Cost of living in Lithuania in 2026
A single person in Vilnius needs roughly $1,500-1,900 a month including rent. Kaunas is a quarter cheaper on rent, and a monthly pass there costs $31 against $43 in Vilnius.
| Key facts | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Single person's budget with rent in Vilnius | $1,500-1,900 a month |
| Couple's budget | $2,100-2,700 a month |
| Family with a child | from $3,100 a month |
| One-bedroom flat in central Vilnius | $700-950 |
| Average net salary, Q2 2026 | $1,800 (€1,595) |
| Minimum wage 2026 | $1,300 (€1,153) gross |
Data checked: 07.10.2026
Lithuania is a eurozone country with moderate prices: living here is noticeably cheaper than in Germany or Scandinavia, but more expensive than five years ago. Wages have grown fast in recent years, reaching an average of about $1,800 (€1,595) after tax in the second quarter of 2026, and rent, cafés and services have followed them up.
Housing is the biggest expense. Rent is quoted in euros, leases usually run for a year and landlords ask for a deposit of one or two months. From November to March heating is added to the budget, and bills in older buildings rise noticeably compared with summer.
Who Lithuania suits on budget: specialists with a job at a local company, remote workers earning above the national average, entrepreneurs and families who value safe cities, a calm pace and a short trip to any EU country.
Amounts below are in US dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 6 October 2026, about $1.13 per euro. Salaries and tax thresholds are left in euros, as the state publishes them.
We will calculate online the full cost for your task.
Prices in 2026: rent, groceries, transport
| Monthly item | Vilnius | Kaunas |
|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in the centre | $700-950 | $550-700 |
| One-bedroom flat in a cheaper district | $500-650 | $420-520 |
| Two-bedroom flat in the centre | $1,000-1,400 | $800-1,050 |
| Utilities | $130-230 | $120-210 |
| Internet and mobile | $25-40 | $25-40 |
| Groceries per person | $320-440 | $300-420 |
| Public transport | ~$43 for 30 days | ~$31 for 30 days |
| Lunch in an inexpensive café | $11-16 | $10-15 |
| Private doctor visit | $45-70 | $40-65 |
| International school, per year | $9,000-17,000 | $7,500-12,000 |
Rents are for furnished flats in good condition on a long lease. In the Old Town, Užupis and Žvėrynas rents are at the top of the range, in Pašilaičiai, Fabijoniškės, Justiniškės and other residential districts they are lower.
In Lithuania a one-bedroom flat is listed as a two-room flat: listings count all rooms, including the living room. Winter utility bills depend on heating: they are lower in insulated buildings and higher in old panel blocks.
Monthly budget: single, couple, family with a child
| Household | Per month |
|---|---|
| Single person | $1,500-1,900 |
| Couple | $2,100-2,700 |
| Family with a child | from $3,100 |
The single person's budget assumes a one-bedroom flat in Vilnius, utilities, groceries, phone and internet, a monthly pass and moderate spending on cafés. For a family the total depends on the district, nursery or school and insurance, so we calculate the exact figure in the chat.
In Lithuania money is lost at the start: deposit, winter and address
A move to Lithuania usually gets expensive in the first month. Landlords ask for a deposit of one or two months, and a lease that does not allow you to register the address will not do for a residence permit or the declaration of residence. The second mistake is budgeting on summer bills: from November to March heating noticeably raises utility costs. Murblz specialists help choose a city and district for your budget, check the lease, prepare residence permit documents based on work, business or family and register a company.
The cost of support depends on the residence grounds and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
What to pay in the first month
- A deposit of one or two months' rent, with a one-year lease.
- A lease that lets you register the address: without it you cannot apply for a residence permit or declare your place of residence.
- Health insurance for the residence permit if you do not work under a Lithuanian employment contract.
- A Lithuanian phone number and bank account: the bank's source-of-funds check can take several weeks.
- A 30-day pass: $45 (€38) in Vilnius, and $35 (€27) in Kaunas.
For the first three months a single person in Vilnius needs from $5,800 including rent, deposit, documents and living costs.
Where to live: comparing cities
Vilnius is the capital and the main job market: banks, fintech, information technology companies, international schools and all government offices. The most expensive districts are the Old Town, Užupis, Žvėrynas and the business district of Šnipiškės on the right bank; cheaper are Pašilaičiai, Fabijoniškės and Justiniškės, with easy trolleybus links to the centre.
Kaunas is the second city, about an hour by train from Vilnius. A one-bedroom flat in the centre costs $550-700, outside the centre $420-520, and a single person manages on $1,200-1,600 a month including rent. It has strong universities and manufacturing companies, but fewer jobs for foreigners and fewer international schools.
Klaipėda on the coast is the third city and the country's main port, next to the Curonian Spit and the sea. There is less work for foreigners than in the capital, but you do not need to travel for a summer holiday. For districts in the capital, see the Vilnius guide.
Districts and prices in detail: Vilnius.
Healthcare and insurance
Employees and entrepreneurs in Lithuania are covered by the compulsory health contribution of 6.98%, which is part of the 19.5% deducted from salaries. The insured person is registered with a clinic, and family doctor visits and emergency care are free.
Permanent residents who do not work pay the contribution themselves: about $95 (€81) a month in 2026. A foreigner with a temporary residence permit and no Lithuanian job needs private insurance. A private clinic visit without insurance costs $45-70.
Schools and nurseries
State schools are free, and most teach in Lithuanian. A private nursery in Vilnius costs $400-750 a month depending on the district and language.
International schools teaching in English operate in Vilnius and Kaunas: $9,000-17,000 a year in the capital and $7,500-12,000 in Kaunas.
Salaries and taxes
The average salary in the second quarter of 2026 was $3,000 (€2,628) gross and $1,800 (€1,595) net. The minimum wage from 1 January 2026 is $1,300 (€1,153) gross. Salaries in Vilnius are above the national average, and noticeably higher in information technology and finance.
From 2026 income tax is progressive: 20% on annual income up to $94,000 (€83,237), 25% up to $160,000 (€138,729) and 32% above that. Another 19.5% of salary goes to pension and health contributions. On a gross salary of $2,300 (€2,000) about $1,500 (€1,276) is left in hand.
More on the page taxes in Lithuania.
How to cut costs
- Rent in a residential district of Vilnius rather than the Old Town: a 30-day pass costs $43.
- Consider Kaunas: rent is about a quarter lower and the capital is about an hour away by train.
- Look for a flat in an insulated building: winter heating bills are lower there.
- Buy groceries at discount chains and markets rather than corner shops.
- Sign a one-year lease: month-to-month rent costs more.
The main saving is the city and district. A one-bedroom flat in central Kaunas costs $150-250 a month less than in central Vilnius, and the monthly pass is $12 cheaper.
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More on this country:
- Lithuania residence permit
- Taxes in Lithuania
- Vilnius: districts and prices
- Buying an apartment in Lithuania
- Company registration in Lithuania
All countries in one table: cost of living by country.
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