Reykjavík vs Vilnius Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Reykjavík vs Vilnius: everyday costs favor Vilnius (~48% CPI gap), housing index favors Vilnius, wage stretch favors Reykjavík. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Vilnius
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (100% gap, Vilnius ahead); Utilities (100% gap, Vilnius ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $960 lower in Vilnius than in Reykjavík (~54% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $960 (favoring Vilnius).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Vilnius | CPI 41.7 vs 80 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Vilnius | Rent index 21.2 vs 47.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Vilnius | Groceries index 45.4 vs 91.8 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Vilnius | One-way ticket 0.75 vs 302.55 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Vilnius | Utilities (85m²) 39.01 vs 13027.2 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Vilnius | Internet 40.31 vs 5738.04 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Vilnius | Restaurant index 38 vs 90 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Reykjavík | Avg net salary 843621.6 vs 3707.6 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Reykjavík | PP index 98.6 vs 65 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Vilnius leads with a 100% gap.
One-way ticket 0.75 vs 302.55 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Vilnius — Lower housing / rent index (55% gap).
- Families: Vilnius — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Vilnius; purchasing power favors Reykjavík.
- Remote Workers: Vilnius — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Vilnius (~48% gap).
- Budget Living: Vilnius — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Vilnius is the overall cost winner on CPI (~48% lower everyday-cost index than Reykjavík).
- Housing: Vilnius leads on rent index (55% gap).
- Food / groceries: Vilnius is lower (51% gap).
- Purchasing power: Reykjavík scores higher (34% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (100%), favoring Vilnius.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$960 cheaper in Vilnius.
Analysis
Reykjavík versus Vilnius is not a single number. With a 48% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Vilnius, while housing follows Vilnius's rent index. Purchasing power (98.6 vs 65) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.