Lithuania has three cities that matter for foreigners, and they are genuinely different from each other. Which one you choose shapes your costs, your job options and your daily life more than almost any other decision — so the guides below go into each in depth, and the table here is only the shape of the choice.
Compare at a Glance
| Vilnius | Kaunas | Klaipėda | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Capital, largest | Second city | Only major seaport |
| Average gross salary | €2,891 | €2,647 | €2,493 |
| Average asking rent | 16.40 €/m² | 12.80 €/m² | 11.70 €/m² |
| Rent on a 50 m² flat | €820 | €640 | €585 |
| Rent as a share of that salary | 28.4% | 24.2% | 23.5% |
| Rent change, year to Q2 2026 | +11.0% | +5.7% | +5.8% |
| Monthly costs, one person | €1,465 | €1,247 | €1,192 |
| Transport pass | €38 · students €7.60 | €28 · students €14 | €28 · students €14 |
| Water and wastewater | 2.44 €/m³ | 2.47 €/m³ | 3.00 €/m³ |
| Municipal kindergarten | €94 | €74 | €96 |
| Jobs in English | Best — fintech & IT | Some — engineering, services | Limited — maritime |
| International community | Largest | Large, student-heavy | Smallest |
| Universities | VU, VILNIUS TECH, ISM | LSMU, KTU, VMU | Klaipėda University |
| Winters | Cold, dark | Cold, dark | Milder, windy, wet |
| Distance to Vilnius | — | ~1.5 hours | ~4 hours |
Salaries: State Data Agency, average gross monthly wage excluding individual enterprises, 2026 Q1; the national average was €2,554. Rent: Ober-Haus Q2 2026 asking prices. Water, transport and kindergarten: each city’s own published tariffs. Monthly costs are the cost of living calculator’s standard profile — one person, a renovated 45 m² flat near the centre, winter month — and include Numbeo figures for dining and leisure.
The Guides
Beyond the three there is Šiauliai and, with no guide of their own yet, Panevėžys as a regional industrial centre, Trakai as a day trip near Vilnius, Palanga and Nida as seasonal coastal resorts, and Druskininkai as a spa town in the south. Permits, banking, tax and healthcare do not vary by city, so the rest of this site applies wherever you land.