Fukuoka vs Vilnius

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

Vilnius, Lithuania
🇱🇹Lithuania

Vilnius

71Freedom Score#45Global rank$1,526Per month

Lithuania's compact capital — a UNESCO baroque old town, strong fiber, and a surprisingly deep fintech scene in the heart of the Baltics.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseFukuokaVilnius
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,600$1,526
Rent, 1BR city centre$500$686
Meal, mid-range$10$12
Coworking deskper month$180$137
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper64.033.9

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureFukuokaVilnius
Safety
85
71
Healthcare
90
65
Walkability
85
75
English spoken
42
75
Food & dining
90
65
Nightlife
65
65
Outdoors
58
62
Nomad community
58
50
Climate quality
60
55
Public transit
95
70

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFukuokaVilnius
Freedom Score73/10071/100
Global rankof 100 cities#37#45
Internet100 Mbps150 Mbps
Average temperature63°F48°F
Air quality30/10035/100
Airport connectivity78/10055/100
Nomad visa90 days free90-day+ stay
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Fukuoka if rent is $186/mo lower, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 71), it is more walkable and the climate scores better.

Choose Vilnius if runs $74/mo cheaper, internet is faster at 150 Mbps and English is more widely spoken.

What each city is known for

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Vilnius

  • EU & Schengen access at low Baltic prices
  • Baroque UNESCO old town, small and very walkable
  • Europe's fintech hub — strong digital infrastructure
  • Quiet, safe, green — great for focused work

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Fukuoka or Vilnius?
Fukuoka scores higher on the Freedom Score (73/100 against 71/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Fukuoka or Vilnius?
Vilnius is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,526 against $1,600, a difference of $74 a month or about $888 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $500/mo in Fukuoka versus $686/mo in Vilnius.
Which is safer: Fukuoka or Vilnius?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 71/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Fukuoka and Vilnius?
Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps and Vilnius averages 150 Mbps, so Vilnius has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Fukuoka or Vilnius?
Fukuoka sits in Japan (90 days free) and Vilnius in Lithuania (90-day+ stay). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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