Vilnius, Lithuania Report of what it's like to live there - 08/16/23
Personal Experiences from Vilnius, Lithuania
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Yes, my first post.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Philadelphia then DC. With DC, there are 1-2 stopovers. With Philly, there are 2-3 stopovers. Total trip times are 18-21 hours.
3. How long have you lived here?
Two years so far.
4. What years did you live here?
2021-2024.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Dip mission
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
My house is adequate for a single person in the city, but certainly not for a family of four. I have two bedrooms or a bedroom and an office. GSO will not take unwanted furniture so you may be stuck with a second bedroom.
I live in the Old Town and it can get LOUD. I wear earplugs to bed. Commute time is 15 minute walk uphill both ways in the snow.
Now that the mission has grown, housing in the city center is SOOOO limited. Even my single friends are being kicked to the suburbs, which have fewer restaurants, more parks, but also more spread out from the rest of the mission. It's an unfortunate change, but apartments in the city are getting smaller, less comfortable, and less available since I moved here.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
For fruit and veggies, most will be expensive if not in season and on sale. Bananas have been crazy expensive here. The egg crisis has not left this country untouched either. There was a cauliflower scandal in which each head was 4 EUR. Crazy!
I honestly get most of my fruit and veggies frozen since it is cheap. Vegetables lately have been extraordinarily expensive with not much variety. Cheese selection is not the best. Yogurt selection is very limited, with one or two greek yogurts available in plain flavor.
Household supplies are available and not so expensive, but if you are picky about smells in your household, you may have issues.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Peanut butter - texture is not right here. Plastics spoons (plastic cutlery is forbidden here). Snacks - Trader Joe's-like snacks are not available. Most snacks are one ingredient - almond, chip, cracker - with little to no flavor. Gatorade is another one I wish I had shipped to post.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Food delivery is popular with all cuisines, but honestly this is not a food post. All cuisines are not great, including Lithuanian. I do not trust Italian here. The sushi is terrible. Most restaurants have not heard of seasoning. The Mexican options stink, with little to no flavor or heat. Our office salts the heck out of our take-out to make it bearable.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Bugs come in during the summer when it is too hot! Just spray and be diligent with cleaning.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
I use the Embassy post. The local post is so unreliable; if you try to order a package to the Embassy, the local postage companies will give up and return the package to the sender. You also must pay your phone bill by cash at the post office, which I think is crazy in this century.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help is getting hard to obtain. Most help will do 10-12 EUR/hour for a minimum of 5 hours, but again you need to plan for them to cancel last second or to not be able to find one. Expats employ nannies and cleaning employees.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Gyms are not widely available at all and are small and crowded. I go to a small gym, which has everything I need for three years here, but the trainers are nasty and mean. The service industry overall in this country is not like US standards; Lithuanians are so annoyed to help you.
The Embassy gym stinks and does not have great air conditioning. It is small with three treadmills, one usually broken, and 1 squat rack.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are widely accepted and safe to use. I only know of two ATMs that we should not use because of skimming.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
None.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Any local under 35 should know English. Any local over 35 knows Russian. If you have some of both, you'll be fine. Tutors are available and affordable.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes. There are many steps and steep hills that are not walker or wheelchair friendly.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Available, but there is a running joke that you will catch either tuberculosis or COVID on public transport. Bolt taxis, like Uber, are much better and cheap.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
Do not bring a large vehicle; you will never use it in the city. I do not recommend an electric car.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Available with 70 EUR install. Installed within 2 weeks of arrival.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Use a local provider for cheap, 18 EUR/mo.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
They either WFH or not at all. Not much opportunity locally for employment unless you want to work at a bar for a poor salary.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
Soup kitchens occasionally and sometimes shelters, but most of the folks running the venues speak only Lithuanian.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Work - business professional M-W, Business casual Thu, and Casual Friday. Formal dress needed for visitors and Marine Ball.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Just near the train station. Otherwise, not much.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Medical is available, but long, months long, waits for specialists.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
With the cold weather, it is fine. Although 80% of this country smokes.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Dairy is big here. Just be aware when you order and inform the waitress.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
SAD is HUGE. We got five hours of sunlight last January and you could tell it affected everyone at post. No one talked to each other outside work. It was so hard to live through.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Extremely cold in the winter time: wear 2-3 jackets and always have snow pants available. Summer can also be very rainy, which is a real bummer contrast to the winter.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
I know a family where the American school was not a good fit so they moved away to a boarding school. Similarly, I know a family complaining the school was not rigorous enough. Otherwise, they seem fine.
2. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Available, sometimes. They can be tough to get your kid into, due to overcrowding.
3. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Some sports, like soccer and basketball. I have not heard about other sports.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Overall small community with big morale issues. The winter affects us a lot, but our mission has an insane workload for so few employees. It is de-moralizing most of the time. Other expats seem to like it here.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Drinking. If you do not drink, you may have some real issues making friends here. There is an international women's group that I am a part of that I do like.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Good for everyone.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
No, they can be cold at first, but maybe better after speaking to them.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
I think in the next 2-5 years, it will be more accepting. Marriage of LGBT is still not legal here.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
I have seen some prejudices of racial and gender minorities.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
It's a quiet place, really.
8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
The coastline, 3-4 hours away seems like a nice summer getaway.
9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Most of it is junk.
10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
It is easy to live here, once you adapt.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
How small and wholesome it would be! I both enjoy and hate how tiny the little capital is.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes, it's livable.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Love of sun.
4. But don't forget your:
Sunscreen. It gets hot for 3 weeks/year.
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
No
