How Well Could You Live in Riga Latvia? 🇱🇻
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- čas přidán 9. 05. 2023
- How Well Could You Live in Riga Latvia? 🇱🇻
Join me as we go around checking out the local prices and evaluating the cost of Living in Tbilisi Georgia.
We meet the locals and do an in-depth look at the daily cost of living in Riga Latvia. From food, to apartments, taxi and more.
If you enjoy adventure videos from the former Soviet Union and Central & Eastern Europe, then grab your vodka, some zakusky and join me as we tour the city of Riga Latvia and check out how reasonable is the cost of living here.
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4:00 How cool you stopped that woman dead on her tracks when she thought you didn't understand russian hahah
I really don’t understand why some businesses don’t like cameras. If I was the owner and saw someone filming and talking, I would invite them to my business and show the products. You get free marketing and also you may get new business contacts as well. When opportunity is there, grab it.
Agreed… thanks for watching my friend! 👍👌
the probably don't want to compete on price. information is power and if you have complete information you can make efficient decisions as a customer.
They are sort of a old fashioned homo- sovieticus peeps.
It's easy to judge when you're watching this video, but you'd understand if you layed out all the options and actually took the time to understand why.
They don't know what will you do with that footage. For all they know you're from a competitor.
They're being cautious. Malicious people exist and simply because you'd say you're a youtuber or something means fuck all to these people.
Opportunity? What opportunity? A small youtuber showing a small place to a small audience most of whom are not local or in the age demigraphic of people actually watching youtube?
This isn't U.S where a random idiot showered with attention has a chance of getting anything, the mentality of people in Eastern Europe is different especially the older generation.
Its got nothing to do with rudeness or money. I live in Riga and know from experience that the market people don't mind at all if you photograph the goods. But they don't like people taking pics of them without permission. Not everyone wants their face all over the internet. That's their right and should be respected.
I grew up going to this market, when it was USSR still. It was always cheaper than the stores and most of the time, higher quality. I miss Riga very much, thank you for posting
I am so happy you enjoyed the video.
I love markets and the Riga Central Market is an amazing place.
All the best my friend 👌👍
My grandfather on my fathers side was Latvian and fought in WWII. I am very proud of him and now get to live the life I have in Australia because of this man. A great vid and love the insight into what it may be like to visit or stay one day.
I was in Riga a few weeks ago, loved the market, we stayed in an apartment close to where you looked at the studio, I’m definitely going again, the people are so friendly and welcoming, great video and very informative
Hi my friend, i am glad you enjoyed your stay in Riga, it is an amazing city!! 😃👍 Thank you so much for watching and commenting!!
I was in Riga last winter for one week over the New Years time. I enjoyed the experience while there. I am looking forward to discovering more about the Baltics as time permits in the future.
@@davidpolott1250 was lovely having you here mate and look forward to seeing you again👍
birch sap fermented with raisins and lemon and bit of black currant leaves for winter is the best homemade naturally carbonated sprite out there !! my dad makes them for every winter
GENIUS set up in the supermarket with the stealth filming and audio. You are going to have a heart attack when you see the prices in Australia....... Keep up the good work J!
This seems to be a very interesting place, I hope I can visit sometime in the future. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job! Subscribed!!
Such cool review, gives nice feel for the city, thank you for experience and info. Im latvian in Bristol right now working :D
I love Latvia, my girlfriend is from Liepaja in Latvia, so we are there every summer, greatings from Norway ❤❤
Thanks for sharing, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃
I'm curious what the secret of Latvian potatoes is. I live in a Western part of Poland called Greater Poland, which has the unofficial name "Land of Underground Orange", and we have always been conscientious of our potatoes, but a guy from Riga who worked for us for several years always said that they are just a pale shadow of Latvian potatoes. :D
i think it might be our heavy full with clay ground, but just speculation by me
as a latvian I'm also curious they all are delicious even if I'm not hungry I'm still gonna eat it if I had a last meal it would be latvian potatos
@@RavinSooWild 😃👍
Latvian here: Not from the patriotic side, but from a traveler's side - I have no clue what our farmers have done, but potatoes named Laura are pure gold, I've been all over Europe and lived in UK, France, and Spain. But you can't find potatoes even close like Laura, this thing is just on a different potato level
@@pixelsalad I think I'll make a trip to Latvia. :)
This video was really informative. I'm thinking about going there next year :D
Love Riga market. One of the best I've been too, second only to Alicante central market in my opinion. Makes me want to go back to Riga.
I agree it is an amazing place.
