Side by side
| Lithuania | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's tuition (indicative) | ₹2.7–5.3 lakh (€2,500–5,000) | business €2,000–6,000, CS €1,800–3,800 |
| Proof of funds | ₹66,200 (€622.50) a month plus a return-journey sum: ₹9.3 lakh (€8,715) for a year (2027) | €780 a month |
| Permit state fee | €110 + €110 VFS | €160 (30 days), €280 (10 working days), €560 (5 working days) |
| Work during term | 20 h/week in years 1–2 of a bachelor's, then 40 | 20 h/week for bachelor's |
| Average gross wage | ₹2.8 lakh (€2,628) (Q2 2026) | €1,886 (Q2 2026) |
| Medicine in English | LSMU, Vilnius University | Rīga Stradiņš University |
Latvian tuition figures come from EU and portal summaries that do not separate EU from non-EU fees; check the programme page before you plan.
What the numbers mean
The wage gap is the biggest difference: the average Lithuanian salary is about 40% higher than the Latvian one, which matters for part-time pay and for your first job. Latvia lets you pay more for a faster permit decision, which can help a late applicant. For everything else, from climate to cost of food, the two countries are close.
Our view
If you plan to stay and work after graduation, Lithuania's higher wages and published 12-month job-search permit make it the stronger choice. If a specific programme in Riga fits you better, Latvia is a reasonable alternative.