Hungary or Latvia
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| Hungary | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | — | $ 25 036 |
| Citizenship | 8 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | yes | — |
| Parents | difficult | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 172 · estimate | $ 888 |
| Basket | $ 33,2 | $ 34,3 |
| Life expectancy | 76.72 | 76.43 |
| Homicides/100k | 0.7 | 2.78 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Hungary — 30, Latvia — 64. Types present in both: work, remote work, study, family, investment, startup and job seeking. Hungary adds: working holiday. Latvia adds: repatriation and retirement.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Hungary: the fee is 110 EUR wherever it is published. Routes stating an income threshold: 1; the lowest is 3,000 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 27; the shortest is 21 days. Latvia: fees range from 90 to 210 EUR. Routes with no fee: 5. Routes stating an income threshold: 37; the lowest is 780 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 61; the shortest is 14 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: both after 5 years. Citizenship: Hungary after 8 years, Latvia after 5 years. Hungary allows a second citizenship, Latvia does not.
Hungary in brief
An EU country with a low cost of living and low violent crime. Held back by a difficult language and 8 years to citizenship, IT salaries below Western European levels, the EU's worst corruption perception score, and flood and drought risks on the plain.
Latvia in brief
An EU and eurozone country with a relatively low cost of living. The IT sector is concentrated in Riga. Naturalisation comes after 5 years of permanent residence with a Latvian language exam; dual citizenship is allowed only with a limited group of countries. Since 2022 checks have been tightened and a language exam introduced for some permanent residents. Natural risks are minimal, but winters are cold and overcast, and proximity to Russia and Belarus adds regional tension.
Other comparisons
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This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.