Cost of Living in Albania

Updated: February 01, 2025

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 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 4.12 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 24.71 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.12 USD, a loaf of bread 0.61 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 2.09 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.33 USD and a monthly pass around 13.18 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 71.48 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 29.05 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 13.27 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 136.25 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 2754.67 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 35.27 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 66.79 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 296.59 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 183.19 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 1535.09 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 764.71 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 371.23 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 4.74% annually.

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.

Cost of Living in Albania

Albania

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing