Cost of Living in Albania

If you've ever considered moving to Albania, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Albania?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Albania and whether the reported $1111 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $371.23.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Albania
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

4.12 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

24.71 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

4.53 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

1.24 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.06 $

Cappuccino (regular)

1.1 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

1.13 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.53 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.12 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

0.61 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.18 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

2.09 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

5.47 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

4.42 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

7.51 $

Apples (1 lb)

0.87 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.5 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.07 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.01 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.66 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.63 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.66 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.48 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

4.86 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

0.84 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.26 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

2.8 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.33 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

13.18 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

2.47 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

2.47 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

11.46 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.7 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

16471.78 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

17901.36 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

71.48 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.24 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

14.85 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

29.05 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

13.27 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

5.77 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

136.25 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

2754.67 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

35.27 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

29.95 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

66.79 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

73.5 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

296.59 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

183.19 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

516.96 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

320.01 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

1535.09 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

764.71 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

371.23 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

4.74 %

Albania

How Safe Is Albania for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Albania

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Albania is a relatively safe country to travel to. There are mild threats, nothing that should stop you from traveling there. In the main cities (Tirana, Durres, Vlore) there are no major issues, and the only area you should avoid is Albania's border with Kosovo.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Means of transportation are various in Albania but not very reliable. Just because there is a schedule, doesn't mean there actually is a schedule, so you can count on waiting for buses, trains, etc. However, it is mostly safe, but be careful of pickpockets on buses and trains.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Petty crime involving pickpocketing is common, especially if you're using public transportation. Also, cell phone thefts and wallet thefts do happen, so keep your valuables in a safe place and take basic precaution measures.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Albania lies in a seismically active zone, and minor earthquakes and tremors are common. Serious earthquakes are less frequent but do occur.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Mugging, cell phone thefts, and carjacking do happen, however, these cases are not too common. Albania is not known for kidnapping, so you should be fine, but use common sense and be vigilant for any dangers at all times.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There haven't been terrorist attacks in Albania's recent history, but they shouldn't be ruled out.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Albanians are mostly warm and hospitable people, but there's always the risk of getting scammed if you're a tourist, and this also applies to Albania. Tourists have been overcharged for beers and street food, or given the wrong change, so try to avoid street vendors and negotiate everything in advance and check your change twice.Credit card fraud is also an issue in Albania and visitors should exercise caution by not letting the card out of their sight. As a tourist, be vigilant for strangers looking over their shoulders at the PIN number or for any interference with the machine itself that could indicate a camera or some kind of a scamming machine inside the ATM.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

It is safe for women to travel alone in Albania, and most people will probably go out of their way to help in any way, but you should avoid walking in remote areas and alone at night.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

As a tourist, you don't need a visa to enter the Republic of Albania. You may stay up to one year in Albania without applying for a residency permit, and your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your stay in Albania. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

Albanian lek is the official currency in Albania. Some say that Albania is a little more expensive than Skopje or Bucharest, but it is still cheaper than in most European countries. Use ATM's with caution and exchange your money in banks.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters in the lowlands. In the highlands, it is cold from November until March, and snow is a regular occurrence. Cities near mountains are very cold, and even during the summer nights can get very chilly.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Albania's main and busiest international airport is Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, commonly known as Rinas International Airport.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Albania, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Albania with other countries

Cost of living in countries