In short
- Heating bill = the building's heat use × your floor area × the heat tariff.
- The biggest difference comes from the building, not the flat: an insulated building uses far less heat.
- Ask the building manager for last season's heating bills for that exact flat.
- m²cena shows an estimated monthly and seasonal heating cost for every building.
What your heating bill is made of
In a block of flats the whole building usually buys heat together, and the building manager (apsaimniekotājs) splits it between the flats. Three things end up on your bill:
- The building's consumption. How much heat the building uses per square metre. Walls, windows, the roof and whether the building is insulated decide this.
- Your floor area. Most buildings split heating by heated floor area, some by heat cost allocators or meters.
- The heat tariff. The price per megawatt-hour, approved by the regulator. It differs between towns and changes several times a year.
The bill usually also includes heating hot water and its circulation. These are separate from space heating, and in summer they are all that is left.
How to estimate the heating cost for a flat
The formula is simple: consumption kWh/m² × floor area m² × tariff €/MWh ÷ 1000. Add VAT to the result, because tariffs are published without it.
A worked example with made-up numbers: the building uses 120 kWh/m² over the season, the flat is 50 m², the tariff is 90 €/MWh. Then 120 × 50 = 6,000 kWh, or 6 MWh, and 6 × 90 = 540 € for the season before VAT. If the heating season lasts seven months, that is about 77 € a month, more in the coldest months.
If the same building were insulated and used half the heat, the bill would also be roughly half. That is why two similar flats on neighbouring streets can cost very different amounts to heat.
Where to find the heating cost for a specific building
Real bills are the best source. Before buying, ask the seller or the building manager for last season's heating bills, ideally for December, January and February.
- Bills for at least three winter months
- The building's total heat use for the season, if the manager can share it
- Whether the building is insulated, and when
- Whether the building has an energy certificate and which class
- Whether the flat has heat cost allocators or a heat meter
What makes heating more or less expensive
- Building series and condition. Uninsulated Soviet-era series buildings usually use the most.
- Renovation. After insulation, consumption often drops a lot.
- Town and heat supplier. Tariffs differ between towns, see heat tariffs.
- Where the flat sits. Corner flats and the top floor tend to be colder and need more heat.
- How harsh the winter is. A cold winter raises the bill even if the tariff stays the same.
What to do with this
Put heating into your monthly budget together with the mortgage payment and other monthly costs. If the building is uninsulated and heating is expensive, use it when you negotiate the price. If the building plans a renovation, ask how much each owner will pay and for how long.
Common questions
How much does heating cost for a 2-room flat in Riga?
It depends on the building's consumption and the tariff. Work it out as consumption kWh/m² × area × tariff. m²cena shows an estimate for every building.
Why do I pay for heat in summer too?
In summer you pay for heating hot water and its circulation. Space heating charges start with the heating season.
Is VAT included in the heating charge?
Yes. Tariffs are published without VAT, and it is added on the bill.
How can I find out a building's heat consumption?
Ask the building manager for last season's figures, or look at the building's energy certificate if it has one.
Sources
- Siltumenerģijas tarifi · Sabiedrisko pakalpojumu regulēšanas komisija (SPRK)
- No augusta pieaugs apkures tarifs Cēsīs, Siguldā, Kuldīgā un citviet · LSM, 31.07.2026
This article is for information only and is not legal, financial or tax advice. It may contain mistakes or be out of date, so check it against official sources or with a specialist before you decide. m²cena accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information in this article.