- Естония pays 20% more than Латвия (24 000 € vs 20 000 €/yr)
- Латвия has a lower cost of living index (34.2 vs 39.8)
- Латвия has lower minimum tax rates (Латвия: 20-31%, Естония: 20%)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Латвия | Естония | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | 20 000 €/yr | 24 000 €/yr |
| Minimum Wage | €4.27/hr | €4.86/hr |
| Income Tax Rate | 20-31% | 20% |
| Cost of Living Index | 34.2 | 39.8 |
Salary Difference
Which Country Is Better?
Higher Average Salary
Естония offers 20% higher average salaries (24 000 € vs 20 000 €/yr).
Lower Tax Rates
Латвия has lower starting tax rates, which can mean more take-home pay at lower income brackets.
Lower Cost of Living
Латвия has a cost of living index of 34.2 compared to 39.8, meaning everyday expenses are more affordable.
Salary by Sector: Латвия vs Естония
| Sector | Латвия | Естония | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology & IT | 26 000 € | 30 000 € | +15% |
| Finance & Banking | 24 000 € | 28 000 € | +17% |
| Healthcare | 16 000 € | 20 000 € | +25% |
| Engineering | 20 000 € | 24 000 € | +20% |
| Education | 14 000 € | 18 000 € | +29% |
| Manufacturing | 14 000 € | 18 000 € | +29% |
Average annual gross salary in EUR. Source: Eurostat SES 2022/2024, national statistics offices.
Which Country Pays More — By Job Category
Related Country Comparisons
Data Sources & Methodology
This salary comparison is compiled from multiple verified sources:
EU Labour Force Survey & Structure of Earnings Survey
50+ European job boards, 100K+ listings/month
User-submitted, validated against statistical models
Last updated: April 2026
Често задавани въпроси
Which country pays more, Латвия or Естония?
Естония pays 20% more on average. The mean gross salary is 24 000 €/yr in Естония compared to 20 000 €/yr in Латвия.
What is the minimum wage in Латвия vs Естония?
The minimum wage in Латвия is €4.27/hr and in Естония it is €4.86/hr. Note that some countries like Italy and Sweden have no statutory minimum wage — wages are set by collective agreements instead.
What are the tax rates in Латвия compared to Естония?
Income tax rates in Латвия range from 20-31% while in Естония they range from 20%. Effective tax rates depend on income level, deductions, and personal circumstances.
Is cost of living higher in Латвия or Естония?
Латвия has a cost of living index of 34.2 while Естония has 39.8. Латвия is more affordable for everyday expenses like rent, groceries, and transportation.
Is the salary data for Латвия and Естония reliable?
Yes. EuroSalary aggregates data from Eurostat, verified job postings from 50+ European job boards, and validated anonymous salary reports. Data is updated regularly and cross-referenced with official EU statistics for 2026.