Latvian households spent an average of €619 per household member per month in 2025, with food and non-alcoholic beverages accounting for around a quarter of this spend, according to new data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB).
Food represented 24.4% of household consumption expenditure, equivalent to €151 per household member each month, while 16.2% of expenditure went on housing and utility bills, or €100 per household member per month. Transport was the third-largest expenditure category, accounting for 11.9% of spend, or €74.
Total household consumption expenditure increased by €196, or 46%, over the past six years, with the CSB noting that the increase reflected higher consumer prices, with spend (on a constant basis) rising by 7%.
Regional spend
On a regional basis, the capital, Riga, recorded the highest average monthly expenditure, at €781 per household member, compared with €657 in urban areas and €524 in rural areas.
The Riga region recorded €750 per household member, followed by Kurzeme at €546, Vidzeme at €519 and Zemgale at €511. Latgale had the lowest level at €446.
As the CSB‘s data showed, rural households allocated 27% of their consumption expenditure to food and non-alcoholic beverages, compared with the national average of 24.4%. They also devoted 14% to housing and 15% to transport. Urban households allocated larger shares to recreation, sport and culture, at 8.6%, and restaurants and accommodation services, at 7.2%.
Food and beverage
Regional differences were also recorded when it came to spend on food and beverage. Households in the Latgale region allocated almost 30% of their consumption expenditure to food and non-alcoholic beverages, equivalent to €133 per household member each month. In the Riga region, the category represented 21.4%, or €161, the CSB noted.
Households in Riga also spent a larger share on recreation, sport and culture and restaurants and accommodation services.
“This extensive survey conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) in 2025 provides an insight into household consumption expenditure,” commented Raimonds Lapiņš, director general of the CSB. “It shows how consumption patterns are changing, how expenditure differs between urban and rural areas, and how expenditure is distributed across different goods and services. We are grateful to every household that took part in the survey. The information provided supports informed policy decisions and helps assess developments in society.” Read more here.
