Money in Latvia

Latvia Uses the Euro — Riga Is the Priciest Baltic Capital

Latvia adopted the Euro (EUR) on 1 January 2014, replacing the Latvian Lats. Visitors from outside the Eurozone need to exchange their home currency — GBP and USD exchange well at Riga's currency offices, most concentrated around the Old Town and the central station, and CHF is exchangeable in the city centre. The best rates are at licensed currency exchange offices rather than hotel desks; airport rates at Riga International are acceptable for small amounts on arrival. Among the three Baltic capitals, Riga is consistently the most expensive, though still meaningfully cheaper than Helsinki or Stockholm.

ATMs Widely Available — Swedbank and SEB Are the Most Reliable

ATMs are plentiful throughout Latvia. Swedbank, SEB, Citadele and Luminor/DNB machines reliably accept international Visa, Mastercard and Maestro cards. Riga has hundreds of ATMs, and regional towns like Jūrmala, Sigulda, Cēsis and Daugavpils are well covered. Rural areas and smaller nature-reserve villages have fewer ATMs, though coverage is generally adequate for tourists. Foreign cards carry a per-transaction fee on top of your own bank's charges — check both before relying on frequent small withdrawals. Contactless and chip-and-PIN withdrawals both work.

Latvia Is Highly Cashless — Contactless Payments Standard Everywhere

Latvia has one of the highest contactless payment adoption rates in the EU. In Riga, Apple Pay and Google Pay work at virtually every NFC-enabled terminal — restaurants, cafés, shops, supermarkets, petrol stations and public transport (Rīgas Satiksme buses and trams use tap-to-pay). Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere in Riga and in tourist-facing businesses throughout the country. A few exceptions remain cash-preferring: some traditional market stalls at Riga Central Market, small roadside kiosks, and rural guesthouses.

Affordable by Western European Standards

Riga is genuinely affordable relative to western Europe — coffee, a light lunch and rye bread from Riga Central Market all sit well below what the same would cost in Paris, London or Munich, and Rīgas Satiksme's flat per-trip fare (with a free transfer window on the transit card) keeps public transport cheap. Accommodation spans a wide range, from budget guesthouses to luxury Old Town hotels, and dining likewise runs from cheap market food to full mid-range restaurant meals. Check current rates directly rather than budgeting from an older figure, since prices shift over time.