LITHUANIA | Accommodation | General information
General (student) housing situation
It is useful to know that in Lithuania and especially in Vilnius it is relatively expensive to rent a flat or a house in comparison with accommodation in a hostel. It is important to consider all the costs according to your budget. There is also a big difference in rental costs in the centre of the city and its suburbs. The local transport is relatively reliable, so you can live in the outskirts and use public transport: buses, trolleybuses and minibuses. Furnished flats usually have a fridge, dishes, cutlery, bed linen, a washing machine and a vacuum cleaner or other appliances.
Types of accommodation
Dormitories
Lithuania is not an expensive country to live in. If you arrive in Lithuania for a longer period under the exchange programme or alike, it is advisable to take care of accommodation in a dormitory in advance. Universities have special groups of employees such as quest service groups, accommodation centres and other for such purposes. The contact information can be found in the universities’ internet websites. The universities should be provided with information about arrival time and desirable living conditions in advance.
Living conditions depend on the price of accommodation, for example the price for foreign students for a dormitory range from 125 to 212 Lt per month (all prices are indicated according 2008) plus municipal rates for utility services. Depending on the price one can choose various types of rooms. Dormitories are not luxurious, and are of these types: several residents share one room, each with a separate bed, or each resident rents a separate room. One can choose a double or a single room, a flat of two rooms where a shower and the toilet is shared between the residents of two rooms. Every room has an Internet access. Usually an advance payment is charged for the accommodation which is 292 Lt. A cheaper possibility is also available (from 20 to 70 Lt per month).
The dormitories are maintained from the budget of the University, and residents pay fees for the use of the facilities. More information about the accommodation in dormitories of universities you will find online:
- Vilnius University: www.vu.lt/en/;
- Kaunas University of Technology: https://en.ktu.edu/
- Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas: www.vdu.lt/en/.
Hotels
The price of accommodation in hotels varies depending on the number of stars. Prices of accommodation In Kaunas and Vilnius hotels are more or less the same. Usually breakfast (buffet) is included into the accommodation price.
The Rent of a flat
In case you prefer more privacy and there are no budget constraints you can rent a flat. The rental cost depends on the city or a district you wish to settle down as well as many other conditions. You can compare the prices for a flat rent n Vilnius and Kaunas, displayed below.
Kaunas:
Monthly rent of a single room flat with all the facilities (a bathroom, a toilet, and warm water) ranges from 300 to 800 Lt per month. The price depends on the distance to the city centre, the age of a house, public utilities and other factors.
The price level of a rent is similar in Kaunas and Klaipeda. The highest prices are in Vilnius.
A room rented together with another family
This kind of service is not very popular in Lithuania. Usually such type of accommodation is used when student or schoolchildren exchange programmes are carried on.