Hi everyone,

I have a friend who received a job offer in Riga. The job pays a net salary of € 2500 monthly and includes insurance. However, it does not include housing and, possibly, it does not include travel expenses to/from Latvia either (although she's waiting for confirmation on the latter).

I have read that Latvia is, in European standards, an inexpensive country. What do you think of it?

Thanks for your time and input,

Orlando Fato

I think a salary of 2500€ a month would be ample in Riga. Down the list at #325 on the Numbeo Cost of Living Index for 2016, it shows relative costs and Riga seems a very economical place to live.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp

It very much depends on your friend's current income and standard of living. Even with a reasonable income some of the things that are standard in many parts of the US may not be available here.

I don;t know the city well enough to have any idea of the housing market. But I would not be surprised by apartments without AC, dishwasher and washer dryer. Also I don;t know about what is provided and what the tenant must purchase. In some places in europe the renter must provide all appliances, kitchen cabinets, closets, etc - which of course are standard in the US.

Before making any decision I would make sure what standard of living that income provides.

Here a map of average salaries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...y_average_wage

You'll see that the average salary in France is about 2200 €, whilst in Latvia is about 700 €.

The median salary (this is the salaray with or under which HALF the French live is 1770 €) - median is below average as the rich do get a lot more than the poor).

You friend will therefore live 3 to 4 times better than the average/median population of Latvia.

Plenty of people live on less than that as a pre-tax income in expensive countries like the Netherlands, and have to pay their own health insurance and tax on it. Your friend should manage very well on that salary.

Hi, again, everyone,

My friend just got a confirmation that the job offer DOES include flight return tickets.

Thanks again for your feedback and time,

Orlando Fato