Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaunas and Utena

For one person, living is cheaper in Utena: $1,347 a month against $1,509 in Kaunas, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kaunas, Lithuania
Utena, Lithuania
Kaunas
🇱🇹 Lithuania
$1,509
/mo nomad
Utena
🇱🇹 Lithuania
$1,347
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kaunas and in Utena

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kaunas and in Utena actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,509 in Kaunas versus $1,347 in Utena.

  • Kaunas $1,509
  • Utena $1,347

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,259 in Kaunas versus $2,040 in Utena.

  • Kaunas $2,259
  • Utena $2,040

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,008 in Kaunas versus $2,733 in Utena.

  • Kaunas $3,008
  • Utena $2,733

Living in Kaunas is roughly 12% more expensive than in Utena, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03 €10.81
$12.16 €10.92
-1.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.6
$51.2 €46.03
31.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.20 €9.16
$6.64 €5.96
53.61%
Cappuccino
$3.43 €3.08
$3.05 €2.74
12.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 €3.02
$2.74 €2.46
22.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 €2.91
$1.93 €1.73
67.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.24 €4.71
$5.60 €5.03
-6.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 €4.08
$4.89 €4.39
-7.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 €1.45
$1.23 €1.11
30.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 €1.54
$1.46 €1.31
17.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 €2.03
$1.74 €1.56
29.89%
Eggs
$3.24 €2.91
$2.82 €2.54
14.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.95 €13.44
$10.01 €8.99
49.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.13 €7.30
$5.86 €5.26
38.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.49 €12.12
$9.39 €8.44
43.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.59 €1.42
$1.60 €1.43
-0.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 €1.34
$1.44 €1.30
3.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 €1.96
$1.64 €1.47
32.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.36 €3.02
$2.93 €2.63
14.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 €0.82
$0.73 €0.66
24.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 €0.85
$0.99 €0.89
-5.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 €1.64
$1.54 €1.38
18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.83
$0.84 €0.76
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.25 €5.62
$5.74 €5.16
8.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.03 €9.01
$8.26 €7.42
21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.60 €1.44
8.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.93
$1.72 €1.55
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.15 €1.03
$1.16 €1.04
-0.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.91 €28.67
$30.27 €27.20
5.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 €1.02
$3.09 €2.77
-63.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 €0.80
$0.87 €0.79
2.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.76 €14.16
$13.27 €11.92
18.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.81
$1.79 €1.61
12.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K €25.0K
$27.2K €24.5K
2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K €25.2K
$27.9K €25.1K
0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 €176
$200 €180
-2.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.98 €14.36
$13.36 €12.00
19.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.68 €14.09
$11.40 €10.24
37.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.37 €29.09
$35.64 €32.02
-9.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.72 €24.91
$24.52 €22.04
13.05%
Cinema Ticket
$11.93 €10.72
$8.71 €7.83
36.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$643 €577
$508 €457
26.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,792 €7,900
$9,209 €8,274
-4.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.8 €77.1
$135 €121
-36.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.41 €36.31
$65.0 €58.4
-37.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 €107
$80.9 €72.7
47.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 €146
$183 €165
-11.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$710 €638
$583 €524
21.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 €440
$389 €349
25.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 €949
$838 €753
25.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 €628
$636 €572
9.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,369 €3,027
$3,101 €2,786
8.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,272 €2,042
$1,927 €1,732
17.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaunas
Utena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,718 €1,544
$1,189 €1,069
44.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.05
3.97
2.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kaunas: October 25, 2026

Last update for Utena: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kaunas
$490
Utena
$389 20.6% $101
Groceries & Markets
Kaunas
$280
Utena
$219 21.7% $61
Eating Out
Kaunas
$230
Utena
$210 8.5% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaunas
$228
Utena
$225 1.2% $2.7
Clothing & Footwear
Kaunas
$183
Utena
$209 13.9% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Kaunas
$56
Utena
$53 5.6% $3.2
Getting Around
Kaunas
$42
Utena
$42 0.6% $0.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $710 in Kaunas and $583 in Utena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kaunas pays 44% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Kaunas vs $51 in Utena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $219 per month, with Utena cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇹 Kaunas
🇱🇹 Utena
🕒 Local time
16:03 4:03 PM
16:03 4:03 PM
Same time as Kaunas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
315,993
28,997
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kaunas Utena 130 km
From you
  • Kaunas
  • Utena

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kaunas vs Utena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kaunas or Utena?
Utena wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Kaunas. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Utena the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kaunas or in Utena?
Average pay runs 44% higher in Kaunas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kaunas compared to Utena?
Rent for a central apartment: $710 in Kaunas versus $583 in Utena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kaunas and in Utena?
Dining out is cheaper in Utena – a meal for two runs $51 versus $67 in Kaunas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kaunas compared to Utena?
All in, you’ll spend $1,509 per month in Kaunas versus $1,347 in Utena – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kaunas or in Utena?
At $1,347 in Utena versus $1,509 in Kaunas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Utena but tight or insufficient in Kaunas. The gap between the two cities makes Utena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kaunas or Utena?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Kaunas compared to Utena?
Safety-wise, Kaunas and Utena 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Utena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Kaunas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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