🙂A single person spends $978 per month in Latvia vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,504 per month in Latvia vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,030 per month in Latvia vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Latvia is roughly 61% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Latvia sits 29% below the global median, while Australia is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.09€12.21
$18.16A$25.48
-22.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7€50.0
$85.9A$120
-32.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23€7.13
$10.87A$15.25
-24.29%
Cappuccino
$3.46€2.99
$4.11A$5.77
-15.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.50
$3.04A$4.27
-43.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.06
$2.47A$3.46
-50.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.27€4.57
$7.87A$11.04
-33.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63€4.01
$7.98A$11.19
-41.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$1.73A$2.42
-27.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.36
$2.78A$3.90
-43.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62€2.27
$2.38A$3.34
10.08%
Eggs
$3.70€3.20
$5.08A$7.13
-27.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.71€9.28
$9.98A$14.00
7.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34€7.23
$9.24A$12.96
-9.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.00€13.00
$15.49A$21.73
-3.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$3.73A$5.23
-47.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86€1.61
$3.02A$4.24
-38.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.25
$3.23A$4.53
-19.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15€2.73
$4.88A$6.85
-35.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92€0.80
$2.87A$4.03
-67.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04€0.90
$2.36A$3.31
-55.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90€1.65
$2.49A$3.49
-23.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.90
$1.68A$2.35
-38.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87€5.09
$38.51A$54.0
-84.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.03€6.96
$14.25A$19.99
-43.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.66
$5.07A$7.11
-62.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$5.19A$7.28
-61.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Latvia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.46
$2.78A$3.90
-39.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.74€30.10
$94.8A$133
-63.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.39€2.94
$3.52A$4.94
-3.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79€0.69
$1.60A$2.24
-50.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.66€14.44
$40.42A$56.7
-58.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.72
$1.27A$1.79
55.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K€24.9K
$28.3KA$39.8K
1.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K€27.9K
$28.6KA$40.2K
12.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$336€291
$202A$283
66.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.83€16.32
$29.08A$40.80
-35.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.99€17.33
$59.6A$83.6
-66.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.45€39.39
$59.3A$83.2
-23.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.47€30.74
$20.13A$28.23
76.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.39€9.01
$15.75A$22.09
-34.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$578€501
$2,197A$3,083
-73.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K€14.6K
$18.2KA$25.6K
-7.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.4€68.8
$79.3A$111
0.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.79€42.28
$57.2A$80.3
-14.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4€82.6
$114A$160
-16.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151€131
$125A$175
20.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Latvia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436€378
$1,581A$2,217
-72.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319€277
$1,291A$1,811
-75.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$871€754
$2,530A$3,549
-65.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$552€479
$1,982A$2,780
-72.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,494€2,161
$8,571A$12.0K
-70.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,689€1,464
$6,120A$8,585
-72.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Latvia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,338€1,160
$3,979A$5,583
-66.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.37
5.93
-26.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Latvia: September 15, 2026
Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $207 in Latvia vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $599 in Riga and $1,829 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $1,067 in Latvia vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 570% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 68% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 427% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 266% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Latvia vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Latvia?
Latvia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 153% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Latvia, contributing to the overall 153% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Latvia?
$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Latvia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Latvia?
Latvia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.