🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,283 in Kretinga versus $1,540 in Kaunas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,046 in Kretinga versus $2,278 in Kaunas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,808 in Kretinga versus $3,016 in Kaunas.
🙂Living in Kretinga costs roughly 17% less than in Kaunas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kretinga is 5% below, Kaunas is 15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40€9.88
$11.73€10.17
-2.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7€61.3
$64.9€56.2
8.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.14€6.19
$9.33€8.09
-23.47%
Cappuccino
$3.04€2.64
$3.61€3.13
-15.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.84
$2.34€2.03
-9.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.75
$1.70€1.47
18.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.24€4.54
$5.15€4.47
1.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27€4.57
$4.46€3.87
18.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39€1.20
$1.45€1.26
-4.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56€1.36
$1.86€1.61
-16.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$2.31€2.00
-10.39%
Eggs
$2.75€2.38
$2.83€2.46
-2.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.47€9.08
$10.98€9.52
-4.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21€4.52
$7.94€6.88
-34.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.76€8.46
$11.93€10.34
-18.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37€1.18
$1.20€1.04
14.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65€1.43
$1.32€1.14
25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$2.16€1.87
-17.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17€2.75
$3.52€3.05
-9.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75€0.65
$1.04€0.91
-27.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93€0.81
$1.14€0.99
-18.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60€1.38
$1.66€1.44
-3.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.03€0.89
-20.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.41€4.69
$5.96€5.16
-9.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.69€7.53
$10.31€8.93
-15.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.44
$1.67€1.44
-0.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.55
$2.15€1.87
-17.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17€1.02
$0.93€0.81
25.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.19€29.63
$32.14€27.85
6.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13€2.71
$2.88€2.49
8.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.97
$1.07€0.93
4.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.62€11.81
$9.03€7.83
50.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.36
$1.71€1.48
-8.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.5K
$39.3K€34.0K
-13.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K€25.2K
$33.0K€28.6K
-11.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212€184
$262€227
-19.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.17€12.28
$15.94€13.81
-11.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90€12.91
$16.55€14.34
-9.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.02€36.42
$40.60€35.19
3.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.71€19.69
$22.98€19.91
-1.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.37€8.12
$9.62€8.34
-2.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456€395
$654€567
-30.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,369€8,120
$7,648€6,629
22.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7€75.2
$84.7€73.4
2.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.47€35.94
$47.40€41.08
-12.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8€73.5
$97.4€84.4
-12.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$115€99.4
16.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$543€470
$739€640
-26.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357€310
$513€445
-30.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$844€732
$1,200€1,040
-29.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652€565
$773€670
-15.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,410€2,955
$3,829€3,318
-10.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,828€1,584
$2,341€2,029
-21.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kretinga
Kaunas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,156€1,002
$1,729€1,498
-33.15%
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 Kretinga: June 8, 2026
Last update for Kaunas: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $543 in Kretinga and $739 in Kaunas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaunas pays 50% 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: $71.0 in Kretinga vs $65.0 in Kaunas. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $260, with Kretinga cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kretinga vs Kaunas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kretinga or Kaunas?
Kretinga wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Kaunas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kretinga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kretinga or Kaunas?
On paper, Kaunas earns 50% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kretinga vs Kaunas?
Rent for a central apartment: $543 in Kretinga versus $739 in Kaunas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kretinga vs Kaunas?
Dining out is cheaper in Kretinga – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $65.0 in Kaunas. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kretinga compared to Kaunas?
All in, you'll spend $1,283 per month in Kretinga versus $1,540 in Kaunas – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kretinga or Kaunas?
At $1,283 in Kretinga versus $1,540 in Kaunas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kretinga but tight or insufficient in Kaunas. The gap between the two cities makes Kretinga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kretinga or Kaunas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kretinga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,283 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kretinga hard to pass up.
How safe is Kretinga compared to Kaunas?
Safety-wise, Kretinga 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kretinga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kaunas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.