Side by side
| Lithuania | Estonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, non-EU | ₹2.7–6.9 lakh (€2,500–6,500) for most programmes | €1,500–15,000 a year |
| Visa and permit fees | €110 state + €110 VFS | €120 D visa, €225 residence permit |
| Proof of funds | ₹66,200 (€622.50) a month plus one minimum wage for the trip home (2027) | about €800–880 a month, set yearly |
| Work during term | 20 h/week in years 1–2 of a bachelor's, then 40 | allowed if it does not harm full-time study |
| Stay after graduation | 12 months | 270 days |
| Average gross wage | ₹2.8 lakh (€2,628) (Q2 2026) | €2,243 (Q2 2026) |
Where each country wins
Lithuania: lower tuition at colleges and many universities, a longer job-search permit and, in Q2 2026, a higher average wage.
Estonia: no fixed weekly cap on student work, a strong IT start-up scene in Tallinn and Tartu's international profile.
Our view
For a budget-conscious student in business, engineering or health, Lithuania offers more for less. For a strong IT student set on Tallinn's start-up scene, Estonia is worth the higher price.