🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,315 in Garliava versus $1,560 in Kaunas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Garliava versus $2,270 in Kaunas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,762 in Garliava versus $2,980 in Kaunas.
🙂Living in Garliava costs roughly 16% less than in Kaunas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Garliava is 2% below, Kaunas is 16% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.65€9.93
$11.60€9.89
0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8€53.6
$64.6€55.1
-2.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.83€5.82
$9.30€7.93
-26.56%
Cappuccino
$3.04€2.59
$3.53€3.01
-13.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.96
$2.21€1.89
3.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.46
$1.76€1.50
-2.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05€4.31
$5.26€4.49
-3.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36€3.72
$4.30€3.67
1.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44€1.23
$1.39€1.19
3.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81€1.54
$1.78€1.52
1.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35€2.00
$2.41€2.06
-2.49%
Eggs
$2.88€2.45
$2.76€2.35
4.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.70€9.13
$10.79€9.21
-0.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77€6.62
$7.76€6.62
0.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.23€8.73
$12.22€10.43
-16.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37€1.17
$1.19€1.01
15.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62€1.38
$1.36€1.16
19.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20€1.88
$2.15€1.83
2.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.04
$3.47€2.96
2.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75€0.64
$1.05€0.90
-28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00€0.85
$1.11€0.95
-9.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68€1.44
$1.70€1.45
-1.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$1.00€0.85
-14.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93€5.05
$6.00€5.11
-1.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46€8.92
$10.23€8.72
2.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.46
$1.65€1.41
4.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.52
$2.14€1.83
-16.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13€0.97
$0.93€0.80
21.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.72€28.76
$32.26€27.52
4.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94€2.51
$2.96€2.52
-0.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.87
$1.07€0.91
-4.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.99€7.67
$9.50€8.11
-5.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60€1.36
$1.66€1.42
-3.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K€33.6K
$38.3K€32.7K
2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K€25.1K
$32.2K€27.5K
-8.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213€182
$261€223
-18.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.64€13.35
$15.77€13.45
-0.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.81€12.63
$16.48€14.06
-10.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.49€35.39
$39.56€33.74
4.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.75€19.40
$22.80€19.45
-0.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02€7.69
$9.92€8.46
-9.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457€389
$654€558
-30.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,667€6,540
$7,557€6,446
1.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.3€72.8
$85.1€72.6
0.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.70€36.43
$47.44€40.46
-9.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7€70.6
$101€85.9
-17.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€99.5
$113€96.7
2.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$531€453
$732€624
-27.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362€309
$516€440
-29.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$834€712
$1,207€1,029
-30.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642€547
$779€665
-17.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,678€2,284
$3,753€3,201
-28.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,627€1,388
$2,246€1,916
-27.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Garliava
Kaunas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,409€1,202
$1,594€1,360
-11.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.13
4.5
-8.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Garliava: April 21, 2026
Last update for Kaunas: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $531 in Garliava and $732 in Kaunas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaunas pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63 in Garliava vs $65 in Kaunas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $257 per month, with Garliava cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Garliava vs Kaunas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kaunas cheaper than Garliava?
Garliava is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Garliava or Kaunas?
On paper, Kaunas earns 13% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Garliava and Kaunas?
Rent for a central apartment: $531 in Garliava versus $732 in Kaunas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Garliava runs roughly 5% less than in Kaunas. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $457 in Garliava versus $654 in Kaunas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Garliava or Kaunas?
At $1,315 in Garliava versus $1,560 in Kaunas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Garliava but tight or insufficient in Kaunas. The gap between the two cities makes Garliava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Garliava or Kaunas more family-friendly?
For families, Garliava is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kaunas, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Garliava or Kaunas?
Safety-wise, Garliava and Kaunas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Garliava gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Kaunas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.