And a good reason to visit again👍
I'm from Riga and I very rarely visit the market, you just sold it to me! Saturday morning imma go shopping
Hello mate, i hope you will enjoy it!! 😃👍 Thank you so much for watching!! 😃👍
Nice to meet your channel. I wanted to get a good preliminary sense of Latvia and your video did a good job. You offer an enthusiastic, clear and "just-the-facts" type of style, which I find keeps interest up. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for you feedback, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃
Great video as usual 👌.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. 👍👌
Loved watching the video. Very informative too
Glad you enjoyed it! 👍😃
Oh, mate, I'm at 3:25, and you've been lucky to experience the authentic slavic hospitality, courtesy of a couple "market hags" (tried translating _bazarnaya baba_ literally, I reckon it's called _fishwife_ in English)! I've been living here almost since I was a toddler, and this is very often the kind of attitude you get when dealing with local elderly Russophones -- they get rude and abrasive really fast unless you're a paying customer. That said, Russian is my mother tongue, but I'm avoiding to use it in communication with any vendors exactly because of this issue. At least when talking in Latvian, they aren't as agile with their responses since they often don't know the language :)
UPD: By the way, Ādažu crisps were a lot cheaper before 2022. But because a lot of cheaper sunflower oil was imported from Ukraine, that had a huge effect on the price
Oh, here comes a real piece of sh... not a man talking...
Interesting ! I am thinking of travelling in an eastern country part of the european union for a couple of months. I am french and looking for a full immersion to kick start learning russian… Do you think Riga can be the right place for this? Or may be another big city with a bigger russian speaking population ? It seems young people speak good english so I won’t have too much problem to communicate but russian is the language I want to practice. There is also Moldavia where they have a russian speaking population and Transnistria would be also good but it is probably a military zone and with the war un ukrain not the best plan may be.
Anyway if you have a couple of minute to advise me that would be very much appreciated !
Не путайте «славянское гостеприимство» с советским, мы хоть и не такие, может, гостеприимные как кавказцы, но обычно хорошо относимся к любым людям. А это просто базарные бабы , не надо их путать с нормальными людьми
@@lerecklessbadger2411You are welcome to come, learn something about Latvian and our language. Russian is not something to learn here. We know it because of our painful past and occupations. We want to get rid of any kind of rude babushka legacy like in this video.
@@ElvisBurdajs It is mad from my perspective but I respect yours. Many people on earth are bilingual and I am sure you are all for learning english (obviously you speak that language).
No doubt colonizers were bad but it’s like a woman who get rape and has to live with the child after… Or do you want to kill that heritage? How stupid is that (from my perspective)… As if the Russian people were guilty… as if their culture is toxic… And suddenly you want to be American en europeens? And may be if tomorrow the cultural hegemony of the west is falling you might want to go back to Russian?
From my perspective as a French who love Russian litterature and speak several languages I don’t understand this hostile attitude and see It as a political stance… How raciste against the Russian minorities.
Watching from Australia. Prices are crazy cheap, compared to prices in Aus. I already loved Riga, now there is a reason to love it more. Hope to visit again soon.
It aint cheep when the minimum wage is barely 520euros.. Now add the rent, public transport and groceries
@@lilysl3797 I'm sure it isn't cheap for Latvians living in Riga. I was merely commenting on the prices of goods and saying that they were much cheaper than in Australia. People earning $80,000 per year in Aus are struggling! Everything here is ridiculously expensive.
@@lilysl3797 Yeah but who makes minimum wage in Rīga?
@@user-po2nu7iz4t I agree with you Julie, the issue is here that even for $15 aud for a kilo of tomatoes 🍅 current prices it will still be no taste, no smell… but yes with mortgage, couple kids, life is very tough everywhere at the moment, however, geographic arbitrage still works well, and for many, who have to die at work basically, to be able to afford cost of living living in western world, maybe it is time to reassess and say we can reasonably live well in another place, Justin with his embrace of other cultures, languages and people is a perfect example of that. Provided, you are respectful of course…I am planning to visit Riga next year around summer months, (not yet ready to retire) if you are in Riga would love to catch up.
Prices are low for foreigners. In Latvia there are not so big salaries. And btw it is not actually true prices in the market are lower than in the stores.
Justin my man, I love your theme music now...! Another fine video my friend.... Greg
Hello mate, Thank you so much for your kind comments, i really appreciate it!👍👌
I love your videos, I am very happy to see, I hope you have a lot of success, that you continue to grow in everything you propose ❤
The prices of vegetables and greens will drop significantly in few months... You could make a comparison in July or so.
Love this video so informative
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm really glad to hear that you found the video informative. It's always my goal to provide valuable and helpful content to my viewers. If you have any specific topics or questions you'd like me to cover in future videos, feel free to let me know. Thanks again for your support!
