Essentials
- Population
- 67,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available via Tet)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR), 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- LMT, Tele2, Bite (Approx. €10-€15 for unlimited data)
- Banking for Expats
- Swedbank, SEB, Revolut, Wise
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, local site ss.com
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (Avg. €600-€900/month), Roze Hotel Apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Liva (€20/night), Boutique Hotel Roze (off-season deals)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historic Center (Vecmāja) or Seaside Park (Jūrmalas parks)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- City Center (Graudu iela area) for proximity to cafes and services
- City
- Liepāja, Kurzeme, Latvia
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Coworking Liepāja (Kungu iela 2, approx. €100/month or €10 daily)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Boulangerie (Kuršu iela 2) - great Wi-Fi and pastries
- Networking Events
- TechChill side events and LIAA Liepāja Business Incubator meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Liepāja Travel Facebook Group; seasonal events at Julianna’s Courtyard
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Standard city ride approx. €4-€7)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bolt Scooters (seasonal), BlueShockBike rentals
- Best Beach Nearby
- Liepāja Beach (Blue Flag status, white quartz sand)
- Top Regional Airline
- airBaltic (seasonal flights from Liepāja Airport LPX)
- Top International Airline
- airBaltic, Ryanair, Lufthansa (via Riga RIX, 3 hours away)
- Highway Access
- A9 highway connecting to Riga (210km)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Liepāja Railway & Bus Station (Rīgas iela 71)
- Public Transport Passes
- Single ticket €0.70-€1.00; Monthly pass approx. €24.00
- Regional Travel
- Lux Express or Nordeka buses to Riga and Klaipėda (Lithuania)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Liepāja Regional Hospital (Slimnīcas iela 25)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Saules nams (Wellness/Yoga), LOC Baseins (Spa & Swimming)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Olympic Center Liepāja (LOC) - €45/month for full access
- Laundry Services
- Lindo (Shopping center 'Ostmala', Kārļa Zāles laukums 8)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Bolt Food, Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Liepājas menciņš (Smoked cod, potatoes, and onions in a pot)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tērbata (Pelikānu iela 2) - excellent plant-based bowls
- Best Dessert Spots
- Darbnīca (Lielā iela 8) - famous for cheesecakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pētertirgus (Peter's Market) for fresh local produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- 220.lv, 1a.lv, Amazon.de (delivery via Omniva)
- Grocery Delivery
- Barbora (Maxima), Rimi Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Julianna’s Courtyard (Julianas Pagalms) - Zivju iela
- Local Brewery
- Mūrbūdu Sidrs (Cider) and Madonas Alus outlets
- Wine Bars
- Vīna studija (Lielā iela 11)
- Street Food Stalls
- Hot Dog spots near Rožu laukums (Rose Square)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bel Cibo (Italian - Professional wood-fired pizza)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Great Amber Concert Hall (Lielais dzintars)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Liepāja Museum (Kūrmājas prospekts 16)
- Historical Sites
- Karosta Prison (only military prison in Europe open to tourists)
- Religious Sites
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Naval Cathedral (Karosta)
- Annual Events
- Summer Sound (Beach music festival in July)
- Cultural Districts
- Karosta (Former secret Soviet military town district)
- Theater Venues
- Liepāja Theatre (Teātra iela 4) - oldest professional theater in Latvia
- Local Markets
- Pētertirgus (Kuršu iela 5/7)
- Music Scene
- Fontaine Palace (Live rock and alternative music)
- Street Art
- Wall murals including 'The Ghost' near the beach
- Cooking Classes
- Masterclasses at the Liepāja Olympic Center cooking studio
- Art Galleries
- Galerija Romas dārzs
- Historic Buildings
- Holy Trinity Cathedral (home to one of the world's largest mechanical organs)
- Local Heritage
- Liepāja is known as the 'City where the wind is born'
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bernāti Nature Park (15km south of city)
- National Parks Nearby
- Slītere National Park (2-hour drive north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 8km Seaside Park path and Lake Liepāja boardwalk
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Northern Forts (Ziemeļu forti) at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Birdwatching tower at Lake Liepāja (Zirgu sala)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated picnic areas in Bernāti or Karosta beach
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Omniva, DPD, Latvijas Pasts (Self-service terminals across city)
- Tech Repair Services
- RD Electronics repair centre (TC Ostmala)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Liepāja Olympic Center (LOC)
- Language Classes
- Liepāja University (Latvian for foreigners)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Liepāja Central Scientific Library (Zivju iela 7)
- Community Centers
- Latvian Society House (Rožu laukums 5/6)
- Gaming Lounges
- Datoru pasaule (local gaming centers)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Olympic Casino (Liva Hotel)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,300 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €45,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €850 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €29,750)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €60,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €750 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €37,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = €77,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €700 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = €49,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (applied only to distributed profits)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Generally 0% (if corporate tax was paid on profits)
- Tax System
- Residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 31% (on income over €78,100)
- VAT
- 21%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned anti-avoidance rules
- Property Tax
- 0.2% - 1.5% of cadastral value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.5% of purchase value (Stamp Duty)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa available for remote workers of OECD employers/clients