Cost of Renting an Apartment in Albania

Depending on the city you choose to live in, the rent may vary significantly. For example, apartments in Tirana, the capital, are much more expensive than those in Korca or other smaller cities in Albania.

In recent years the rent prices have gone up quite a lot, since Albania is becoming a significantly more wanted place to live in, so the lowest rent for an apartment in Tirana would be around €350 per month, for a two-bedroom apartment, and a lot cheaper for a one-bedroom.

It’s also important to choose wisely the area you want to rent in. If you have a job near the center, it would be better if you didn’t choose an apartment too far, since the transportation isn’t always reliable if you don’t have your car, but we’ll get into that later on in the article.

Furthermore, remember that apartments in remote areas are much cheaper than those in busy neighborhoods, so if you prefer some quiet and tranquility, that might be best for you. Of all the cities in Albania, foreigners tend to choose Tirana as their new home, being a more developed city that offers more job opportunities.

Nowadays, most houses are rented with agencies, so you’ll have to pay extra fees to the real estate agency, but you can also find independent landlords to save some money. You can search for apartments in the local papers or on different websites, where you can contact the agency or owner directly.

Cost of Power in Albania

Power is, of course, another cost of everyday life. In Albania, the price of power has gone up when compared to the past, just like the actual Albania cost of living in general. They vary each month depending on how much power you use, but the average is around €20-€25 per month if you’re living alone.

There sometimes are power cuts during large storms or rainfalls. In the past, there used to be very frequent power cuts, but nowadays, it doesn’t happen often.

Cost of Water in Albania

While living in Albania, you have to pay a monthly fee for water. It depends on how much water you use from month to month, but on average, it can be around €18 per month, or 20,000 Albanian Lek.

If you’re wondering whether you can drink tap water in Albania, you unfortunately can’t. It’s reported to contain high levels of chlorine and metals, so it’s not safe. There are a couple of cities where you can consume it, but in the capital, you can’t.

The overall costs of water in Albania are pretty low, so buying bottled water shouldn’t be a big bother. A large 5-liter bottle of water costs only €1.7, or around 180 Albanian Lek.

Nevertheless, if you don’t want to buy bottles of water, you can fill up bottles in springs around Albania, with water coming fresh from the mountains.

Cost of Wi-Fi in Albania

Many new residents in Albania might ask about the cost of Wi-Fi since it has become an unavoidable necessity in our lives, especially if you work online. Lucky for you, the internet in Albania is of pretty good quality, and you don’t have to pay too much for it.

Most people choose to sign Wi-Fi contracts with telecommunication companies, which usually last a year and you pay it monthly. The average cost is around €15-€20 per month, and the internet speed is great.

In Albania, you can sign a contract with companies like Vodafone or One, depending on your preferred offers and prices.

Food Prices in Albania

Albania is known for its delicious food and fresh products, which are reasonably priced. If you love to eat out, you will have a blast here. Of course, eating in the capital is a bit more expensive than in other cities, but let’s have a look at some average food prices in Albania, starting with some basic restaurant orders:

• Greek salad: €3
• Medium-sized pizza: €7
• Cheeseburger: €4
• Vegetable soup: €3.5
• Grilled steak: €10-€15 per portion
• A glass of wine: €4.5 

Now, here are some everyday groceries you can buy:

• Eggs: €2.5 for a dozen
• Carton of milk: €1.5
• Loaf of bread: €1
• Tomatoes: €1 per kilogram
• Potatoes: €1 per kilogram
• Peppers: €1 per kilogram
• Butter: €12 per kilogram

In restaurants all across Albania, you’ll be surprised at the amount and quality of food compared to its price. Usually, for a full meal, you’ll have to pay around €15 per person in a nice restaurant.

You can also enjoy some very delicious meals at restaurants with traditional Albanian food or international restaurants that serve sushi or Indian food. An all-you-can-eat offer for sushi in Tirana costs around €22 per person.

Coffee shops are a very dear place for Albanians, especially in the capital. Nothing tastes better than a cup of coffee and a snack after a long day at work, and most Albanians would agree. You can get an Espresso for about €0.7 or a Latte for €1.6. Most coffee shops also serve delicious snacks, such as cupcakes or donuts, which cost up to €1.4.

Cost of Transportation in Albania

If you’re coming to Albania as a foreigner, transportation is probably one of your biggest concerns. But no worries; even if you don’t own a car, transportation in Albania is not that big of a hassle.

Most big cities use buses as their means of transportation. Some lines go all across the city, and the price is usually about €0.3 or 30 Albanian Lek for a ride inside the city. In the remote towns, you’ll see furgons, which are smaller than buses because fewer people are using them.

Also, numerous bus lines travel from one city to the other; you just have to head to the bus terminal of every city. For example, a bus ticket from Tirana to Pogradec is around €6, or if you’re taking a bus from Tirana to Saranda, it’s €15 for a one-way ticket.

There is no Uber in Albania, but you can just call a taxi and get to your destination. You can find them everywhere, and the price varies from one taxi company to the other, with the most well-known ones being SpeedTaxi or CityTaxi.

You’ll be surprised at how many fancy cars you’ll see in Tirana. There are expensive Mercedes and BMWs everywhere you look. Some people in Albania tend to go for rather pricey cars because the taxes are pretty low here, so they just make the most of it.

You can also easily rent a car in Albania if you’d like to go exploring or just on a road trip. Cars for rent can be found in every city, from companies such as Europcar or Rentalcars.

FAQ Albania Cost of Living