offers free courses. It will help a lot.

Hello everyone,
I am planning to move to riga for master studies,
I need to know some points and would be happy to know the real answers,
I am from Pakistan,
1. Will i b able to meet my uni fee for next year.
2. Approx monthly cost of living.
3.how hard it is to get job after my studies.
4. Can i earn as per law (20 hrs/week) so i can meet my monthly expenses.
5. How hard studies and strict is the law?. Asking so i may earn more.

Thank! Very interesting information. For me it is very relevant. I am going to Latvia to work and preparing documents for this with the help of http://www.immigration-residency.eu/real-estate/

Women far outnumber men throughout Latvia.Ladies do not dispair though because 23,847 African male refugees will keep Latvian women busy,let the breeding begin and they're arriving January 2020.

Abdul the UK is not in shenghan so it's not possible to move there as they have strict border controls, this will be even worse from November after Brexit as the government are planning on bringing in a visa system even for EU citizens of france/Germany etc if there is a no deal Brexit.
The average salary in Riga is more like €650 euros a month, there is a huge disparity between people's wages and the majority of people would usually earn about €650 a month after tax.

Salaries are very very small in Riga, but persons having good money can have very nice life there...old town is very beautiful, city is located near huge river and Baltic sea, there are wide range of selection of apartments to rent.

Hi friends
I’m planning to study in Latvia
Then semester break i move to Uk is this possible!!!!

I had been in Latvia for one year. All arguments below are correct. Summer time is super cool while in winter time is horrible. Darkness all day and night cloudy every minute.
Most of people get salary below or 1000 euro. Office workers could be higher a bit.
Latvian people are moving out of the country is true. Not everyone.
Cost of living is not that cheap.if you want to reach at European standard level 1000 is not that enough in Latvia. At least 2000_2500 from my experiences.
Opportunities not that much as it's not a famous place to live and work.
Indian immigrants are the major foreigner residents
The country offers residence permit visa to rich foreigners. Most of the buyers are Russian and few Chinese. But many frauds and scams from that.
Latvian people are usually helpful and friendly.

---> #Shelly, you are saying total nonsense. The unemployment level is very low and is decreasing each month rapidly. Riga is very complex city with highly developed public transportation, real estate can afford wide range of apartments from very cheap and very expensive. Now there is 0 reason to leave this amazing spot. The educated person can very easy get a job with a salary 1000 € after taxes, moreover a working couple can have even better life due to both getting 2000 € home and renting one apartment. Yes, it is true that 1000 € looks very badly compared with western countries, but there are more opportunities to make a carrier...LOOL

---> dear Mr. Hasan, in IT field you can earn quite high level of salaries. Note, that Riga is very clean and beautiful city with trams, buses and other good connections. FYI - Latvia is one city country, other part is just countryside without any reason for investing huge amount of money to the rest of country. Riga is growind very fast and can afford comfortable life.

Latvia is probably the poorest country in EU. Cost of living not cheap and salary is very low. Official report just for fun,don't mind that. I can tell you the actual income in Riga is only 700_800 euro the average. Also a lot people 500_600.
In smaller cities less than 500.
Jobless is high. Young Latvian people moving to other part of Europe and NEVER move back.
Most of the foreigner come to Riga for visa resident card. Latvia is one of the country for Golden visa offer. A lot taxes, state fees are all 5 digits plus. Full of Pakistan, Indian agencies with full of scam.
The positive part are: very clean, less noisy and with refuxxxs.

Average net salary in Riga was 1050 EUR in 2018 according to the survey of the biggest HR service in Latvia. Will reach 1140 in the middle of 2019. https://www.cv.lv/pages/algas2019/realplain?keel=lati&utm_source=cv.lv&utm_medium=teksta_saite&utm_campaign=Algu_petijums