Latvians are very nice people
Agreed… thanks for watching my friend! 👍👌
I am not
They’re not, though, are they, let’s be honest
Nice to see you are back in Latvia. Take care. Göran living in Dobele
Hey, thanks for the video, it was very helpful. I am considering moving to Ringa by end of year..
So glad it was helpful! 👍😃
Great video!🤌
Glad you enjoyed it!! 😃👍 Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Wonderful video JK
Thank you!👍👌
Grate video we wahced with plesure
Thank you ❤❤❤❤ best Riga videos that we have seen
Hello Zach,
So happy you enjoy the content and thank you so much for the kind words and support👍
❤
Going to Jelgava this summer but will make a stop in Riga also 👍
Hello Justin, thank you very much for puting in the time and energy to make this extremely useful video for all who are planing to visit Latvia--Riga. Also learned a great technique for filming in the store by placing the camera in the shopping cart and then pretending to speak into your mobile while you mention the prices. Amazing way to beat the system.
I know you did not like the Flat you visited in the center, how about showing few flats away from the center with better prices.
Hey, another idea for you, I was wondering how do you travel between all these countries, Latvia, Georgia Poland etc. Make a video about the airlines you use and how do you buy airline tickets and prices etc.
Super video my friend👍🏻 I’m looking to rent an Airbnb in Riga for three weeks so it’s been a big help to know where to go to get groceries 👍🏻✌🏻🤙🏻
Glad it was helpful! 👍🙂
hey buddy you are doing a great job for the people like me who are going to study there i would really love to meet you in the month of September
Hi Lalit,
I am happy you found the content useful.
Always a pleasure to meet the people who support my work, so if you like go to my website www.justineasterneurope.com and stay in touch, which is easier than on youtube comments.
All the best and thank you for watching
I lived in Riga for a few months this year and what he is saying is 100% true. And definitely try out the market it’s amazing!
Thanks for sharing, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃 I hope you are enjoying Riga as much as i am!!
thx justin stay safe 😃
Thank you!👍👌
You are an interesting guy man would be cool to know more about you to inform new subscribers like me, how you end up in UK and speak russian etc
I'm from Finland and our prices are really high on basically everything. Latvia not even close.
Can't wait to visit Riga this summer again!
Hello.mate,
Yes Finland is super expensive so Latvia will seem very cheap to you.
I think you will have an amazing time👍👌
One year I visited, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland at the end of October when prices are really low during the off-season. I stayed in basic hotel rooms that included breakfast, but the hotel in Helsinki was more than twice the price of Riga and Tallinn.
LOL. I live in Helsinki and the food prices here are just the same or even CHEAPER in many cases than what is shown here.
The only thing here that is more expensive is alcohol and rental prices which are around 3-4 times higher than in Riga.
Finland WAS more expensive than Latvia 15-20 years ago, but the world has changed and the old doesn't exist anymore.
@@maga-hat709 I would have to disagree. Clothes and stuff like that are pretty much the same prize in Finland and Latvia but look at food or drinks. For example, I bought Coca cola there. In Finland one 0.5l bottle costs around 2.45 euros when in Latvia its like around 1.50 euros. Same goes with many many or most other things.
Good for you if you really can buy food even cheaper than in Latvia.
@@riproar11 Do you even know how economy works? You realize that people in Latvia earn 2-3x less than in Finland yet ur here sitting and comparing Finland with Latvia, lmao. Why did you stop on Finland, could have compared Norway with Zimbabwe and say that prices in Zimbabwe are very affordable and that everyone are wealthy.
Hi Justin! Nice to see you in Latvia. When will you visit Kuldiga?
Hi my friend, what a great idea - i will definitely visit Kuldīga soon, stay tuned!! 😃👍 thank you so much for watching and commenting !!
You should come to Kaunas, Lithuania next! Great city.
You're doing great 🎉
Thank you so much!! 😃👍
Going tomorrow. Love your tips. Shame youre not there as id buy you a drink 😂
Hello mate,
Actually I am in Riga.
Message me on Instagram or Telegram
This video was funny to watch because I visited the same food market on my vacation
Thanks for sharing, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃
Just came across your channel. I'd love to visit Latvia.
Please do! You won't regret it!! 👍😃
You should go to Ventspils, I think it is the best town in Latvia. You got nice beach, a river, a lake all in one small town
Hey, Justin, I'm in Riga, mate, where is good to go out during the week and weekends and what times? thanks
Quite expensive in the market, avocados and strawberries are cheaper in the UK
Imlife us fetting pricey everyday brother! I was shock by prices back in italy...but at least the quality is superior! Love me some ossobuco with peas and rice..😊
i hope to go to riga i think wizzair open soon flights from tel aviv to riga :)
Is the trout and salom in the market wild caught and not farmed? The supermarket fish was significantly cheaper?
