Wage gap between Vilnius region and the rest of Lithuania widens

The wage gap before taxes between Lithuania’s capital region and the Central and Western regions reached €459 (a month) in the final quarter of 2025, increasing by €54 from the previous quarter, the State Data Agency reported Tuesday.

The average gross monthly salary (excluding individual enterprises) in the Capital Region rose 1.3% to €2,592.10, while it fell by 1% to €2,132.70 in Central and Western Lithuania.

Net wages – take-home pay after taxes – stood at €1,578 in the Capital Region, a 1.2% increase from the previous quarter. In Central and Western Lithuania, the average net wage was €1,332.40, up 0.2%.

Average gross wages increased in 33 municipalities, ranging from 0.2% in Palanga to 6.6% in Birštonas, while they decreased in 24 municipalities, from 0.1% in Pasvalys District to 7.2% in Pakruojis District. Wages remained unchanged in Jonava, Kelmė and Švenčionys districts.

Vilnius city workers earned the highest average gross salary at €2,675.50, while the lowest was recorded in Zarasai District at €1,651.30.

Year-over-year, average wages increased across all municipalities in the first quarter of 2025, with growth ranging from 4.8% to 14.3%.

According to statisticians, wage changes were influenced by an increase in the minimum monthly wage, adjustments to base salary coefficients for public sector employees, changes in the calculation of the non-taxable income threshold, seasonal factors and other variables.