Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in Northeastern Europe. Lithuania is the largest Baltic state. It is a country of sand dunes and ship pines, medieval castles, delicious cheese and transparent amber. Lithuania is located in the northeast of Europe, in the west the country is washed by the Baltic Sea. The country’s neighbors are Latvia, Poland, Russia and Belarus. Lithuania has been a Member State of the European Union since 1 May 2004. 

Lithuania is a flat country and a typical landscape is the endless fields and meadows adorned with numerous lakes, which are about 3,000. More than a third of the country’s territory is covered with mixed forests, in which national parks have been established.  

The beach season lasts only two months – July and August, – at this time the water of the Baltic Sea warms up to +20… +22°. The clean sea air and the absence of aggressive sun make the country’s climate favorable for health tourism and recreation with young children.  The country is divided into 10 districts, each of which has several areas of self-government. The capital of Lithuania is Vilnius. 

The official language is Lithuanian. Many residents of the country communicate in Russian and Polish. Recently, English has become very popular as a means of interethnic communication. The country’s population is slightly more than 2.9 million people. Ethnic composition of the country: Lithuanians (80%), Russians and Poles (8% each), as well as Ukrainians and Belarusians.  

Since January 1, 2015, the country’s currency has been the euro. 

There are many tourist routes in Lithuania: visits to ancient castles, recreation in national parks, excursions to historical sites.  

The capital, Vilnius, is located in the southeast of the country, on the Neris River. It is a very interesting place, the Old Town is full of beautiful historical buildings, and the new one is as good as any city in Europe. There are many shops of famous European brands, cafes and exclusive restaurants. The nightlife of Vilnius is fully consistent with the status of the city as the capital. 

Five national parks of Lithuania with beautiful lakes and forests are of interest to tourists at any time of the year. In addition, there are many small regional parks and reserves in the country.  

On the Baltic Sea coast, you can combine sightseeing with a beach holiday. This is one of the main attractions of Lithuania. What a pleasure on a hot summer day to immerse yourself in a cool sea wave!   

Lithuania is known for its festivals, holidays, and entertainment events. The most notable cultural event in Lithuania is the National Song Festival, which is held every five years in the capital of the republic. In July, you can also visit the Festival of the Baltic Sea Peoples and the Summer Music Festival. 

In today’s episode, I will introduce you to minimum and average incomes, the variety of professions and the way salaries are distributed. Also, we will look at income and cost of living taxes in Lithuania. 

Minimum wage   

According to official information from the Lithuanian government, the minimum wage in Lithuania from January 1, 2024 is 840 euros per month. The cost per hour is 5.14 euros. According to Article 144 of the local Labor Code, the standardized working week in the country is 40 hours, and the daily duration of work is 8 hours. Based on these indicators, the Lithuanian government sets the minimum wage.  

It is worth noting that the Republic of Lithuania previously occupied the penultimate place in the European Union in terms of the minimum wage. Today, the rate is at an enviable level compared to Bulgaria (€400), Romania (€610), Hungary (€580), Poland (€745), as well as in neighboring Latvia (€620) and Estonia (€725). 

Average salary   

According to official data from the Department of Statistics of Lithuania, the average salary in Lithuania in 2024 is 1 887 € per month before taxes. At the same time, in the public sector, local specialists receive 2 031 €, and in the private sector – 1 829 €(including entrepreneurs). After all mandatory deductions, the net average salary in Lithuania is 1 177 €. The average salary of Lithuanian doctors is 2 539 € per month, and teachers – 1 497 €.  

The significant increase in income in Lithuania was influenced by changes to the tax system (1 January 2019), which in particular ensured an increase in the minimum wage and the basic amounts for calculating the remuneration of civil servants and employees of budgetary institutions.  

The level of the average salary in Lithuania is influenced by the occupation, qualifications, experience and education of the employee. For example, graduates of Lithuanian universities can count on a higher salary than people without a higher education degree. The capital of the Lithuanian state is considered the most attractive city to earn. Working in the city of Vilnius will provide a net average income of €1,000-1,200 per month and more. However, the majority of young Lithuanians still prefer to look for work abroad.  

