😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,702 in Vilnius versus $1,283 in Kretinga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,509 in Vilnius versus $2,046 in Kretinga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,315 in Vilnius versus $2,808 in Kretinga.
😐Living in Vilnius is roughly 33% more expensive than Kretinga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Vilnius is 27% above, Kretinga is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.73€11.90
$11.40€9.88
20.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.5
$70.7€61.3
-1.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00€7.80
$7.14€6.19
26.05%
Cappuccino
$3.71€3.22
$3.04€2.64
22.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.84
$2.12€1.84
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.09
$2.02€1.75
19.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.30€4.59
$5.24€4.54
1.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15€4.47
$5.27€4.57
-2.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55€1.34
$1.39€1.20
11.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.33
$1.56€1.36
-1.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61€2.26
$2.07€1.79
26.09%
Eggs
$2.88€2.50
$2.75€2.38
4.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.65€10.96
$10.47€9.08
20.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27€6.30
$5.21€4.52
39.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.38€10.73
$9.76€8.46
26.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58€1.37
$1.37€1.18
15.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59€1.37
$1.65€1.43
-3.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$1.79€1.55
17.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.31€2.87
$3.17€2.75
4.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94€0.82
$0.75€0.65
25.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07€0.93
$0.93€0.81
15.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86€1.61
$1.60€1.38
16.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.82€0.71
15.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75€4.98
$5.41€4.69
6.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.26€8.89
$8.69€7.53
18.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.45
$1.66€1.44
1.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.91
$1.78€1.55
24.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06€0.92
$1.17€1.02
-9.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.84€29.33
$34.19€29.63
-1.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21€2.78
$3.13€2.71
2.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.97
$1.12€0.97
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.43€14.24
$13.62€11.81
20.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65€1.43
$1.57€1.36
5.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.6K
$34.1K€29.5K
3.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K€29.0K
$29.1K€25.2K
14.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239€207
$212€184
12.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91€12.05
$14.17€12.28
-1.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.93€14.67
$14.90€12.91
13.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.12€36.51
$42.02€36.42
0.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.52€31.65
$22.71€19.69
60.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.46€8.20
$9.37€8.12
0.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$634€550
$456€395
39.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,074€7,865
$9,369€8,120
-3.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.7
$86.7€75.2
-0.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.59€36.05
$41.47€35.94
0.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€93.5
$84.8€73.5
27.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€114
$133€116
-1.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$863€748
$543€470
58.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615€533
$357€310
72.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,499€1,299
$844€732
77.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,011€876
$652€565
55.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,977€5,180
$3,410€2,955
75.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,473€3,010
$1,828€1,584
90.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vilnius
Kretinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,008€1,740
$1,156€1,002
73.76%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kretinga: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $863 in Vilnius and $543 in Kretinga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vilnius pays 74% 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: $70.0 in Vilnius vs $71.0 in Kretinga. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $225, 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
Vilnius vs Kretinga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kretinga cheaper than Vilnius?
Kretinga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vilnius or Kretinga?
Vilnius pays 74% 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 Kretinga?
Rent for a central apartment: $863 in Vilnius versus $543 in Kretinga. 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 Kretinga 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 $634 in Vilnius versus $456 in Kretinga. 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 Kretinga?
At $1,283 in Kretinga versus $1,702 in Vilnius, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kretinga but tight or insufficient in Vilnius. The gap between the two cities makes Kretinga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Vilnius or Kretinga more family-friendly?
For families, Kretinga 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 Kretinga?
Safety-wise, Vilnius and Kretinga 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 Kretinga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Vilnius. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.