Lithuania and Poland are two of the countries people most often shortlist together when moving to the EU. Below is an honest side-by-side on the things that shape daily life, with the stronger country marked on each row. On these measures Lithuania comes out ahead on 7, Poland on 4.
On paperwork, citizenship takes about 10 years from arrival in Lithuania and 8 in Poland, a 2-year head start for Poland.
You will get further on English alone in Lithuania than in Poland, which matters most in the first year, before the local language clicks.
🇱🇹Lithuania
🇵🇱Poland
Money & housing
Cost of living
50/100
45/100 ✓
Tax burden
50/100
45/100 ✓
Housing pressure
50/100 ✓
55/100
Documents & staying
Years to citizenship
~10 yrs
~8 yrs ✓
Bureaucracy
50/100 ✓
65/100
Daily life
Safety
80/100 ✓
75/100
Healthcare
68/100 ✓
60/100
Public transport
65/100
70/100 ✓
English
70/100 ✓
60/100
Schools
68/100 ✓
65/100
Remote-work
75/100 ✓
70/100
Climate
Cold
Cold
EU facts
Currency
Euro
Zloty
Schengen area
Yes
Yes
Illustrative MoveMap estimates (0-100 scores), not official statistics. For cost, tax, housing, bureaucracy and years, lower is better, for the rest higher is better. A ✓ marks the stronger country on rows that can be ranked. Currency and Schengen status verified July 2026.
So which should you choose?
The table shows averages, but the right answer depends on what you weigh most. If your priority is among housing pressure, bureaucracy, safety, Lithuania likely edges it. If you care more about cost of living, tax burden, years to citizenship, Poland may suit you better. Your income, family, documents and the specific city matter as much as the country, which is exactly what the MoveMap check weighs up.
Lithuania or Poland? See which fits you
Answer a quick check and get a personalized report ranking all 27 EU countries, including both of these, for your situation.