In short
Riga is the cheaper capital: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €1,390 a month, against about €3,465 in Amsterdam. Latvia offers Americans a digital nomad visa, a retirement visa and a golden visa. The Netherlands has no digital nomad, retirement or golden visa. Every figure below is checked against official sources.
The verdict
Which Country Fits You?
Where one side is clearly better for most Americans, it gets the point — the rest depends on your plans.
Choose Latvia if…
- You work remotely: Digital nomad visa — €4,538 gross a month (2026); a visa, not a residence permit. The Netherlands has none.
- You want lower costs — about €2,080 a month less for a single person with a central 1-bedroom in Riga.
- You live on a pension or savings: Pensioner permit — pension at least €1,231 a month (2026); private health insurance. The Netherlands has none.
- You want residence through investment: Golden visa — €50,000 share capital in a Latvian company + €10,000 state fee; other routes closed in 2026. The Netherlands has none.
- You have a job offer — the EU Blue Card salary bar is lower: €2,723 a month (€2,178 for shortage jobs).
Choose the Netherlands if…
- You qualify for a special tax regime: 30% ruling — 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years.
- You want to work for yourself: DAFT — invest €4,500 in your own business; family may work (US citizens only).
- You want a simple company set-up: BV — no minimum capital; notarial deed.
Digital Nomad Visa
Only Latvia Has a Digital Nomad Visa
| Latvia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa | Latvia€4,538 gross a month (2026); a visa, not a residence permit✓ | NetherlandsNone |
| Special tax regime | LatviaNone | Netherlands30% ruling — 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years✓ |
| Public healthcare | LatviaState-funded care only for people working in Latvia and permanent residents | NetherlandsMandatory private basic insurance — about €159 a month (2026) |
| Main work permit | LatviaEU Blue Card from €2,723 a month — decided within 10 working days | NetherlandsHighly skilled migrant — €5,942 a month (age 30+), €4,357 under 30 (2026) |
Cost of Living
Riga Is About €2,080 a Month Cheaper
| Latvia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment, city centre | Latviaabout €520 (Riga)✓ | Netherlandsabout €2,329 (Amsterdam) |
| 1-bed apartment, outside centre | Latviaabout €345 (Riga)✓ | Netherlandsabout €1,743 (Amsterdam) |
| Everyday costs, single person (no rent) | Latviaabout €870 (Riga)✓ | Netherlandsabout €1,135 (Amsterdam) |
| Total a month — single, central 1-bed | Latviaabout €1,390 (Riga)✓ | Netherlandsabout €3,465 (Amsterdam) |
Living costs: Numbeo estimates for the capital (2026), as shown with sources on each city guide and in the key facts below.
Tax & Business
Taxes & Company Rules
| Latvia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Latvia25.5% up to €105,300 a year, 33% above | Netherlands35.75% to 49.50% (2026) |
| Special tax regime | LatviaNone | Netherlands30% ruling — 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years✓ |
| Usual company | LatviaSIA — €2,800 capital, or from €1 for a small-capital SIA | NetherlandsBV — no minimum capital; notarial deed |
| Corporate tax | Latvia20% on distributed profit only — 0% on retained profit✓ | Netherlands19% up to €200,000, 25.8% above |
| US tax treaty | LatviaUS–Latvia treaty in force | Netherlands1992 treaty; Social Security agreement since 1990 |
US citizens & Green Card holdersThe US still taxes you
Wherever you live, the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any time in the year.
Settling In
Permanent Residence, Citizenship & Healthcare
| Latvia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence | LatviaAfter 5 years, with A2 Latvian and a culture course | NetherlandsAfter 5 years, with a civic integration diploma |
| Public healthcare | LatviaState-funded care only for people working in Latvia and permanent residents | NetherlandsMandatory private basic insurance — about €159 a month (2026) |
Daily Life
Daily Life in Riga and Amsterdam
| Latvia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (capital) | LatviaAbout 589,000 (2026) | NetherlandsAbout 942,500 (2026) |
| Public transport (capital) | LatviaMonthly pass €30 | NetherlandsTap a bank card or phone on all public transport |
| Currency | LatviaEuro | NetherlandsEuro |
FAQ
Latvia or Netherlands? Your questions
Is Riga or Amsterdam cheaper?
Riga is cheaper: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €1,390 a month there, against about €3,465 in Amsterdam (Numbeo, 2026). Rent for a central 1-bedroom is about €520 in Riga and €2,329 in Amsterdam.
Does Latvia or the Netherlands have a digital nomad visa?
Latvia: €4,538 gross a month (2026); a visa, not a residence permit. The Netherlands has no digital nomad visa.
Do I still pay US taxes if I move?
Yes. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000. Foreign tax credits and the treaties usually prevent paying twice on the same income.
