Young people in Lithuania enjoy a relaxed lifestyle and lower income, according to an American expat.

At 27 years old, Bernard Meyer relocated from the U.S. to Lithuania, the world's happiest country for young people.

He has spent over a decade in a northeastern European country and now claims that despite earning less money, the improved quality of life is worth the sacrifice.

In 2012, after graduating in 2008 during the Great Recession, Meyer, a senior communications and creative director at marketing automation platform Omnisend, relocated to Vilnius, Lithuania's capital city.

After graduating college, I had the choice to return to working at Starbucks or to utilize my degree and teach English abroad, as the 39-year-old shared in an interview with CNBC Make It.

In 2009, Meyer began teaching English in Mongolia. Later, his brother, who was visiting a friend in Vilnius, invited him to join them.

Meyer remained in Vilnius for several months and met his Lithuanian girlfriend, who is now his wife.

In Vilnius, he discovered a completely different existence from his daily routine in the U.S.

"Meyer stated that the slower pace of life in this place is not negative, but rather a positive aspect. In comparison to the US, individuals here are less focused on working hard and pushing themselves to earn more or engage in political discussions constantly."

He permanently resided in Vilnius after completing a teaching contract in Taiwan and continues to live there with his wife and two daughters.

Lithuania is a popular destination for young workers seeking a beautiful natural scenery and attractive work-life balance, as Meyer is not the only one making the move.

Lithuania was ranked as the world's happiest country for people under 30 years old, and also ranked 19th overall in the World Happiness Report 2024.

"Ten years ago, I would have considered that to be very confusing," Meyer remarked, commenting on the ranking. "They had this terrible idiom that Lithuanians are happiest when their neighbor's house is burning."

During the financial crisis that severely affected Lithuania and its neighboring countries, the nation faced challenges in emerging from the economic downturn.

According to Meyer, things are now very different, and this place has become a great spot for young people to reside.

To entice skilled foreign workers, the country has introduced several initiatives, such as expedited visa processing and a 3,788 euro ($4,170) allowance for those employed under permanent contracts in high-value-added roles.

Meyer highlighted three significant advantages of residing in the city famously referred to as "The G-spot of Europe."

A better quality of life

In Vilnius, Meyer began his career in education, teaching in private schools. He later shifted to content marketing in 2016.

Although he earns less than his US-based colleagues, Meyer claims to have a good quality of life and owns both an apartment in Vilnius and a summer house in a nearby town.

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Lithuania, including rent, is approximately 41% lower than in the United States.

Meyer stated that upon initially viewing the salary disparities, one might consider it excessive.

He doesn't want to move back because he has access to free healthcare and his family will be taken care of in Lithuania.

"Many horror stories are heard about the U.S. where people give up and don't receive the necessary treatment due to fear of receiving a $25,000 bill for five stitches and an x-ray," he stated.

Meyer underwent surgery on his knee due to a torn ligament in Vilnius, requiring a three-day hospital stay. However, the final bill was zero.

Although he requires the services of private physicians at times, the cost is reasonable in comparison to the U.S.

"He stated that he would be extremely stressed in the U.S. due to the high stress levels, despite the higher pay and more money."

'Work-life balance'

Vilnius is fast becoming an "emerging tech hub" Meyer said.

Over 890 startups are located in the Lithuanian capital, which has produced three unicorns to date, including Vinted, Nord Security, and Baltic Classifieds Groups.

A tech campus worth $110 million and spanning 55,000 square meters is being constructed in Vilnius, with the capacity to accommodate 5,000 digital workers, making it the largest startup campus in Europe.

While the burgeoning tech scene has fostered a hustle culture, Meyer asserts that it is significantly distinct from the work culture in the U.S.

"Upon my arrival, I observed that everyone had a side hustle, but they were not working 9-to-5 and 5-to-9 on it. Instead, they were working on it part-time while maintaining a work-life balance. This created a hustle culture without the pressure of working long hours, which I believe is beneficial."

Vilnius' post-work culture is quite relaxed, with individuals frequently visiting bars, cafes, going for walks, or riding bikes after the 9-to-5 workday.

Vilnius is a beautiful city where people highly value connecting with nature, and its extreme walkability sets it apart from many major U.S. cities.

"They work hard and hustle during their time here, but once that time period ends, they know how to switch off and this is what makes them happy."

The attitude towards vacations differs significantly between the U.S. and Vilnius.

Meyer stated that during their time in the U.S., they never took a vacation and did not know anyone who willingly went on vacation.

He stated that he never requires employees to work on weekends or holidays as a manager.

"I inform them that, in my opinion, Europeans typically do not work in emergency departments in hospitals. Although there may be fires, this does not necessarily mean that one must abandon their vacation."

Meyer stated that while there is less of the "speed and hustle" of Silicon Valley, the work-life balance in our location makes up for it. It's a worthwhile sacrifice.

Meyer feels safer in Lithuania

Meyer is hesitant to return to the U.S. because he feels more secure in Lithuania.

In the U.S., there is a persistent environment of violence and racism, while in Lithuania, Meyer stated that it may sound harsh, but she doesn't have to worry about her kids getting killed in a school shooting or at any other public place.

He added that as a Black man, he sometimes forgets that he is different because it is not often discussed here.

"In Vilnius, while people may notice the racial aspect, it doesn't feel like an essential component of my role, in contrast to the U.S. where it is more deeply ingrained in society."