Beautiful market place
In Riga buses and trains are also available for transportation. Also there are bikes etc.
I love the market in Riga, but the market in Liepaja is even better. It is also divided in an indoor and outdoor part, with amazing products from the Courland region of the country. I am sure you have been there as you have lived in Latvia for a while now.
of course everything is better in THE COURLAND :D
i am from japan planning to stay at apartment for one week . it is very interesting. Most are very cheaper than japan
Salut Justin ! J’ai compris que tu parlais français alors parlons français 😅
Je pars vivre à Riga à la fin de l’année, alors merci pour tes vidéos ! Ça me permet de bien me préparer. Aussi, as-tu fait une vidéo qui parle un peu de ce que tu fais en général, ton background etc. Ce serait intéressant de savoir ce qui t’amène à voyager autant ! Et à parler autant de langue. Bye bye
Is it most common with gas stoves in the kitchen? Where does the electricity come from, gas plants or imported?
I agree, Laura are the best potatoes. I live in Tukums and we have a small farmers market but it's all locally grown and tastes amazing.
Hi Santa... What a great idea to make a film about the tukums farmers market!!! Do you mean the one opposite the polyclinic?
@@J.E.E haha if you wanna make a youtube short, then yeah - go for it! It's a tiny farmers market compared to the one in Riga. (It's open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 7AM-2PM, and it's near Polyclinic, yes!) But Tukums is a beautiful city nevertheless. You should have come 3 weeks ago when it was the Rose Festival in Tukums, we were celebrating 735 years! Rose Festival happens every other year, so you should definitely come in July 2025! There is so much to see and do during that time.
yes tukums is great, also durbes palace there is very nice with its surrondings. Tukums is a very historic place because a lot of preserved old houses there give off a historic vibe, great architecture. riga also has kalnciems weekend market, perhaps similar in size to the one in tukums and its great@@SantaSmiles
Very very very good Market JK
Agreed… thanks for watching my friend! 👍👌
Seems like all the fruits and vegetables are in good terms 😍😍
I agree the fruit and vegetables in Latvia are of amazing quality👍
I was surprised to see the prices at the supermarket. They are almost as high as where I live in United States America! They're only maybe around 15 % more reasonable than America. I thought food would be much more reasonable than the United States but I guess not . The apartments are way more reasonable than America 70% cheeper but not much savings on the food .
Hi and thank you for your comment.
Unfortunately, prices across Eastern Europe have gone up dramatically and the difference is narrowing every time I travel.
Even real estate prices have gone up substantially but the prices in the US have always been astronomical therefore the difference still seems quite substantial.
All the best my friends 👍
@@J.E.E they were almost half the price 3 years ago vs what they are today,some things even triple, living in latvia has gone up a lot in last few years, btw sry for my broken english
them cucucumbers expensive cause it was off season for cucumbers. they are grown in green houses in offseason thats why they are expensive. in summer when its season she already said they cost like 50 cents per kilo
Thank you very much for your input! 👍😃
Latvia isn’t cheap that’s for sure
Agreed… thanks for watching my friend! 👍👌
Thank You, Justin. By the way, how is Your Latvian? Learning?
My pleasure mate!!?
Stay tuned for Latvia 👍👌
Quiet informative for someone like me who's preparing to move to Latvia ( If visa approved 😅 )
Glad it was helpful! 😃👍 Thank you so much for watching!!
Same here!!
In the Netherlands itself the prices for our cheese skyrocketed... It's like 13 to 18-, a kilo. It's crazy just with taxes I suppose.
I would not say that products in Latvia are cheap. If you compare wages in Europe and Latvia.
you have to remember that prices in supermarkets in western europe also got 20-50% more expensive. for example I live in the Netherlands. Single room rent of 10m2 has gone op from 300 euros a month to 800.
most of the product are priced in European market. if you can sell it for more in WEurope farmers will sell it there. so the prices are not that different even if salaries are 2.5 - 3 times higher in WEurope. also the market is small so they have to add premium, you will have higher prices in Baltics compared to Poland even if income is similar
Go see prices renting flat in uk lot more expensive then there ur talking hundreds pounds thats in outskirts of uk cities
800 euros is the avg salary
I live in Thailand on a diet that consists of at least 75% fresh fruit, which is dead cheap here and of the finest quality in the world. In fact, I grow far more papayas and mangoes on my own property than I can possibly eat, so I end up giving a lot of them away. Bottom-line, I hope to visit Latvia someday but I'll stick with being an expat here in Thailand.
