😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Vilnius versus $1,295 in Garliava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,501 in Vilnius versus $2,048 in Garliava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,311 in Vilnius versus $2,801 in Garliava.
🌍Living in Vilnius is roughly 31% more expensive than in Garliava, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Vilnius is 27% above, Garliava is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.75€12.09
$11.69€10.27
17.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.8€60.4
$64.4€56.6
6.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47€8.32
$6.79€5.97
39.47%
Cappuccino
$3.65€3.21
$3.20€2.82
14.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.90
$2.31€2.03
-6.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.11
$1.78€1.56
34.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.26€4.62
$5.34€4.70
-1.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28€4.64
$4.38€3.85
20.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55€1.36
$1.38€1.21
12.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56€1.37
$1.80€1.58
-13.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$2.36€2.07
6.78%
Eggs
$2.83€2.49
$2.74€2.41
3.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.36€10.87
$10.67€9.38
15.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15€6.29
$7.84€6.89
-8.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.20€10.73
$10.55€9.28
15.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59€1.39
$1.36€1.20
16.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61€1.41
$1.69€1.48
-4.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$2.22€1.95
-1.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.30€2.90
$3.50€3.07
-5.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90€0.79
$0.79€0.70
13.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05€0.92
$0.93€0.82
12.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.72
$1.69€1.48
15.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.84
$0.81€0.71
17.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.64€4.96
$5.88€5.17
-4.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70€8.53
$10.26€9.02
-5.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.54
$1.68€1.48
4.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11€1.85
$1.74€1.53
21.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05€0.93
$1.15€1.01
-8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.07€29.95
$33.69€29.62
1.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19€2.81
$2.85€2.50
11.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.98
$1.05€0.93
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.49€14.50
$9.52€8.37
73.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65€1.45
$1.57€1.38
5.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€30.0K
$39.3K€34.5K
-13.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K€28.4K
$29.3K€25.8K
10.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238€209
$210€185
13.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.87€12.20
$15.68€13.78
-11.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.37€15.27
$14.83€13.04
17.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.64€36.61
$42.10€37.01
-1.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.24€32.74
$22.87€20.10
62.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48€8.34
$9.30€8.17
1.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$635€558
$457€401
39.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,223€8,108
$7,571€6,655
21.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4€75.9
$85.2€74.9
1.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.48€37.34
$44.14€38.80
-3.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€94.8
$81.9€72.0
31.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$114€100
16.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$866€761
$531€467
63.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615€541
$358€315
71.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,507€1,325
$828€728
81.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,028€904
$645€567
59.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,937€5,219
$2,978€2,618
99.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,409€2,997
$1,730€1,521
97.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vilnius
Garliava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,915€1,683
$1,378€1,212
38.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
4.13
8.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vilnius: July 19, 2026
Last update for Garliava: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $866 in Vilnius and $531 in Garliava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vilnius pays 39% 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: $69.0 in Vilnius vs $64.0 in Garliava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $251 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vilnius or Garliava?
Average pay runs 39% higher in Vilnius, 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: $866 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 1% 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 $635 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 living in Vilnius or in Garliava?
At $1,295 in Garliava versus $1,692 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 – expenses run 31% less than in Vilnius. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.