Monthly budget by city
Here is what a student who shares a dorm room or flat and cooks most meals spends in a month. Rents come from university price lists and listings data for 2025–2026; food and personal costs are our estimates from supermarket prices and what our students report.
| Item, per month | Vilnius | Kaunas | Klaipėda / Šiauliai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorm place | ₹9,030–29,800 (€85–280) | ₹8,500–26,600 (€80–250) | ₹6,910–14,900 (€65–140) |
| Food, cooking at home | ₹23,400–31,900 (€220–300) | ₹21,300–29,800 (€200–280) | ₹21,300–27,600 (€200–260) |
| Transport pass (student) | ₹810 (€7.60) | ₹600 (€5.60) | ₹640–2,550 (€6–24) |
| Mobile and internet | ₹1,060–1,590 (€10–15) | ₹1,060–1,590 (€10–15) | ₹1,060–1,590 (€10–15) |
| Health insurance (monthly share) | ₹2,130–7,970 (€20–75) | ₹2,130–7,970 (€20–75) | ₹2,130–7,970 (€20–75) |
| Books, toiletries, going out | ₹8,500–15,900 (€80–150) | ₹7,440–13,800 (€70–130) | ₹6,380–12,800 (€60–120) |
Total: about ₹58,400–79,700 (€550–750) in Vilnius and ₹53,100–69,100 (€500–650) elsewhere. The Migration Department's benchmark for 2027, ₹66,200 (€622.50) a month, sits in the middle of that range, so treat it as a minimum, not a budget.
Housing: dorms versus private rooms
A university dorm is the cheapest option and the easiest one to arrange from India, because you can book it before you arrive and use the address for the residence permit. Prices for 2025–2026:
- Vilnius University: ₹7,440–27,600 (€70–260);
- VILNIUS TECH: ₹9,030–29,800 (€85–280), plus a ₹63,800 (€600) refundable deposit;
- MRU: ₹12,800–58,400 (€120–550), typical double ₹13,800–15,900 (€130–150) per place;
- KTU: ₹11,700–27,000 (€110–254) in a double, ₹20,800–32,000 (€196–301) single;
- LSMU: ₹8,610–26,600 (€81–250) depending on the building;
- Klaipėda State UAS: ₹8,500–14,900 (€80–140);
- Šiauliai State UAS: ₹6,910–13,800 (€65–130).
Some institutions have no dorms for international students: VIKO, ISM, Vilnius Business College and SMK in Vilnius. Their students rent privately.
Private rents are higher. In the second quarter of 2026 a whole studio cost on average ₹50,500 (€475) a month in Vilnius, ₹39,300 (€370) in Kaunas, ₹37,200 (€350) in Klaipėda and ₹31,900 (€300) in Šiauliai. A room in a shared flat in Vilnius costs roughly ₹26,600–47,800 (€250–450), and co-living buildings for students ₹21,300–69,100 (€200–650). Utilities are often extra, and heating bills in January can double them.
Food
Supermarkets (Maxima, Iki, Rimi, Lidl) are cheap compared with Western Europe. Rice, lentils, onions, potatoes, chicken and milk are easy to find; Indian spices, atta and paneer are sold in a few specialist shops in Vilnius and Kaunas and online. Eating out costs ₹850–1,590 (€8–15) for a lunch, so cooking at home is what keeps a student budget low. Read Indian food in Lithuania for shops and restaurants.
Transport
Students get large discounts on city transport. In Vilnius a monthly student pass costs about ₹810 (€7.60), 80% off the full ₹4,040 (€38) ticket introduced in July 2025. In Kaunas the student pass costs about ₹600 (€5.60). You need a student card (ISIC or your university's) to use the discount. Lithuanian student cards also give discounts on intercity trains.
Winter costs
Lithuanian winters are cold: January averages about −3 °C in Vilnius and −7 °C in Šiauliai, with colder spells. Budget ₹15,900–26,600 (€150–250) once for a proper winter jacket, boots, gloves and a hat. Dorm rents include heating, but private flats charge for it separately.
First month: what to bring
Your first month is the most expensive: dorm deposit, first rent, bedding, kitchen basics, a SIM card, the transport pass and food before your bank card arrives. Bring ₹85,000–1.3 lakh (€800–1,200) in an international debit or forex card. Our residence permit page explains the separate ₹9.3 lakh (€8,715) proof of funds you must show before you travel.
How Lithuania compares
For a student budget, Lithuania sits between Central and Western Europe: cheaper than Germany, Ireland or the Nordic countries for rent, close to Poland and Latvia. Comparisons with each country are in our compare section.