Which supermarket is cheapest in Lithuania?

Lidl and Maxima usually come out cheapest in basket surveys, with Norfa also competitive. Iki and Rimi tend to sit slightly higher but run frequent loyalty deals. Prices change weekly, so check the app offers before a big shop.

Are supermarkets open on Sundays?

Yes. Most are open seven days a week, typically 08:00–22:00 or later. The main exceptions are a few public holidays such as Christmas, when the big chains close.

What is the extra charge added to bottled drinks?

It is a €0.10 refundable deposit on most cans and plastic/glass drink bottles. Bring the empties back to a reverse vending machine (taromatas) at any larger store to get the money back.

Do I need a loyalty card to get the advertised prices?

Often yes. Many shelf 'offer' prices at Maxima, Iki and Rimi only apply if you scan a (free) loyalty card or the shop's app at the till. It is worth signing up on day one.

Where can I find international or Asian groceries?

Larger Maxima and Rimi stores carry a world-foods aisle. For wider choice, try specialist Asian/Indian shops in Vilnius and Kaunas, and the city markets like Halės turgus for fresh produce, spices and cheese.

Grocery shopping in Lithuania: Maxima, Iki, Lidl & the rest

Lithuania's grocery scene is dominated by five chains — Maxima, Iki, Lidl, Rimi and Norfa — and they cover most of what you'll need, seven days a week. Below is how to shop them well, plus the bottle-deposit quirk that catches every newcomer.

The main supermarkets at a glance

Chain	Roughly where it sits on price	Good to know
Lidl	Cheapest / discount	German discounter, strong own-brand range, weekly themed offers
Maxima	Cheap, everywhere	Biggest chain; stores graded by size (Maxima X, XX, XXX)
Norfa	Cheap	Local chain, frequent deals, fewer city-centre stores
Iki	Mid	Wide range, good fresh counters
Rimi	Mid / premium feel	Latvian chain, larger Hyper stores, solid world-foods aisle

Basket surveys repeatedly put Lidl and Maxima at the bottom for price, with Norfa close behind. Iki and Rimi tend to cost a little more but run aggressive loyalty offers, so the "cheapest" shop on any given week depends on what's on promotion.

Maxima's naming trips people up: the more X's, the bigger the shop. A Maxima X is a small corner store; a Maxima XXX is a full hypermarket with clothing, homeware and a big fresh section.

Opening hours

Most supermarkets open seven days a week, roughly 08:00–22:00 (some from 07:30, some until 23:00). Smaller city stores may open later and close earlier. The big exceptions are certain public holidays — notably Christmas — when major chains close entirely. If you're stuck late at night, petrol-station shops on main roads are typically open 24/7 for basics.

Loyalty cards: get them on day one

This is the single biggest way to save. Many shelf "offer" prices only apply when you scan a loyalty card or the chain's app at the till — pay without one and you're charged full price.

Maxima "Ačiū" card — free; gives member-only prices, cash-back "Maxima money" on some purchases and a birthday discount. Works as a physical card or in the Maxima app.
Iki Premija — small one-off fee (around €1) for member pricing; no points system.
Rimi — free loyalty card/app with personalised offers.

Download the apps

The Maxima, Lidl, Iki and Rimi apps show the week's offers and store the card as a barcode, so you don't need to carry plastic. Lidl's app also runs digital coupons.

The bottle deposit (taromatas) — don't bin the empties

When you buy most canned or bottled drinks, a refundable deposit of €0.10 per container is added at the till (as of 2026 — confirm on grazintiverta.lt). It applies to eligible metal cans, glass and PET plastic bottles marked with the deposit logo.

To get it back:

Keep your empties (rinse them; don't crush — the machine reads the barcode and shape).
Take them to a taromatas — a reverse vending machine, usually in a small annexe by the entrance of larger supermarkets.
Feed in the containers; the machine prints a voucher.
Redeem the voucher at the checkout, either as cash or off your next shop.

It's worth it: over a few weeks the deposits add up, and the empties are otherwise just clutter in your flat.

Eating well on a student budget

Groceries are a big share of a student's monthly outgoings. A rough sense of overall living costs is captured in €350–€700unverified, with food a major slice of that.

Ways to keep the bill down:

Compare weekly offers across two nearby chains in their apps before a big shop.
Buy own-brand — Lidl, Maxima and the others all have budget ranges that are usually fine.
Markets for fresh food. City markets like Halės turgus in Vilnius sell produce, farmer's cheese, smoked meats, honey and rye bread, often cheaper and fresher than supermarkets. Kaunas and other cities have their own markets too.
Shop late for reduced "best before today" items, though stock is hit-and-miss.

International and specialist food

Larger Maxima and Rimi stores carry a world-foods aisle (Asian sauces, Mexican, Indian basics). For a fuller range — rice in bulk, fresh herbs, halal meat, regional spices — look for dedicated Asian, Indian, Turkish and Middle Eastern grocers in Vilnius and Kaunas, and check the city markets.

Cards work nearly everywhere

Contactless card and phone payments are accepted in virtually all Lithuanian supermarkets, so you rarely need cash — though market stalls may prefer it.