yegorovnick/Shutterstock
This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with a digital marketer Aivaras Vilutis, about being a 28-year-old living in Vilnius, Lithuania. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I grew up in a small Lithuanian town but moved to the capital, Vilnius, for university. I've lived here most of my adult life.
Vilnius is a growing city full of opportunities. Compared to smaller Lithuanian cities, it has more jobs and events, and there's a constant influx of new people.
Recently, Lithuania topped the World Happiness Report ranking for under 30s, with the country's young people rating themselves 7.76 out of 10 on the happiness scale. I completely understand why, especially as a young person living in Vilnius.
When I was in high school, most classmates planned to either learn a trade in college or go to university.
The state funds higher education in public institutions. As long as you pass your national exams during high school, you can apply to a state-funded university with free tuition.
Although our degrees are specialized, you can still change your mind and switch degrees. I initially studied creativity communication but changed my mind. Because I'd completed less than half of my credits for the degree, I could still switch to a new bachelor's and complete it free of charge. This is the standard practice in Lithuanian universities. Our education system didn't put me in a box. I started and completed a degree in neurophysics.
If I had completed more than half the credits for my degree, I would have had to pay to start another degree.
During my four-year neurophysics bachelor's degree, I did several paid internships in science labs and traveled abroad for a semester at NASA, which the university paid for.
When I did an International Internship for NASA in America, people said they appreciated how specialized Lithuanian degrees were, which showed me that our education system is respected internationally.
I left university without any debt, giving me a strong financial start.
Lithuania has plenty of laser, medical, and customer support industries that have been around for years. They're still thriving and generating new job opportunities.
We're also becoming a major tech hub. Startups and tech companies are booming in cities like Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda.
Lithuania is home to unicorn companies like Vinted and Nord Security, and the government has started investing in tech development through national programs. My first job after university was in tech at a simultaneous language interpretation company. I've also worked in digital advertising.
While working in Vilnius, I've earned more than my parents did in their small town. Salaries aren't as high as in Western Europe, but they align with the lower cost of living.
I never worried about money on my digital advertising salary. I ordered takeaway for most dinners and never turned down a social event for money reasons. I've still been able to travel to western countries as well as to cheaper destinations in Eastern Europe.
When I briefly lived in America and other European countries, the cost of everything seemed really high compared to Vilnius.
I can find a place to rent on my own in Vilnius for 600 euros a month. Although I'm not looking to buy a house, my parents bought a two-bedroom apartment eight years ago for around 80,000 euros. House prices are more expensive now, but still cheaper than in other European cities.
Going out with friends is cheap, making for a great social life. A beer costs five euros, and an average restaurant meal costs 10 euros.
As a single person, I can spend as little as 40 euros a week on groceries.
My friends and I attend several concerts or festivals a month because they are either free or very cheap. Nightclub entry is often 10 euros or less.
Autumn and winter can be very cold in Lithuania. People get excited by the first snowfall of the year, but they also tend to socialize less than they do in the spring and summer. The occasional person experiences seasonal depression when the seasons change, and people go out less, but most appreciate this calmer time.
In Vilnius, outdoor cafés stretch throughout the Old Town, with people catching up over espresso that is just as good as in Italy.
The mix of city and nature is perfectly balanced. There are beautiful outdoor areas, and I run in the woods every morning.
In the summer, my friends and I flock to one of the many lakes scattered around Vilnius.
The city is home to many young people and is more multicultural than other parts of the country, so it feels more open to minorities.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I find Vilnius very safe. People from the LGBTQ+ community move to the city because it's a younger, more accepting demographic, and the culture is more vibrant here. Living in a post-Soviet country, it's difficult to change the views of older people.
I love my country. I have lived elsewhere, including in Portugal, America, and Italy, but I always wanted to return to Vilnius. I missed the hipster bars, Lithuanian craft beer, and the forest greenery. It is the happiest place for me as a young person.
However, outside Vilnius, the situation isn't as good for young people. It's less diverse, and there aren't the same opportunities, so young people often move to bigger cities.
I don't think people in old age would classify Lithuania as one of the happiest places in the world. They don't want to leave, either, but in regional areas, there are fewer opportunities for them. The generation spent most of their lives in the Soviet era and was not exposed to the same opportunities as we are now.
I would love Lithuania to become more multicultural. Our happiness ranking for under 30s is great publicity, but I'm not sure it will encourage people to move here.
You have to live in Vilnius to really understand how welcoming and wonderful the city is. There is a vibe here unlike any other place I have visited or lived.