Latvia vs Netherlands: key factsLast verified 27 September 2026
| Latvia: 1-bed apartment | about €345/month (range €280–450) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Latvia: 1-bed apartment | about €520/month (range €400–600) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026) |
| Latvia: Living costs, single person | about €870/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026) |
| Netherlands: Amsterdam rent | 1-bedroom about €2,329 a month in the centre and €1,743 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of Living in Amsterdam |
| Netherlands: Amsterdam living costs | A single person spends about €1,135 a month without rent — about €3,460 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026) Source: Numbeo: Cost of Living in Amsterdam |
| Latvia: Digital nomad visa: income in 2026 | €4,538 gross per month (2.5 × 2025 average wage of €1,815) Source: PMLP: Long-stay visa for remote work · Central Statistical Bureau: 2025 average gross wage €1,815 |
| Netherlands: 30% ruling | 30% of salary tax-free for up to 5 years for employees recruited from abroad earning over €48,013 taxable (€36,497 under 30 with a master's) in 2026; 27% from 2027 Source: AWVN: Salariscriteria kennismigranten en 30%-regeling 2026 · Rendement: 30%-regeling wordt 27%-regeling · Law & More: 30% ruling 2026/2027 |
| Latvia: Healthcare | Private health insurance needed; state-funded care covers only people working in Latvia and permanent residents Source: Health Care Financing Law, likumi.lv |
| Netherlands: Health insurance | Mandatory Dutch basic insurance within 4 months of arrival — about €159 a month on average in 2026, with a €385 yearly deductible Source: Government.nl: Health insurance and residence permit · Consumentenbond: Zorgverzekeringen 2026 · Overstappen.nl: Zorgpremies 2026 bekend |
| Latvia: EU Blue Card salary | €2,723/month gross (€2,178 in shortage jobs) Source: PMLP: Necessary means of subsistence (from 1 Apr 2026) |
| Netherlands: Highly skilled migrant | Salary of at least €5,942 a month (age 30+), €4,357 (under 30) or €3,122 (recent graduates) in 2026, from an IND-recognised sponsor; permit up to 5 years Source: IND: Required amounts income requirements · IND: Highly skilled migrant |
| Latvia: Personal income tax | 25.5% up to €105,300/year, 33% above Source: State Revenue Service: personal income tax rates |
| Netherlands: Income tax | Box 1 in 2026: 35.75% up to €38,883, 37.56% up to €78,426, 49.50% above (below state pension age) Source: Belastingdienst: Voorlopige aanslag 2026 tarieven |
| Latvia: Minimum share capital | €2,800 (or from €1 for a small-capital SIA) Source: Register of Enterprises: share capital · Register of Enterprises: small-capital SIA |
| Netherlands: Usual company type | BV (private limited company): no minimum capital since 2012, formed by notarial deed and registered with KvK Source: Business.gov.nl: Private limited company (bv) |
| Latvia: Corporate income tax | 20% on distributed profit (= 25% of the net dividend) Source: Corporate Income Tax Law, likumi.lv · State Revenue Service: corporate income tax |
| Netherlands: Corporate tax | 19% on the first €200,000 of profit and 25.8% on the rest (2026) Source: KVK: Vennootschapsbelasting |
| Latvia: US–Latvia tax treaty | In force Source: IRS: Latvia tax treaty documents |
| Netherlands: US tax treaty | The 1992 US–Netherlands income tax treaty (2004 protocol) applies; the saving clause keeps US taxation of citizens Source: IRS: Netherlands tax treaty documents |
| Latvia: Permanent residence | After 5 years on a temporary permit, with Latvian at A2 level and a culture and history course Source: PMLP: New Immigration Law takes effect, key changes · LV portāls: New Immigration Law in force (official publisher) |
| Netherlands: Permanent residence | After 5 years: civic integration diploma and sustainable, sufficient income required (fee €254) Source: IND: Long-term EU resident permit · IND: Fees (valid 1 Jan–31 Dec 2026) |
| Latvia: Riga population | 589,000 (start of 2026) Source: Official Statistics Portal: population at the start of 2026 |
| Netherlands: Amsterdam population | 942,504 on 1 January 2026 Source: NH Nieuws: Amsterdam groeit verder naar ruim 940.000 inwoners (CBS) |
| Latvia: Public transport pass (Riga) | €30 per month Source: Rīgas satiksme: monthly ticket |
| Netherlands: Public transport | Pay by tapping a bank card or phone (OVpay) on trains, trams, metro and buses; subscriptions use the OV-chipkaart Source: I amsterdam: Pay for public transport |
Go deeper
The full guides
Across Europe
Every guide and comparison
- OverviewMove to Europe
- CountriesAll 29 Countries
- LivingExpat Guides
- RetirementRetire by Country
- CitiesBest Cities to Live In
- BusinessCompany Formation
- FoundersStartup Visas
- InvestorsGolden Visas
- Remote workDigital Nomad Visas
- RetirementRetirement Visas
- CitizenshipCitizenship by Descent
- CostsCost of Living
- HealthHealthcare
- TaxTax Residency
- PetsMoving with Pets
- DrivingUS Driver's License
- PropertyBuying Property
- EducationStudy in Europe
- SafetySafety & Stability
- WorkWork-Life Balance
- TravelTravel & Schengen
- LifestyleLifestyle
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