Latvia is a small country, and its geography is surprisingly easy to read. A big capital on a river mouth, a long sandy coast with pine forests behind it, a flat hinterland of fields and lakes, and a few regional cities that feel like different countries. Picking the best places to live in Latvia is mostly a question of what you need within a ten-minute walk.
Here is a map of the main choices, using only things that can be checked, and without invented rankings.
Is Riga the best place to live in Latvia?
For most newcomers, yes, at least at first. Riga is the capital, the largest city and the centre of the job market, with English widely spoken in services and the most choice of schools, clinics and rentals. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the city's Art Nouveau streets are worth a Sunday walk even if you never stay.
The trade-off is price. EURES gives a typical rent of 350 to 650 euros a month in Riga, utilities excluded, and prices in the old town run higher. Nursery places are scarce in larger cities, and waiting lists apply, so register early with the municipality (see schools in Latvia for expat children).
If you live in Riga and want a break, the Baltic is a short train ride away, which brings us to the next stop.
Is Jūrmala a good place to live in Latvia?
Jūrmala is a seaside city strung along a long sandy coast west of Riga, famous for its wooden villas, pine woods and a historic resort tradition. Many people work in Riga and live in Jūrmala, using the suburban train, which makes it the most popular quiet-sea option.
It suits families who want space and fresh air, and remote workers. The main caution is seasonality: the town is lively in summer and much quieter in winter. Rules about buying near the sea apply: a non-EU buyer cannot purchase in the Baltic coastal protection zones except buildable land in the plan, so read buying property in Latvia first.
Not sure which city fits your job, children and budget? Moovy can compare Riga, Jūrmala, Liepāja and Daugavpils against your list, explain the rules that differ by municipality and prepare questions for the local authority. Local prices and availability stay your own research.
What is Liepāja like to live in?
Liepāja, on the Baltic coast in the west, is a port city with a reputation as a music town and a windy one (it calls itself the city where the wind is born). It has a long beach, a lively cultural scene, a former military port district, Karosta, which is now a tourism curiosity, and a more relaxed pace than Riga.
Expect lower rents than in the capital, a smaller job market and more Latvian in everyday life. It suits remote workers, retirees and families who like a seaside city with the services of a regional capital. Ask the municipality about kindergarten fees and tax, which vary.
What about Daugavpils and the east?
Daugavpils, on the Daugava river in the south-east, is Latvia's second-largest city and the capital of the Latgale region. It is known for its 19th-century fortress, now a cultural centre, and for being the birthplace of the painter Mark Rothko. Russian is widely heard in daily life there, and the city has a different atmosphere from Riga, closer to Lithuania and Belarus.
It is a place for people who value low rents and quiet, and who can work remotely or speak Latvian well. EURES says rents outside Riga rarely drop below 130 euros a month. Public services still work in Latvian, even where Russian is the street language, so do not treat Russian as an official fallback. Read living in Latvia.
What about small towns and the countryside?
Latvia has plenty of small towns, lakes and forests, and many people dream of a rural house. Before you fall in love, check three things: the plot's classification (a house sold with agricultural land can bring farmland rules), the distance to a family doctor and a school (you register with a doctor whose area covers your home), and winter. Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 December to 1 March, and snow clearing on country roads varies.
Municipal housing exists mainly in small towns, and rents are the lowest. The trade-off is fewer jobs, fewer English speakers and fewer services, so a car is almost a necessity. See driving in Latvia.
How do you choose between the best places to live in Latvia?
Use a short checklist:
- Work: remote, or tied to a city? Riga has most jobs.
- Language: how much Latvian do you speak, and do you want to learn?
- Children: school language is Latvian in the public system, and kindergarten places are tight in big cities.
- Budget: compare the rent range above with your income; see cost of living in Latvia.
- Tax and fees: municipal real estate tax varies between 0.2% and 3% of cadastral value.
- Winter: be honest about darkness, cold and distance.
A good plan: rent first in Riga or the town you prefer for six months, then decide. The registration certificate and the declared address do not tie you to a single city for life, but you must declare each move within a month. The step-by-step guide to moving to Latvia shows the sequence.
Which of the best places to live in Latvia suits families?
For families, the questions are kindergarten places, school language and distance to a doctor. Riga has the most choice but also the longest waiting lists for municipal kindergartens. In every municipality, the duty to offer a place applies to children whose address is declared there, so declare it early. From 18 months of age, if the municipality has no place, it must pay for a private nursery up to its own average cost. Public schools teach in Latvian everywhere, so the best places to live in Latvia for a family are those where your child will hear the language outside school too. For the details, read schools in Latvia for expat children.
Which of the best places to live in Latvia suits remote workers?
The criteria are internet, space and a community. Riga offers co-working and the biggest international crowd. Jūrmala and Liepāja offer sea, space and quieter streets. Remote workers who are EU citizens need no special visa: they register after 90 days and pay Latvian tax once resident. The 15% option for remote work applies only to holders of a long-stay remote-work visa, which excludes EU citizens. For the employment rules, see working in Latvia.
Which of the best places to live in Latvia suits retirees?
Think healthcare and calm. Your S1 and the family doctor's practice area matter more than the postcode, and winter matters more than you think. Retirees often rent first in Riga or in a coastal town like Liepāja for a winter before deciding. The pensioner's allowance and the lower patient payment from 65 apply everywhere. For the S1 and the family doctor, see healthcare in Latvia for expats.
What does each municipality decide for itself?
More than newcomers expect. A municipality sets its real estate tax between 0.2% and 3% of cadastral value, runs kindergartens and their fees, decides on the school meals beyond grade 4, manages municipal housing and receives your address declaration. When you compare two towns, ask each for its tax rate, its kindergarten waiting time and its school-meal rules. That is the real comparison, more than any ranking.