Living in Kaunas
What it really costs to live in Kaunas, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Lithuania, updated 2026. Kaunas sits mid-range among the 3 Lithuania cities we track, so it can be a smarter base than the capital if budget matters. Kaunas lies in Northern Europe. Lithuania's capital is Vilnius. The main language is Lithuanian. The currency is the euro. Lithuania borders Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Russia.
Cost of Living in Kaunas
Full Monthly Breakdown for Kaunas
How Kaunas Compares to Other Lithuania Cities
Kaunas is not the only option in Lithuania. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€850) stacks up against the other cities we track — Klaipeda is the cheapest, Vilnius the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Klaipeda | €780/mo | -8% vs Kaunas |
| Vilnius (capital) | €1 100/mo | +29% vs Kaunas |
What You Can Earn in Lithuania
Typical gross annual salaries in Lithuania by sector (entry · median · senior). Kaunas pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €26 500 | €38 000 | €53 000 |
| retail | €9 000 | €13 000 | €18 000 |
| finance | €18 000 | €26 000 | €36 500 |
| education | €12 500 | €18 000 | €25 000 |
| healthcare | €15 500 | €22 000 | €31 000 |
| engineering | €19 500 | €28 000 | €39 000 |
| hospitality | €10 000 | €14 000 | €19 500 |
| construction | €17 000 | €24 000 | €33 500 |
Living in Kaunas: Safety, Health & Climate
Kaunas shares Lithuania's wider quality-of-life profile. Kaunas has a continental climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Lithuania
Affording Kaunas is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Lithuania. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~7 years.
- Investment route from about €28 000 (USD).
Taxes in Lithuania
Top marginal rate 20%, VAT 21%. Special regime — Requires legal source verification
Settling into Kaunas
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Lithuania.
- Budget around €1 200 for first-month setup in Kaunas.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Architecture, Engineering, Psychology.
Get Your Lithuania Emigration Report
Personalised visa options, costs and a 90-day plan for Lithuania.
Get Essential Report — €5or start the free assessmentKaunas FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Kaunas?
A single person in central Kaunas should budget about €850/month, roughly €722 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 800/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Lithuania?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Lithuania visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Lithuania Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries