Living in Latvia

Latvia strikes a steadier balance. Pay and the cost of living rise more or less together, yet enough is left at month's end to feel like a margin rather than nothing. The clearest openings for a newcomer are in IT, where English is the working language and a track record counts for more than connections, and in the skilled trades. Getting hired is reachable rather than easy, and a real portfolio will carry you further than knowing the right people.

Latvia's foreign-born population is shrinking — down 17% over the past decade — though at 220.5K it still makes up 12% of the population. Russia is the leading origin by far, with 107.5K Russian-born residents, ahead of Belarus and Ukraine.