๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Vilnius versus $1,315 in Garliava.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,490 in Vilnius versus $2,038 in Garliava.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Vilnius versus $2,762 in Garliava.
๐Living in Vilnius is roughly 25% more expensive than Garliava, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Vilnius is 23% above, Garliava is 2% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.81โฌ11.78
$11.65โฌ9.93
18.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5โฌ58.4
$62.8โฌ53.6
9.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.10โฌ7.76
$6.83โฌ5.82
33.24%
Cappuccino
$3.77โฌ3.22
$3.04โฌ2.59
24.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$2.29โฌ1.96
-8.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34โฌ2.00
$1.71โฌ1.46
36.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.11โฌ4.36
$5.05โฌ4.31
1.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33โฌ4.54
$4.36โฌ3.72
22.25%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49โฌ1.27
$1.44โฌ1.23
3.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60โฌ1.36
$1.81โฌ1.54
-11.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54โฌ2.17
$2.35โฌ2.00
8.09%
Eggs
$2.73โฌ2.33
$2.88โฌ2.45
-5.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.43โฌ10.60
$10.70โฌ9.13
16.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.99โฌ5.97
$7.77โฌ6.62
-10.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21โฌ10.41
$10.23โฌ8.73
19.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$1.37โฌ1.17
13.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62โฌ1.38
$1.62โฌ1.38
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18โฌ1.86
$2.20โฌ1.88
-0.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.42โฌ2.92
$3.56โฌ3.04
-3.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89โฌ0.76
$0.75โฌ0.64
18.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.00โฌ0.85
8.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$1.68โฌ1.44
14.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90โฌ0.77
$0.86โฌ0.74
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75โฌ4.91
$5.93โฌ5.05
-3.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.20โฌ7.85
$10.46โฌ8.92
-12.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66โฌ1.42
$1.72โฌ1.46
-3.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13โฌ1.82
$1.78โฌ1.52
19.66%
๐ Getting Around
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01โฌ0.86
$1.13โฌ0.97
-10.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.08โฌ28.22
$33.72โฌ28.76
-1.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26โฌ2.78
$2.94โฌ2.51
10.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11โฌ0.94
$1.02โฌ0.87
8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.45โฌ14.03
$8.99โฌ7.67
82.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.60โฌ1.36
6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1Kโฌ29.1K
$39.4Kโฌ33.6K
-13.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kโฌ28.1K
$29.4Kโฌ25.1K
11.87%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243โฌ207
$213โฌ182
13.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.25โฌ12.16
$15.64โฌ13.35
-8.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.79โฌ14.32
$14.81โฌ12.63
13.37%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.99โฌ35.82
$41.49โฌ35.39
1.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.59โฌ31.21
$22.75โฌ19.40
60.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02โฌ7.69
$9.02โฌ7.69
-
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$633โฌ540
$457โฌ389
38.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,267โฌ7,905
$7,667โฌ6,540
20.87%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8โฌ75.7
$85.3โฌ72.8
4.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.96โฌ36.64
$42.70โฌ36.43
0.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107โฌ91.2
$82.7โฌ70.6
29.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129โฌ110
$117โฌ99.5
10.81%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$867โฌ739
$531โฌ453
63.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621โฌ529
$362โฌ309
71.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,490โฌ1,271
$834โฌ712
78.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,002โฌ855
$642โฌ547
56.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,304โฌ5,377
$2,678โฌ2,284
135.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,493โฌ2,980
$1,627โฌ1,388
114.70%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,973โฌ1,683
$1,409โฌ1,202
40.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
4.13
8.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vilnius: April 19, 2026
Last update for Garliava: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $867 in Vilnius and $531 in Garliava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐVilnius pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $68 in Vilnius vs $63 in Garliava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $253 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
Vilnius vs Garliava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garliava cheaper than Vilnius?
Garliava is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vilnius or Garliava?
Vilnius pays 40% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Vilnius and Garliava?
Rent for a central apartment: $867 in Vilnius versus $531 in Garliava. 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 2% less than in Vilnius. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $633 in Vilnius versus $457 in Garliava. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Vilnius or Garliava?
At $1,315 in Garliava versus $1,642 in Vilnius, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Garliava but tight or insufficient in Vilnius. The gap between the two cities makes Garliava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Vilnius or Garliava more family-friendly?
For families, Garliava is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vilnius, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Vilnius or Garliava?
Safety-wise, Vilnius and Garliava 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 โ expenses run 25% less than in Vilnius. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.