If we look at the different sectors of the Lithuanian economy, the highest average salaries in 2024 were recorded in the field of information and communication (€3 527) and the lowest in the field of accommodation and food (€1 235). On average, men in Lithuania earn 140 € more than women. 

Average salary in Lithuania by economic sectors per month looks like this: 

Information and communication – € 3 527    

Financial and insurance activities – € 3 052  

Professional, scientific and technical activities – € 2 385  

Public Administration and Protection – € 2 231   

Health and social activities – € 2 175    

Supply of electricity, gas, heating and air conditioning – € 2 131    

Education – € 1 891  

Production – € 1 799   

Wholesale and retail trade – € 1 713   

Water supply, sewerage and waste management – € 1 639   

Transport and logistics – € 1 625  

Construction – € 1 611  

Arts, entertainment and leisure – € 1 553   

Fishing, agriculture and forestry – € 1 551   

Real estate transactions – € 1 526  

Administrative services – € 1 495   

Accommodation and food – € 1 235   

The information is based on official data from the Lithuanian Department of Statistics.  

As you can see, the salary in Lithuania depends on the industry and profession. Very high average salaries are paid in industries such as IT, legal consulting, and medicine. Transportation, construction, and manufacturing offer average salaries. Low wages are observed in the service sector. 

Average monthly salary per month in Lithuania by region  

The income gap between residents of different regions of Lithuania continues to grow every year. The districts are increasingly lagging behind the capital of Lithuania, the city of Vilnius and other large municipalities. Residents who have declared their place of residence have the highest incomes in the cities of Näringa and Vilnius. The average salary per month in the city of Vilnius is 47% higher than the average salary in other regions.  

Vilnius County – € 2 115   

Alytus County – € 1 523  

Kaunas County – € 1 897  

Klaipėda County – € 1 783  

Marijampolsk District – € 1 488   

Panevėžys County – € 1 593  

Šiauliai County – € 1 599   

Taurazski County – € 1 503    

Telšiai County – € 1 645  

Utenski County – € 1 497 

Payroll taxes in Lithuania in 2024  

Wages in Lithuania, which are low by European Union standards, are offset by relatively moderate taxes. Specifically, the state has a fixed income tax, which is collected at the rate of 20%. In some cases, an increase of up to 32% is envisaged if the annual income exceeds 60 average salaries (€101,094 in 2024).  

Payroll Tax Rates in Lithuania in 2024:  

Income tax – 20-32%  

Health insurance contributions – 6.98% (per employee)  

Social security tax – 19.5% (per employee) 

Cost of living  

It is very important to calculate the cost of housing first when we want to know the cost of living in Lithuania or anywhere else. Usually, housing consumes a good part of our budget. 

Dwelling 

Renting a one-bedroom apartment located in the city center costs an average of 610 €. If it is located in the suburbs or in a village, the value drops to approximately 250 – 400 €. 

Other monthly expenses 

There are more costs that need to be calculated to figure out more or less how much you will spend per month living in Lithuania, and here are their averages: 

Electricity, gas, water and garbage: €180 (an amount that may vary depending on the size of the apartment and its costs in summer and winter); 

Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs  

Inexpensive restaurant: €5.50 – €15   

Bottle of Coca-Cola: €1 – €3   

1L of milk: € 0.80 – € 1.80  

Bread (500g): € 0.80 – € 2   

12 eggs: €1.20 – €3    

1 kg of chicken: €3.50 – €9   

1 kg of beef: €6 – €15    

1 kg of apples: €0.60 – €2    

1 kg of white rice: €1 – €3.50   

Transport    

one-way ticket – €0.65 – €1    

monthly card – €28 – €30  

Internet €10 – €17    

Cost of clothing, personal items, gym and leisure  

Here I will point out some clothing prices, as well as other useful prices:  

Pair of jeans: €30 – €100  

Summer dress: €22 – €55    

Maratonka: €50 – €120    

Business shoes: €60 – €160     

Gym membership: €17 – €60   

Cinema ticket: €7 – €11