Moving to Lithuania from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Lithuania — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Lithuania, you would find that Lithuania is 64.0% more expensive than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,223,766 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly €98,106 in Lithuania to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Lithuanian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vilnius averages 51°F vs 77°F in Pretoria, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Africa to Lithuania.
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,223,766 → €98,106
To maintain the same standard of living in Lithuania
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 82.6% more
Groceries
pay 23.6% more
Transportation
pay 22.7% more
Housing
pay 19.3% more
Childcare
pay 2.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 72.9% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from South Africa to Lithuania, based on official data.
people moved from South Africa to Lithuania · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Lithuania?
Top countries of origin for Lithuania's foreign-born residents.
- 51,718
- 33,813
- 20,566
- 6,620
- 5,722
- 4,248
- · · ·
-
64.25
South Africa
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Africa to Lithuania.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Lithuania performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Lithuania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Lithuania performs significantly better than South Africa across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Lithuania performs significantly better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Lithuania generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Lithuania generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Data: South African Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Pretoria | Vilnius |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 33°/22°F (0°/-5°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 69°/52°F (21°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 40°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Vilnius |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 29°/20°F (-1.6°/-6.4°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.5°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.1°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 54°/36°F (12.2°/2.3°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 70°/51°F (21.0°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.1°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 62°/47°F (16.8°/8.1°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/3.8°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 38°/31°F (3.5°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 31°/23°F (-0.6°/-5.0°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Lithuania. To live, work, or study long-term in Lithuania, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Lithuania's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Lithuania
Visa Required
Lithuania passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Lithuania than South Africa?
No — Lithuania is on average about 49% more expensive than South Africa. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Lithuania?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €24,526 in Lithuania on a ZAR1,223,766 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Lithuania?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Lithuania has 29.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Lithuania safe for expats?
Lithuania performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Lithuania is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa. About 64% of people in Lithuania feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Lithuania compared to South Africa?
Lithuania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 51.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Lithuania, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Lithuania scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Lithuania compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Vilnius is 51°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Vilnius receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Lithuania?
The official language in Lithuania is Lithuanian. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Lithuania
At a Glance
ZA
|
LT
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 2,683,546 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Euro (€) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Lithuanian |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +370 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 112 |