🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $984 in Ventspils versus $1,446 in Martin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,543 in Ventspils versus $2,058 in Martin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,103 in Ventspils versus $2,670 in Martin.
🌍Living in Ventspils costs roughly 32% less than in Martin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ventspils is 29% below, Martin is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.73€11.83
$9.23€7.96
48.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5€50.5
$47.28€40.75
23.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93€7.69
$9.47€8.16
-5.70%
Cappuccino
$2.62€2.26
$2.89€2.49
-9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.44
$2.03€1.75
-17.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.04
$1.36€1.17
-11.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€2.95
$2.13€1.84
60.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.06
$2.29€1.97
4.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.11€0.96
6.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19€1.03
$1.60€1.38
-25.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$2.11€1.82
22.75%
Eggs
$3.29€2.84
$3.59€3.09
-8.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62€9.16
$12.91€11.13
-17.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.89€7.66
$8.05€6.94
10.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39€12.40
$13.62€11.74
5.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$1.25€1.08
75.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92€1.66
$1.73€1.49
10.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44€2.11
$2.50€2.15
-2.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.21€2.77
$2.27€1.96
41.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94€0.81
$1.35€1.17
-30.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00€0.86
$1.58€1.36
-36.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86€1.60
$1.70€1.47
9.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.88
$0.89€0.76
15.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.15
$5.97€5.14
19.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.07€6.96
$5.01€4.32
61.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11€1.81
$1.03€0.88
104.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.81
$2.06€1.77
1.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14€0.98
$1.43€1.23
-20.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.57€15.14
$29.63€25.54
-40.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46€2.98
$1.71€1.48
102.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07€0.92
$1.24€1.07
-13.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.60€16.03
$23.34€20.12
-20.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.60
$1.78€1.53
3.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K€24.6K
$22.9K€19.8K
24.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$25.0K€21.5K
30.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$275€237
$313€269
-11.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.17€14.80
$20.30€17.50
-15.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.20€14.83
$12.67€10.92
35.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.15€32.88
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.29€16.63
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.08€9.55
$9.81€8.45
12.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$634€546
$348€300
82.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K€15.5K
$10.8K€9,325
66.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.2€63.1
$74.0€63.8
-1.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5€44.39
$13.72€11.82
275.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.4€59.8
$81.4€70.2
-14.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€89.6
$98.5€84.9
5.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$514€443
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$473€407
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$788€679
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$695€599
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,349€2,025
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,809€1,559
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ventspils
Martin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585€1,366
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
3.79
10.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ventspils: September 6, 2026
Last update for Martin: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Ventspils vs $47.00 in Martin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $252 per month, with Martin cheaper across the board.
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
Ventspils vs Martin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Martin cheaper than Ventspils?
Ventspils is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,476 in Ventspils and $2,169 in Martin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What are total monthly expenses in Ventspils and in Martin?
All in, you'll spend $984 per month in Ventspils versus $1,446 in Martin – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ventspils runs roughly 69% less than in Martin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ventspils or in Martin?
At $984 in Ventspils versus $1,446 in Martin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ventspils but tight or insufficient in Martin. The gap between the two cities makes Ventspils the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ventspils or in Martin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ventspils or Martin?
Safety-wise, Ventspils and Martin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ventspils gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Martin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.