Latvia is one of Eastern Europe’s less-explored countries, yet it has a lot to offer with its pristine countryside and cobblestone towns and cities. It was part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and has been a member of the European Union (EU) since 2004. Latvia is located on the Baltic coast and is bordered by Russia to the east, Estonia to the north, and Belarus and Lithuania to the south. Latvian and Russian are the main languages of Latvia, but English is spoken widely within the cities. Like Estonia to the north, it has a small Russian population, which is a remnant of the Soviet Union. The country is known for its untainted green countryside and large areas of forest. The weather here can get cold with winter lows in the 30s, but the summers are pleasant with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The country isn’t very green for no reason though; it rains quite a lot! Living costs in Latvia are very low and are estimated at €350 per month, excluding fees.