Cost Of Living in Albania 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Albania

Whether you're living in Albania or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Albania is 200,000 ALL. Expenses can range from 28,000 ALL at the minimum level to 1.3M ALL at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Albania is 340,000 ALL. Expenditure can range from 110,000 ALL to 1.8M ALL per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Albania is 450,000 ALL per month. Families spend anywhere from 160,000 ALL to 2.9M ALL.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Albania is 150,000 ALL. Students spend from 22,000 ALL to 990,000 ALL per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Albania

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Albania is 86% This means that on average, people spend around 86% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
77%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

72%

86%

Couple
82%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

76%

90%

Family
90%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

84%

100%

How do people spend their money in Albania?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Albania typically spend from 13% to 32% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average spend on housing is 88,000 ALL with expenditure ranging from 6,700 ALL to 880,000 ALL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Albania ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 15,000 ALL with 1,100 ALL and 150,000 ALL being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 2,200 ALL to 290,000 ALL on commuting with 29,000 ALL being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Albania is 73,000 ALL. The cost of groceries can range between 5,600 ALL to 730,000 ALL. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Albania allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 1,600 ALL to 200,000 ALL with 20,000 ALL being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 900 ALL to 120,000 ALL with 12,000 ALL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 18,000 ALL per month with 1,300 ALL being the minimum spent amount and 180,000 ALL being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Albania every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Albania manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 62% of the surveyed people in Albania said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 38% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Albania

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 7% to 27% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 14% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 98,000 ALL on average with savings ranging from 7,500 ALL to 980,000 ALL.

63% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 58% of couples said the same. 53% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Albania?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 10% to 29% of their monthly income to savings, with 18% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 68,000 ALL with 7,500 ALL and 450,000 ALL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 8% to 28% of their monthly income, with 16% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 110,000 ALL with 38,000 ALL and 600,000 ALL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Albania can save anywhere between 7% to 26% of their monthly income, with 13% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 150,000 ALL with 53,000 ALL and 980,000 ALL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Albania

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Albania. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 14% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Albania

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Albania

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Albania?

Around 60% of surveyed residents think that living in Albania is affordable with proper budgeting while 40% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Albania

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options58%

Few low-cost options42%

Based on the survey, 58% of the people living in Albania have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 42% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Albania whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes60%

No40%

Based on the survey, 40% of the people living in Albania said that they don't have an emergency fund while 60% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Albania

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy55%

We asked residents of Albania whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 45% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 55% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Albania have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 36% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 64% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance36%

Easily manages finances64%

Financial goals of people in Albania

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Albania, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 41% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 13% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Albania

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Albania and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Albania is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Albania about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Albania

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Albania

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 26% of the people in Albania have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 74% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Albania

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of the people's monthly income in Albania goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Albania pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 17% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 11% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Albania

9% of debtors in Albania confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 29% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 16% of people and personal loans rose at 42%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Albania.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Albania

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Albania how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Albania

Rent Cost in Albania

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

25,000 ALL

38,000 ALL

100,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260

$390

$1,000

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

38,000 ALL

60,000 ALL

150,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390

$630

$1,600

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

50,000 ALL

75,000 ALL

200,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$520

$780

$2,100

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

60,000 ALL

100,000 ALL

270,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$630

$1,000

$2,800

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

120,000 ALL

300,000 ALL

600,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,100

$6,300

Townhouse monthly rent cost

100,000 ALL

150,000 ALL

430,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$1,600

$4,500

House monthly rent cost

120,000 ALL

300,000 ALL

600,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,300

$3,100

$6,300

Villa monthly rent cost

150,000 ALL

380,000 ALL

600,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,600

$3,900

$6,300

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Albania ranges between 25,000 ALL and 100,000 ALL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 38,000 ALL to 150,000 ALL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 50,000 ALL and 200,000 ALL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 60,000 ALL to 270,000 ALL. The average rent of a townhouse in Albania is around 150,000 ALL while house rental costs can be as high as 300,000 ALL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 150,000 ALL to 600,000 ALL per month.

Apartment and house prices in Albania

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

5M ALL

7.5M ALL

15M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$52,000

$78,000

$160,000

1-bedroom apartment price

6M ALL

10M ALL

38M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$63,000

$100,000

$390,000

2-bedroom apartment price

10M ALL

30M ALL

60M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100,000

$310,000

$630,000

3-bedroom apartment price

33M ALL

50M ALL

150M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350,000

$520,000

$1.6M

Townhouse price

43M ALL

100M ALL

380M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$450,000

$1M

$3.9M

House price

50M ALL

300M ALL

430M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$520,000

$3.1M

$4.5M

Villa price

60M ALL

330M ALL

500M ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$630,000

$3.5M

$5.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Albania can range from 5M ALL to 15M ALL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 6M ALL to 38M ALL. A villa can cost you 330M ALL on average with prices ranging from 60M ALL to 500M ALL.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Albania can be x90 to x194 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x90 multiples of the average monthly salary in Albania.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Albania is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Albania

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Albania

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

1,700 ALL

12,000 ALL

81,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$18

$130

$840

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

4,500 ALL

15,000 ALL

99,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$47

$160

$1,000

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

7,900 ALL

22,000 ALL

150,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$82

$230

$1,500

Internet and cable cost

1,500 ALL

3,000 ALL

4,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16

$31

$42

Mobile phone bill and charges

1,200 ALL

2,000 ALL

6,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$21

$63

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Albania ranges between 1,700 ALL and 81,000 ALL with average being 12,000 ALL, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 15,000 ALL with 4,500 ALL and 99,000 ALL being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 22,000 ALL. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 1,500 ALL to 4,000 ALL with 3,000 ALL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 2,000 ALL but can range between 1,200 ALL and 6,000 ALL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Albania is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Albania

Prices and cost of goods and services in Albania

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

300 ALL

600 ALL

1,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$6.3

$10

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Albania is approximatly 600 ALL with meal cost ranging from 300 ALL to 1,000 ALL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

1,000 ALL

1,500 ALL

3,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$16

$31

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 1,000 ALL and 3,000 ALL with 1,500 ALL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Albania.

Fine dining meal for one price

2,000 ALL

3,000 ALL

12,000 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21

$31

$130

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 2,000 ALL to 12,000 ALL with the average cost being 3,000 ALL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Albania.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

250 ALL

400 ALL

600 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$4.2

$6.3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Albania is around 400 ALL. Price ranges between 250 ALL and 600 ALL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

200 ALL

240 ALL

300 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.5

$3.1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Albania is 240 ALL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 300 ALL and the minimum being 200 ALL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

150 ALL

200 ALL

300 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.1

$3.1

A dozen eggs costs around 200 ALL on average with 150 ALL and 300 ALL being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

340 ALL

440 ALL

630 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$4.6

$6.5

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Albania is between 340 ALL and 630 ALL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 440 ALL.

Pack of beef price

400 ALL

600 ALL

1,200 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.2

$6.3

$13

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 600 ALL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

160 ALL

220 ALL

310 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.3

$3.3

A bag of rice in Albania costs around 220 ALL on average with prices rangeing between 160 ALL and 310 ALL depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

60 ALL

80 ALL

150 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.63

$0.83

$1.6

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 60 ALL to 150 ALL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

110 ALL

140 ALL

230 ALL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.5

$2.4

A bag of apples costs 140 ALL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Albania is around 27%. This means that people spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 32,000 ALL per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 4,600 ALL and 220,000 ALL depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 47,000 ALL per month. That number can be get as low as 16,000 ALL or a high as 250,000 ALL. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 28,000 ALL to 530,000 ALL with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Albania

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Albania

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Albania

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Albania