Cost of Living in Lithuania

To cover basic living expenses in Lithuania’s major cities, a foreigner generally needs to earn at least €1,500 per month. However, this level of income might require the expat to save on housing, groceries, leisure, and entertainment. A salary of €2,500–3,000 is typically sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle. It is also possible to live on the minimum wage of €1,153, for example by sharing accommodation with roommates.

In this article, we explain what expenses foreigners can expect and how much income is required to live comfortably inLithuania.

The biggest financial burden for migrants in Lithuania is usually rent and utility payments. Combined, these expenses can exceed €1,000 per month. Grocery costs come next at around €200–300, while a monthly public transport pass costs up to €38.

Below are average monthly expenses. Actual costs may vary depending on the city, housing type, lifestyle, and personal financial situation.

If necessary, it is possible to reduce expenses in Lithuania on housing, food, entertainment, and even transport. For example, many people use bicycles because the country has a well-developed network of bike lanes, making cycling a safe and affordable way to get around. To save money on clothing, locals often recommend shopping online through international platforms such as ASOS.

Rental prices in Lithuania depend on the city, type of housing, and location. The most expensive apartments are in the capital, Vilnius, where renting a one-bedroom apartment usually costs between €350 and €750 per month. Prices are lower in Kaunas and Klaipėda. The most affordable option is typically an apartment in a newer building located farther from the city center, where heating costs are also usually lower.

The table below shows the approximate monthly rent range for furnished apartments in Lithuanian cities, excluding utilities. The lower end reflects smaller apartments in residential districts.

Based on data from aruodas.lt.

To reduce housing costs, many foreign specialists and students choose coliving spaces. In practice, this is a modern dormitory-style format where residents have private studio rooms with small kitchens. Coliving spaces usually also include shared areas, gyms, and laundry facilities. Contracts are flexible and can often be terminated without penalties, and registering an address is usually simpler. Prices for coliving in Vilnius start from around €440 per month, often including utilities.

Utility costs in Lithuania depend on the energy efficiency class of the building and the size of the apartment. Utilities are almost never included in the rent. The largest expense is heating, which usually costs between €50 and €200 per month. In modern buildings, heating can often be regulated individually, allowing residents to save money, while apartments with central heating tend to have higher bills. Other utility expenses generally total €100–200 per month.

The minimum amount a single person spends on food in Lithuania is around €100 per month. This budget is possible if you cook at home and buy discounted products. If you occasionally order takeaway or use delivery services, expenses can easily double. For a comfortable lifestyle in 2026, migrants should expect to spend around €300 per month on food.

The average grocery bill in Lithuania is lower than in Latvia, Estonia, and the Scandinavian countries. A 500-gram loaf of bread costs around €1.5, yogurt about €1.5, and a pack of 10–12 eggs costs €1–2 depending on the category. A 400-gram container of baby formula costs approximately €30.

The table below shows average supermarket prices in Lithuania before discounts. Seasonal products and items approaching their expiration date can often be purchased with discounts of up to 50%.

Most Lithuanians shop in large supermarket chains such as Maxima, Barbora, Norfa, and Grūstė. Smaller local stores offering organic and farm products are usually significantly more expensive — often costing three to four times more.

The cost of fast food, sweets, and soft drinks in Lithuania is around the European average. Low-alcohol beverages are relatively inexpensive compared to countries such as Spain, Italy, Finland, and Sweden.

Regularly buying takeaway food can increase monthly food expenses by €100–200.

The cost of clothing in Lithuania depends on where you shop and which price segment you choose. Buying clothes in shopping malls is usually more expensive than ordering from international online stores. In budget retail chains, it is possible to assemble a basic wardrobe for around €115–150. Higher-quality clothing may cost two to three times more. Expats, students, and local residents frequently shop in second-hand stores, where good-quality items can be found from €2.

The table below shows average prices for basic wardrobe items in low-cost stores. The estimates are based on catalogs from popular Lithuanian retailers such as Sinsay, New Yorker, and Takko Fashion.

Many Lithuanians themselves consider clothing prices to be excessively high. To save money, they often shop through online platforms such as ASOS and Zalando. Another popular option is Humana, a second-hand clothing chain known for low prices. Buying second-hand items in Lithuania does not bring societal judgement — it is considered both a practical way to save money and an opportunity to find unique or vintage clothing pieces.

A single public transport ride in Lithuania costs approximately €1. Bus and trolleybus fares are the same. Passengers can purchase either single-use tickets or long-term passes. Long-term subscriptions are more economical, and students receive discounts ranging from 50% to 80%.

The table below shows public transport prices in Vilnius as of spring 2026. In smaller cities, fares may be lower. For example, Kaunas — the second-largest city in Lithuania — offers discounts for electronic tickets. A quarterly transport pass there costs around €76, compared to €110 in Vilnius.

Taxi fares depend on the distance traveled and the company used. Prices are usually around €0.7–1.2 per kilometer, plus a fixed pickup fee of €0.5–2.75.

Foreigners in Lithuania are required to have a private health insurance The cost depends on the coverage amount, included services, category, and age of the insured person. A basic insurance package costs approximately €240–900 per year.

When estimating the cost of living in Lithuania, insurance is an important factor. Living in the country without it can pose serious risks both to health and finances due to the high cost of private medical care:

Foreigners with permanent residence permits or temporary residence permits issued for employment can access Lithuania’s public healthcare system through the PSD state insurance scheme. Non-working migrants with residence permits must pay contributions independently. In 2026, the monthly PSD contribution is €80.48. For employed residents, these payments are made by the employer.

Spending on sports, hobbies, and entertainment highly depends on an individual. In Lithuania, a monthly gym membership typically costs around €20–40. It is possible to save money on leisure activities by purchasing memberships or visiting cultural venues on weekdays. Discounts are commonly available for students, children, and seniors.

The average salary in Lithuania is around €2,400 per month, while the minimum wage is €1,153. The lowest incomes are typically earned by manual laborers and employees in the service sector. IT specialists, engineers, and healthcare workers are among the highest-paid professionals.

After taxes, the minimum wage can still be enough to live in Lithuania if a person rents inexpensive housing with low utility costs, buys discounted groceries, and avoids frequent entertainment and expensive leisure activities.

For foreigners working in Lithuania, regular transfers home are often part of monthly expenses — just like rent, transport, or groceries. Family members and relatives back home may depend on this financial support.

In practice, it is important not only to send money, but to do it quickly, conveniently, and without unexpected fees. One of the convenient options for international money transfers is the Korona mobile app. It supports transfers to 60+ destinations, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia.

The Korona app is available on the App Store and Google Play. After downloading the app, users can register with a European phone number, choose the destination country, follow the step-by-step instructions, and pay for the transfer using a European bank card.

Read more about living conditions in other European countries on our blog.