Why Vilnius Remains a Perfect Choice for Expats

Lithuania is a country that doesn’t get often talked about. A country plentiful in natural resources, it has endless landscapes. It offers the world so much but it’s also a country with a torn history and as such, has struggled to get back on its feet since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

But since Lithuania joined the European Union in 2004, a new expat scene has started to emerge off the back of more mobility and access for EU citizens has given the country a new life or renaissance some would say.

Most expats are looking for a cheaper, more relaxed alternative to gentrified cities such as Berlin or London. With a population of just under three million people, most expats choose to call its culturally rich capital, Vilnius, home.

From the expat’s points of view, there are reasons why they choose this Baltic country sandwiched between Belarus and Russia. It is one of the safest countries in the world. According to the site SafeAround, out of 160 countries, it’s ranked 33^rd with a score of 78.6 percent, placing it not far behind Japan and Sweden.

It might take some time to get used to the food, but most expats agree that once you jump in, dishes like the traditional cepelinai and kugelis and desserts like šakotis will put a smile on your face. It’s hearty, warm and has a lot of the local life mixed within.

Vilnius remains one of the cheapest cities in the world for expats, with rent hovering around €500 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. In fact, Vilnius stands 365^th out of 572 cities in the world in costs of living. If you plan to raise a family in Lithuania, then you should know that education is almost free, and for the native students of Lithuania, they don’t have the morbid university debts hanging over their heads. Oh, and this will put a smile on your face: their tax rate is around 15 percent for individuals and corporations.

If culture is your thing, then Vilnius has it covered. Did you know that Anthony Kiedis and Charles Bronson both have ancestry from Lithuania? But sports remain one of their proudest sectors, producing stars like NBA player Domantas Sabonis — basketball is highly regarded in Lithuania — Olympic world record holder for swimming Rūta Meilutytė and even in poker with Antanas “Tony G” Guoga and Dominykas Karmazinas.

If you are into electronic music — Lithuania has a massive scene with a lust for dancing — there is a local circuit that has produced great clubs like Opium and Kablys where top-notch world-class artists share their wares with local audiences. In the summer, you might also want to check out the local favorite Sūpynės Festival.

But before you go, if you are just a wee bit curious and want to see more of the human side of Vilnius, make sure you check out this blog Human of Vilnius. It’s a great snapshot of the different types of people that parade around the city. Į sveikatą, which means cheers or to health.

Are you an expat in Vilnius and you wish to have an English tour? Check the English tours of Vilnius here.