Riga buys expensive smartphones twice as often as the regions
Data from a mobile operator shows that purchases over 1,000 euros make up twice as large a share of all smartphone purchases in Riga as in Latvia's regions, highlighting purchasing power gaps across the country. Differences are also visible within the capital itself, between neighborhood service centers and major shopping malls.
New data collected by mobile operator Tele2 reveals significant differences in smartphone buying habits between Riga and Latvia's regions.
In the regions, about 10% of all smartphone purchases exceed 1,000 euros, while in Riga the share of such premium-tier purchases is twice as high. Aivars Maļinovskis, head of the company's retail department, says these figures reflect Latvia's economic situation and the gap in purchasing power between the capital and other cities and regions.
Gaps visible within Riga too
According to Maļinovskis, the disparity in purchasing power is not limited to the divide between Riga and the regions — it also appears within the capital itself. At service centers located in Riga's residential neighborhoods, the average value of smartphone purchases is roughly half that seen at large shopping centers such as Spice, Akropole, and Riga Plaza.
Cheaper devices dominate in the regions
The data shows that consumers in the regions most often choose smartphones priced under 250 euros, which account for 40% to 45% of all purchases there. In Riga, devices in this same price bracket make up less than 30% of purchases, pointing to differing consumption priorities and available financial resources between the capital and the rest of Latvia.
