How Much Does It Cost to Live in Albania? Our Real Monthly Budget

The short answer: Our first three months in Albania (July to September 2026) averaged about $2,330 a month for two people, including health insurance and a phone plan. Leave those two out, and everyday living costs averaged about $1,840 a month, ranging from about $1,600 to $2,240 depending on the month and what we did. All amounts are in US dollars.

Below you'll find our actual spending, month by month, plus what changes the price the most: where you stay and when you go.

The video walks through our first month in detail. This post adds August and September.

Our monthly spending, July to September 2026

These are real totals for two people. We stayed in Shkodër in July and August, then Durrës in September, with a side trip to Italy in September.

Our goal was to stay under $2,500 a month. We did that in July and August. September went over, mostly because we added a side trip to Italy.

Why we separate insurance and phone costs

Two items in our budget aren't about Albania at all: health insurance and our phone plan. Together they're about $480 a month, and your numbers will be different. That's why we show "everyday living costs" on their own. If you're budgeting for Albania, use that line as your starting point, then add your own insurance and phone costs.

What each category covered

Housing: about $930 to $1,090 a month

Airbnb was our largest expense every month. In July, we had a furnished apartment on the sixth floor in Shkodër with mountain views and a kitchen with everything we needed for a long stay. Three grocery stores, bakeries, vegetable stands and meat markets were all within a few minutes' walk. We book stays that are fully refundable up to a certain date, so we can change plans if something comes up.

Groceries: about $225 to $325 a month

Grocery shopping in Albania isn't one-stop shopping. Different markets carry different meats, bakeries and produce, so it took us a little while to figure out where to go for what. Our July total was highest, while we were still learning. It includes grocery stores, bakeries, meat markets and vegetable markets. Cooking at home is how we kept dining costs down.

Dining out: about $130 to $330 a month

Dining out stayed modest in July and August, then rose in September when we were out and about more. Prices for eating out are also higher in summer, especially in touristy areas.

Entertainment: about $120 to $130 a month

This covered drinks with friends and attractions like Rozafa Castle in Shkodër, which cost 400 lek per person to enter.

Transportation: from $5 to $330 a month

Transportation is the most variable category. In August, we barely spent anything because we stayed put and walked. In July, a private car from Tirana to Shkodër cost 7,000 lek, and the bus to the castle was 160 lek for the two of us. September was higher because of our side trip to Italy. Within a city, local buses are very affordable. In Durrës, the city bus is 40 lek per person.

Health insurance: $266 a month

We bought an IMG health insurance plan that covers emergencies like an injury or sudden illness. We paid for a full year up front to get a discount, then divided the cost by 12 for our monthly budget. We pay for preventive care out of pocket.

Cell phone: about $213 to $237 a month

Our phone plan is a personal choice and includes installments on new phones, so it runs higher than it needs to. There are less expensive options.

How much does the season and city matter?

A lot, and it's the biggest factor we've seen. The same kind of apartment can cost a fraction in the off-season of what it costs in summer, especially on the coast.

The takeaway: where and when you go matters more than almost anything else. Our Airbnb in Sarandë costs about $1,000 in October, while in peak season, stays there run more than $5,000 a month.

Other patterns we've noticed:

• Restaurants tend to cost more in summer, especially in touristy areas.

• Tirana is generally much more expensive than smaller cities like Shkodër. We spent six days there in July.

• Durrës and Shkodër were close in price. Durrës was a little higher, but not dramatically.

• Grocery prices look similar so far in Sarandë.

How we kept costs down

• Staying a month at a time in one place, in a furnished apartment with a full kitchen.

• Cooking at home most of the time, and shopping at neighborhood bakeries, vegetable stands and markets.

• Taking local buses and walking instead of using taxis or private cars.

• Choosing smaller cities over the biggest tourist destinations, and visiting outside peak season.

Heading to Durrës? Our free insider's guide shows the industrial markets, grocery stores and bus routes that helped us save money there.

Track your own costs

We track every expense in the Master Budget & Expense Engine, a part of our Slow Travel Dashboard for Notion. You can type a month's receipts into one cell, like 45.20 + 32.10 + 18.75, and the total adds itself up. Then you can see spending by month, so you know where your budget is going.

See the Slow Travel Dashboard ($24, one time)

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Albania per month?

For two people, we spent an average of about $1,840 a month on everyday living costs from July to September 2026, and about $2,330 including health insurance and a phone plan. Your costs will depend on the city, the season and your lifestyle.

Is Albania cheaper in the off-season?

For accommodation on the coast, yes, by a large margin. Our Sarandë Airbnb costs about $1,000 a month in October, but the same area runs more than $5,000 a month in peak season.

Which city is the cheapest?

We haven't compared every city, but Shkodër and Durrës were close in price, and Tirana is generally much more expensive.

All amounts are in US dollars, from July to September 2026, and are for two people. Prices change, so check current rates before you plan.

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