How much do you need to earn to live here, after Lithuania takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Lithuania's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Kaunas is roughly €1,832/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,214/month gross (€1,339 net after ~40% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €456 Cheapest neighborhood (Residential District) | €604 Median neighborhood | €722 Premium neighborhood (City Centre) |
| Groceries | €245 | €294 | €368 |
| Transport | €71 | €71 | €71 |
| Utilities | €174 | €174 | €174 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €163 | €196 | €245 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,109 | €1,339 | €1,580 |
€1,832/month gross
€2,214/month gross
€2,611/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 3 neighborhoods in Kaunas.
Residential District
22 min by transit
€456 - €567
University Quarter
15 min by transit
€538 - €669
City Centre
8 min by walk
€643 - €800
City Centre
8 min by walk
€643 - €800
University Quarter
15 min by transit
€538 - €669
Residential District
22 min by transit
€456 - €567
All 3 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Lithuania's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,832/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Kaunas. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,214/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Lithuania.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 3 neighborhoods in Kaunas is approximately €612/month. Rents range from €456 in Residential District to €800 in City Centre.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Kaunas cost approximately €245. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Lithuania are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,832/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 40%. At the comfortable level of €2,214/month, it rises to approximately 40%. This includes income tax and social contributions.