Pros and Cons of Living in Latvia

"The Latvian culture is beautiful and interesting - as are the people. I appreciate that most Latvians work in Riga (or other city) and then immediately disappear to the woods in their other homes to be out in nature. They are fine, decent people. They sort of just keep to themselves, like most Europeans, and this can be seen by us Americans as being stand-offish or even rude," explained one expat living in Latvia.

"The people can be a bit sour, but considering their history, I can't blame them. That said, the country itself with its nature and scenery should be promoted more by their government because it's really special," said one expat in Riga.

"The most challenging thing here is the language - if you learn it. I only speak English here and have never once had a problem. Latvians have been more than happy to accommodate. Also, being from a place that doesn't get much bad weather, I found it very difficult in winter. The temps and snow were fine, but often times the weather goes from snowy and below freezing to just above freezing and rainy. This makes walking around slippery and scary," remarked one expat in Latvia.

"The languages. They're tough. This winter was very cold/snowy but being a Minnesota girl, just took a few weeks to remember this is what I grew up in even though I'd done the last 4.5 years in the tropics! It was beautiful too even with the mounds of snow. Just dress warm," explained one expat living in Riga.

"Expats in Latvia often find the language barrier to be the most challenging aspect of the local culture. Additionally, the cultural norms and expectations can be difficult to navigate, as they may be quite different from those of the expat's home country. Expats may also find it difficult to adjust to the colder climate and shorter days in the winter months. Finally, the cost of living in Latvia can be higher than in some other countries, making it difficult for expats to find affordable housing and other necessities," said one expat in Latvia.