How much does a trip to Latvia cost? Daily budget and prices

Latvia is one of the cheaper euro countries in the EU. The spread between styles is wide because accommodation and alcohol move the total more than food or transport do. Figures below are per person per day, 2026 estimates, with mid and comfort tiers assuming two people sharing a room.

Riga Old Town is the priciest patch in the country; the rest of the capital, and everywhere outside it, is cheaper. Peak-season dates and their effect on hotel rates are not confirmed here — check rates for your dates before booking (check).

Everyday items are modest by Western European standards. A canteen lunch at a Lido or similar self-service place runs €7–12; a main course in a mid-range Riga restaurant €14–25. Coffee is €2.5–4 and a 0.5 l beer in a bar €4–6, less in a shop.

Museum and attraction ticket prices are not confirmed here — check the official site for the museum you plan to visit (check). Rundāle Palace, the big day trip from Riga, is about €15–20 (check). Trains and buses inside Latvia are cheap: Riga–Sigulda is about €3 (check), and city tram or bus tickets in Riga are a couple of euros (check).

The parent Latvia guide suggests a first trip of 3 nights in Riga with day trips to Jūrmala and Sigulda. That shape is also the cheapest to run, because you pay for one bed and use trains rather than a car.

Add Kurzeme's coast (Liepāja, Kuldīga, Ventspils) or Latgale only with a car, which adds €35–65 a day plus fuel (check). Long-distance buses are the cheaper alternative where lines exist.

Peak-season dates and their effect on hotel rates in Riga and Jūrmala are not confirmed here — check rates for your dates before booking (check).

Shoulder and low-season dates and their effect on rates are likewise not confirmed here (check). Winter outside the holidays is generally the cheapest for accommodation, though short daylight limits what you can do outside the cities.

Latvia uses the euro. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere in Riga, including small cafés and market stalls, but carry a little cash for Riga Central Market and rural guesthouses. VAT is 21% and is normally included in displayed prices (check).

Tipping is not obligatory; local norms are not confirmed here (check). The biggest savings come from eating at canteens and market halls, using trains and Riga's trams instead of taxis, and staying outside the Old Town while still walking in.

Flights are not included. Riga is served by direct low-cost and legacy routes from across Europe, and fares swing widely by season and how far ahead you book, so treat airfare as a separate line in your budget.

Also excluded: travel insurance, visa fees if your passport needs them, and shopping. Check the visa page before you book if you are unsure whether you need a Schengen visa.