Love Latvia all of it
When I lived in Latvia they wanted me to work for ~ 400 EUR per month (IT job at accenture). I couldnt afford to live in Riga on such low salary.
What century you was work? Maybe you ar zero in IT?
P.S.
IT is one of best payed job, if you have adequate skill your salary will be 2000-3000 after tax.
I'm jealous. I wish I was still there!
😆👍
Just found youre channel today, very good content, I hope you reach Mr. Bold numbers
Hello mate.
I'm so happy you're enjoying the content and thank you for the support and kind words👍👌
€5 for a kilo of tomatoes? Are you f*cking kidding me? That's even more than here in Northern Norway, where we get everything transported from the Netherlands and Belgium!
🤣😜🫣
that’s the only expensive thing calm down
Justin, big fan. I have a feeling your not enjoying the content creation. Going around supermarkets on your mobile doesn't seem like fun, just seems like your filling a small Internet niche. I loved your videos where you had fun, went on an adventure, spoke to locals, went for a night out, flirted with the hotties. Remember in your own words, enjoy your journey.
Try Spilva brand beans in sauces, its different lvl. Nothing like English beans.
Sounds good, i will make sure to try them! Thank you for watching and commenting!! 😃👍
Looks like a nice city
It really is!! 😃👍 Thank you so much for watching and commenting my friend!
what are the good hotels in riga?
have a tour around daugavpils because of its history and for it being the second largest city in latvia :)
daugavpils has a well preserved historical center around the theater and the 4 church area. however tragic history like elsewhere in latvia becaause of the war. there were 40 or more synagogues in daugavpils before the holocaust but now only a few of those remain, i think they are open as museums now or still may be a functionin synagogue
How expensive are the bars and restaurants for tourists. That could be a good video
Noted and will incorporate it into a video👍
bars and restaurants are cheaper than Uk, thats for sure
Hello everyone. I'm ready to start my university in Riga. But I don't know the country fully. Can someone tell me about it please.... thanks in advance.
How do you learn languages Justin?
Hi Hassayaki,
I am very passionate about languages and learning them!!!
Stay tuned for a complete reveal of how I do it👍
Heh, when you said, Valmiermuiža is your fav latvian beer, you should come to valmiera, and go to their brewery tour. You will be able to taste the best beer in your life, straight from the brewing tank, or filtering machine, before it has been ruined by oxygen gettin to it. :) Before i became a welder, worked there for a while. Tours arent that expensive, and you get to test beer out straight from brewing tanks.
3:36 Great that you can respond in Russian! Bravo!
4:18 Justin, you behave like local! Welcome!
Very informative.🎉 Now, can a retired American get residency of Latvia? Will Latvia tax my American retirement income that is taxed by US?
they will not tax your American income
🙏
Thanks for watching my friend! 👍👌
Tbilisi Georgia looks different than I remember.
👍😃
❤
😃👍
man you shouldve went to mc2, sky, stockmann...
It surprise me as in lLatvia you can not find cheese under 20€ kg russian holland or any other
It’s not as cheap as it is in Bulgaria
👍😃
are they?@@Reinciks
Ахахахахах с тётей забавно получилось))
Problem of Latvia is low wages.
Nice thought about speaking on phone while filming so angry guards won't come at you.
Thank you!👍👌
Cucumber perfect size for you? 😂🎉
Latvia is in Northern Europe. Welcome.
north east
riga was way cheaper than finland when i visited last summer
Thank you so much for you feedback, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃
Latvia price wise is up there with countries like Belgium, France and others but unfortunately average salary is way below the average of the countries mentioned before. Beautiful country but not for the low to mid class earning people.
Wow fruit is like double the cost of America
And triple in Australia
Same like uk just in Latvia minimum wage is 600-800 🤣 in Latvia you have to survive if u want to live there
Minimum wage. :D Nobody is earning minimum wage in Riga.
@@adishoogendorp4194 idiot everyone who works in shops
@@adishoogendorp4194 not true, people do earn minimum wage in Riga too
@@yarimster Not true. People do not earn minimum wage in Riga.
@@adishoogendorp4194 it is true, I have been on a min wage in Riga, so plz check before putting such statements
these prices are reassonable .
yes.
if you make 2000 euros a month or more.
Thanks for sharing, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃
It's expensive! Same as UK!
Thank you so much for your input!! 👍😃
prices bigger than in UK... geezuus
Thanks for sharing, i really appreciate it!! 👍😃