Renting a room in Vilnius for your Erasmus
Everything you need to know before searching for student accommodation in Vilnius. Read this first, it could save you hundreds of euros.
Need help finding a room? Write to us:
Moving to a new city is exciting. Moving to a new country and starting your studies in a different language? That's a whole different level. Your accommodation should be the one thing you don't have to worry about.
When choosing your Erasmus accommodation in Vilnius, there are important things to look out for, and others to avoid completely. Here's what we've learned from helping 300+ international students find a room since 2015.
Flat vs dormitory
Most universities in Vilnius offer dormitory accommodation (except ISM). Dormitories are cheaper, but they come with significant trade-offs:
University dormitory
- Shared room (~10m² with 1-2 others)
- Shared bathroom (30-40 people)
- Shared kitchen (30-40 people per floor)
- Older, unrenovated facilities
- Limited privacy
Private room with us
- Your own private room
- Shared with only 2-5 flatmates
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Renovated flats in the old town
- All utilities included
If privacy, comfort, and a modern living space matter to you, renting a private room is worth the extra cost. See our available rooms.
Where to live: center vs suburbs
If your university is outside the center (like VGTU or MRU), you'll need to choose between living nearby or commuting from the old town.
Living outside the center, near university
Public transport in Vilnius stops around 23:00. If you enjoy going out, you'll rely on taxis to get back. A taxi from the center to the suburbs costs around 12€ per ride (using an app like Bolt, street taxis are much more expensive). Going out just twice a week means roughly 100€/month in taxi costs alone.
Outside the center, Vilnius is mostly residential with limited entertainment, restaurants, and nightlife.
Living in the center, commuting to university
Daytime public transport works well and a monthly student bus pass costs just a few euros. You'll live where all the action is (restaurants, bars, clubs, cultural events) and commute to university during the day when buses run frequently.
All our flats are in or very near the old town, with excellent bus connections to all universities in Vilnius.
Coliving spaces: read the fine print
Coliving spaces are becoming popular in Vilnius and are often marketed to Erasmus students. The rooms look nice and the prices seem competitive, but there are important details that are easy to miss.
Utilities are usually not included. The advertised price is just the base rent. On top of that, you'll pay separately for heating, water, electricity, and internet. In winter, heating alone can add a significant amount to your monthly bill.
Shared laundry is inconvenient and expensive. Most coliving spaces don't have a washing machine in the flat. Instead, they offer shared laundry rooms in the building:
- You pay for every wash, and the cost adds up quickly over a semester
- Machines are often occupied, especially on weekends
- You have to go back to collect your clothes after the cycle, or risk someone removing them
- No flexibility, you can't do laundry whenever you want
All our flats have a washing machine inside the apartment, available for tenants at no extra cost. Utilities (heating, water, electricity, internet) are all included in the rent, no surprise bills.
When comparing prices, always add up the real total cost: base rent + utilities + laundry + any other fees. You might find that a coliving space ends up costing the same as (or more than) a private room with everything included.
Rental agencies
There are many rental agencies in Vilnius. The quality varies widely. The main downside is the commission fee: typically one full month of rent. If your rent is 400€, you'll pay an additional 400€ to the agency just for finding the flat.
We don't charge any commission. You deal directly with the owner, saving 10-20% of your total rental cost over a semester. Learn more about how renting from us works.
Scams and deposit frauds
Scams are common when renting a room online in Vilnius. Scammers specifically target Erasmus students because they're abroad and can't visit in person. They typically offer beautiful flats at suspiciously low prices with amazing locations.
How to protect yourself:
- Visit in person if possible, or send a friend. If you can't, ask for a live video tour.
- Never pay the full deposit and first month's rent upfront. A reservation deposit should be much less than one month's rent. Scammers try to extract as much money as possible before you arrive.
- Only pay to Lithuanian bank accounts (IBAN starting with "LT"). If someone asks you to wire money abroad, it's a red flag.
- Avoid sites.google.com links or similar free hosting, legitimate businesses have their own websites.
- Ask for references from current or previous tenants.
- Watch out for mentions of "metro, subway, tram", Vilnius doesn't have any of these. If an ad mentions them, it's fake.
- Check Facebook profiles carefully. Scammer profiles are usually very new, created in the last few months.
- Prices must be in euros (€). If you see USD, GBP, or any other currency, it's a scam.
We only ask for half of the security deposit to reserve your room, and we accept payments exclusively to our Lithuanian bank account.
Sub-renting: the hidden risk
The majority of rooms offered to Erasmus students in Vilnius are sub-rented. This means someone rented an apartment from the owner and is now re-renting it to you. This is only legal if the original contract explicitly allows it, and in most cases, it doesn't.
Why is this risky?
- You're not dealing with the actual owner
- You don't know the terms of the original contract
- The landlord can void the contract at any time
- You'll lose both your room and probably your deposit
We own all the flats on our website. There is no middleman. Your contract is directly with the property owner.
Rental license
To legally rent accommodation in Lithuania, the owner must hold a rental license. Without it, your contract has no legal standing, meaning you'd have no protection if something goes wrong.
Always ask whether the landlord holds a valid rental license before signing any contract or paying any money. If they can't prove it, walk away.
We hold the necessary rental license for all our flats. Your contract is fully legal and your deposit is protected.
Check the furnishings
Many listings in Vilnius advertise "furnished" flats that are actually missing basic items. Always verify that the flat includes everything you need for daily life:
- Washing machine
- Vacuum cleaner
- Kitchen cutlery, pots, and pans
- Proper mattress (not just a bed frame)
All our flats come fully furnished with all appliances, kitchen utensils, and furniture included. You just need to bring your suitcase.
Quick checklist before you rent
Looking for a safe, comfortable room in Vilnius? We've got you covered.