Software development in Riga
Riga's programming wages sit below both Baltic neighbours while the city holds the region's largest working-age population. Latvia was among the first countries in the world to roll out 5G, with continuous coverage across urban areas and major land transport routes.
€3,280
computer programming and consulting, gross monthly
CSB LV · Q3 2025
~60,000
students in Riga, 80% of Latvia's total
Ministry of Education and Science · 2025
377,400
working-age residents
CSB LV · 2025
Why this sector, here
The cost differential is the argument, and it is checkable. Riga's computer programming and consulting average was €3,280 gross in Q3 2025. Estonia's national ICT average was €3,651 for 2025 - and since Tallinn sits above the Estonian average, the true Tallinn figure is higher. In Lithuania, the Employment Service reports IT sector earnings of €4,259 for the first half of 2025, with Vilnius averaging around €4,700 gross. On these figures Riga is roughly 10% below Estonia's national ICT wage and roughly 30% below Vilnius.
We flag the asymmetry: the Latvian figure is a city-level statistical activity classification, the Lithuanian one is a sector estimate. They are indicative, not like-for-like. The direction is not in doubt; the exact gap is.
NOT PUBLISHED
The numbers
| Activity | € per month, gross |
|---|---|
| Computer programming and consulting | 3,280 |
| Telecommunications | 2,809 |
| Computer, electronic and optical manufacturing | 2,737 |
| Scientific research | 2,706 |
| All activities, Riga | 2,028 |
CSB LV · Q3 2025
The IT sector accounts for 631 foreign investors in Riga, 5% of the total investor count.
Lursoft2025
Riga Technical University's Ķīpsala campus alone sees 12,000 students and employees daily, and the Knowledge Mile initiative between Riga City Council, the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University and Riga Stradiņš University plans a 4-5 km² campus area for 30,000-40,000 students - potentially the largest in the Baltics.
Riga Economic Profile 20262025
Who is already here
Mikrotīkls - valued at €1,184.2 million, the most valuable private non-bank company in Latvia
Prudentia / Nasdaq Riga2025
Latvijas mobilais telefons - €610.8 million · Tele2 - €475.7 million · Bite Latvija - €399.6 million
Tieto · VISMA · C.T.CO · Accenture
Testing ground
Riga Smart City offers Testbeds in Riga for technologies at TRL 6 and above, with three pilot areas - the VEF neighbourhood, the University of Latvia Academic Centre in Torņakalns and the Riga Technical University campus in Ķīpsala. More than 50 pilot projects had launched by 2025. Geo Riga, the city's open geospatial data portal, received an Esri award in 2025.
What applies to you
Corporate income tax deferred until profit distribution · Green Corridor fast-tracking with a single named curator · Relocation co-financing for highly qualified specialists · Up to 90% real estate tax reduction on qualifying projects
What we don't publish
Developer headcount for Riga. ICT graduates per year by discipline. Salary by seniority - junior, mid, senior - which is what you actually need to model a team. None of these exist in a citable public source for Riga. Ask the three largest operators directly.
NOT PUBLISHED
Next step
Ilze Bērziņa
Global business services, financial services, ICT
Tell us the function, the target headcount and the timeline. We reply within one business day and send the relevant cost and talent data within three working days. No charge at any stage.
Placeholder contact for demonstration purposes.
Sources
Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia · Statistics Estonia · Lithuanian Employment Service via Work in Lithuania · Lursoft · Prudentia and Nasdaq Riga · Riga Economic Profile 2026
Last checked: 17 August 2026