Is Kaunas really cheaper than Vilnius?

Yes, mostly on rent. Renting figures put Kaunas roughly a third below Vilnius, and overall living costs (with rent) run a little under Vilnius. Food, transport and bills are broadly similar, so the gap is driven by housing.

How much can a student save by choosing Kaunas?

If you rent privately, the rent saving alone can be €100–€200 a month versus a similar Vilnius flat. If you live in a dorm in either city, the saving is smaller because dorm prices overlap.

Which city has cheaper public transport?

Kaunas's full monthly pass (€28 for 28 days) is cheaper than Vilnius's (€38 for 30 days), and both offer large student discounts. Neither city has an operating tram or metro — only buses and trolleybuses.

Does Vilnius offer more part-time work to offset higher costs?

Vilnius, as the capital, has a larger job and internship market, which can offset its higher rent. Kaunas is smaller but still has a sizeable student and tech scene. Treat any job as a top-up, not your main budget.

Which city should a budget-focused student pick?

If the lowest possible spend is the priority and your programme is offered in both, Kaunas usually wins on rent. If you want the widest choice of courses, jobs and student life, Vilnius is worth the extra cost — especially if you can get a dorm place.

Vilnius vs Kaunas: where can a student live more cheaply?

For a tight student budget, Kaunas is the cheaper city — mainly because rent runs noticeably below Vilnius. Food, transport and bills are broadly similar, so your choice comes down to how much you spend on housing and how much you value the capital's bigger job market and student scene.

The headline: how big is the gap?

Independent cost trackers put Kaunas a little under Vilnius overall once rent is included, with the rental gap being the largest single difference (Kaunas rents run roughly a third below Vilnius on like-for-like flats, as of 2026). For a single all-in monthly planning figure, €350–€700unverified is a useful starting point — nudge it down a bit for Kaunas and up for central Vilnius.

These are estimates from study portals and crowd-sourced trackers (Numbeo, Study.eu), not official tariffs. Your real number depends on housing choice, lifestyle and the exact neighbourhood.

Side-by-side comparison

Item (typical, 2026)	Vilnius	Kaunas
Dorm room (per month)	€70–€250	€70–€210
Private 1-bed, city centre	~€700–€800	~€550–€600
Private 1-bed, outside centre	~€500–€600	~€350–€450
Room in a shared flat	€150–€350	€120–€280
Full monthly transport pass	€38 (30 days)	€28 (28 days)
Student monthly transport pass	heavily discounted (see below)	from ~€14
Inexpensive restaurant meal	~€13	~€11
Mid-range meal for two	~€65	~€62
Groceries	broadly similar	broadly similar

Read the ranges, not the midpoints

Dorm prices overlap between the two cities, so if you secure a dorm place the city gap shrinks. The real divergence shows up when you rent privately — that is where Kaunas saves you the most.

Rent: the deciding factor

Rent is where the two cities genuinely part ways.

Dormitories are the cheapest option in both cities (roughly €70–€250 a month, bills usually included). Apply early through your university's international office — places are limited and fill fast. A deposit of around €100–€120 is common.
Private flats are clearly cheaper in Kaunas. A one-bedroom in central Kaunas tends to sit near €550–€600, against roughly €700–€800 in central Vilnius; outside the centre the gap holds. Over an academic year that difference adds up.
Sharing a 2–3 bedroom flat is how most internationals keep costs down in either city, and it splits the winter heating bill.

Compare total housing, not headline rent

A cheaper flat with poor insulation can cost more once winter heating lands. Ask what the previous tenants paid for heating before you sign — Lithuanian winters are cold in both cities.

Transport: both cheap, Kaunas slightly cheaper

Neither city has an operating tram, metro or subway — Vilnius and Kaunas run on buses and trolleybuses only (a Vilnius tram is only planned, not built). If a flat listing brags about being near a "metro" or "tram", treat it as a red flag.

Vilnius (JUDU): a full 30-day ticket is €38; single 30-minute trips are €1.00. Students get a large discount with a valid student ID or ISIC card — confirm the current rate and your eligibility on judu.lt.
Kaunas: a full 28-day pass is €28, with a 50% student discount bringing it to about €14; single trips start around €0.70 with the Kauno kortelė or Žiogas app. See kaunas.lt.

The student discount is not automatic for everyone — it generally depends on your status (EU/EEA/Swiss students and holders of a Lithuanian residence permit qualify with a student ID or ISIC). Carry proof when checked.

Eating out and groceries

Day-to-day food costs are close. Groceries are within a couple of percent of each other, and a mid-range meal for two is nearly the same in both cities. The clearest difference is at cheaper restaurants and cafés, where Vilnius runs a little higher — useful to know if you eat out often. Cooking at home is the single biggest food saving in either city.

Who should pick which city?

Pick Kaunas if…

Keeping your monthly spend as low as possible is the priority.
You plan to rent privately (this is where the saving is largest).
Your programme is offered there and you are happy with a smaller, more compact city.

Pick Vilnius if…

You want the widest choice of programmes, internships and part-time work.
You can secure a dorm place (which narrows the cost gap to Kaunas).
A bigger international student scene and more events matter to you, and you can absorb higher rent.

Same country, same rules

Whichever city you choose, the visa, residence-permit, proof-of-funds and healthcare rules are national — they do not change between Vilnius and Kaunas. Budget the same buffer for arrival costs (deposit, first month's rent, permit fees and room basics) in either city.

Bottom line

For pure cost, Kaunas edges it, driven almost entirely by cheaper rent. Vilnius costs more but offers more — courses, jobs and student life. If you will live in a dorm, the gap is modest; if you will rent privately, Kaunas can save you a meaningful amount each month.