By Christine | Canucks Abroad

We've been living in Albania for almost a year now. And the question I get more than any other is: "Is Albania really that cheap?"

I get why you're asking. You've probably watched a dozen videos with beautiful scenery and suspiciously perfect numbers — then scrolled to the comments and found out reality looked nothing like that.

So here's what we actually spend. What caught us off guard. And what I wish someone had told us before we got here.

Housing: Where Jaws Drop

We pay €450/month for a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment with a balcony. In Canada, a comparable place would have cost us $2,500 — if we were lucky — up to $3,000+.

That's six times more. Six.

Here's a rough range depending on what you're looking for:

• Smaller or less central: €300–400/month
• Newer build or closer to the Blloku area: €800–1,200/month

Utilities: The One That Can Sting

Spring and summer are manageable — €40–60/month. Add AC in peak summer and you're looking at €80–100.

Winter is where people get caught off guard, and I don't want that to happen to you.

These buildings are concrete. They hold cold and dampness in a way North American homes just don't. If you're heating properly, budget €100–120/month — and if you're on the main floor, closer to €120–150.

I came from China where the buildings were also concrete, but we were on the 30th floor and barely used heat. Ground floor in Albania is a different story. Build the higher number into your budget before you commit to a place. If you come in under, great. Nice surprise.

Oh — and two cell phones on a shared family plan plus high-speed internet? €38 total.

Groceries: We Shop Differently Here

We split it into two types of shops:

Monthly bulk run (laundry soap, fabric softener, big items that last) — €60–80/month

Weekly fresh shop (produce, meat, cheese, whatever we're cooking that week) — €25–30/week

The quality genuinely surprised me. Tomatoes here taste like tomatoes. The produce isn't sitting in a warehouse for weeks.

One thing that did catch me off guard: produce is seasonal. In North America, you want a papaya in January? Done. Here, if you want to keep your budget low, you meal plan around what's actually in season. Honestly, it's a better way to eat — but it's an adjustment.

Eating Out

Albania has incredible local food — byrek, tave kosi, and a coffee culture that makes sitting in a café feel like a competitive sport.

A meal out for two runs €15–25. Cappuccinos are around €2.

Will it add up if you eat out every night? Yes. But an occasional dinner out is genuinely manageable if you're cooking at home most of the week.

Getting Around

We don't own a car here, and I genuinely don't miss it. City buses cost almost nothing. Taxis are reasonable — an 11 km ride runs about €12–15. In Canada, that'd be at least double.

And getting out of the city? The whole country is small enough that the coast, the mountains, another city — it's all a reasonable weekend trip. People take taxis from the airport all the way down to Sarandë like it's completely normal. Because it is. I cannot imagine doing the equivalent in Canada.

(We have a trip coming up next month and I'll be doing a full budget breakdown — make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it.)

Healthcare

Private clinics here are affordable and accessible compared to what you'd pay out of pocket in Canada or the US. But you still want insurance — because emergencies don't care about your budget.

I have an affiliate partnership with International Citizens Insurance — they're a broker that helps expats compare coverage from multiple providers. The link is in the resources below.

Before you even start comparing plans though, you need to know what questions to ask. I built a free quiz that walks you through exactly that — no signup required, takes a few minutes, and can save you from choosing the wrong plan.

If you want to go deeper, I also have a full Health Insurance Decision Checklist available in my shop.

So What Does It Actually Add Up To?

For two people living normally — not backpacker cheap, not expat luxury — you're looking at roughly €800–1,200/month.

That covers rent, utilities, groceries, and transport. Where you land in that range depends on your neighbourhood, how often you eat out, and how brutal your heating bill turns out to be.

But here's what those numbers actually buy you here that they wouldn't back home.

We call it F.E.A.S.T.

• Food — real produce, real flavour, without paying a premium for it
• Ease — the pace of life is slower, in the best way
• Access — the Balkans, Southern Europe, the Mediterranean are all right there
• Safety — I walk around at night without thinking about it
• Time — to actually live your life

That's why people stay.

The Real Talk: Friction Points

I'm not going to send you off without being honest about the hard parts.

Winter heating is real. Older apartments are often poorly insulated, the cold gets into the walls, and in a coastal city, mold can be a serious issue. Ask about heating and ventilation before you sign anything.

Power cuts and water interruptions happen occasionally. The city water runs on electric pumps — if the power goes, so does the water. It's not dramatic or constant, but it will catch you off guard the first couple of times. Now when it happens, we just go "okay, give it five minutes." You get used to it.

Bureaucracy takes patience. Banking, residency, basic admin — things that should be simple often aren't. Budget extra time and bring a sense of humor.

Language — younger Albanians in the city speak English surprisingly well. But outside the city and with older generations, you'll feel the gap. Even a little Albanian goes a long way, and people genuinely appreciate the effort.

Is Albania Still Affordable in 2026?

I wouldn't call it cheap. I'd call it genuinely affordable — and not just on paper. We live it every single day.

If you've been sitting on the fence about a move abroad, I hope this gave you something concrete to work with. You deserve to make this decision with real information, not just a highlight reel.

Resources

• 🩺 Free Health Insurance Quiz — figure out what to look for before you compare plans
• 📋 Health Insurance Decision Checklist — the full workbook, available in the shop
• 🔗 International Citizens Insurance (affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no cost to you)
• 🎥 Watch the video: What We Actually Spend Living in Albania
• 🎥 Is Albania the Right Fit for You? — watch the video (link coming)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products and services I personally use or believe in. Using my links supports the channel at no extra cost to you.

If you’re planning a move abroad, you’ve probably watched dozens of "What’s in my suitcase" videos. But let’s be honest: those are for vacations. When you’re selling everything you own to start over in a place like Albania, the stakes are much higher.

As someone who has moved from Canada to China, back to Canada, and now to Albania, I’ve learned that about 80% of what people pack, they never actually use. I want to make sure you’re in the 20% who pack smart. Here is the statistical reality of what deserves that precious suitcase space and what is just "anxiety packing."

1. The Psychology of "Comfort Anchors"

Your first week in a new country, your brain is in a constant state of low-level stress. Everything is unfamiliar—the smells, the language, even the shampoo bottles.

• The Pillow Strategy: I vacuum-sealed my own pillow. It felt ridiculous at the time, but after 30 hours of travel, having a "smell of home" and a guaranteed good night's sleep was a strategic win.

• Sensory Anchors: Bring your favorite pillowcase, that one sleep shirt with the hole in the armpit, or a specific brand of lip balm. These tell your nervous system: “It’s okay. This is still us.”

2. The "Glad We Brought It" List

• Skincare (3–6 Month Supply): Summer brought a year's supply of her favorite acne line. Now that she's weaning off it, she’s breaking out (as you’ve seen on the livestreams!). Don't play "skin roulette" in a new country; bring what you know works.

• Specific Hobby Supplies: I do my own nails. In Albania, acrylics are rare (it’s mostly gel), and I can’t find the monomer or powders I trust. If you have a specific brand you love (shoutout to Young Nails!), bring it.

• "Huggles" (The 4XL Blanket Hoodies): We wore these on the plane to save space. They are bulky and heavy, but 10/10 worth it for the cold Albanian winters.

3. The Technical Stuff: Electricity & Bedding

This is where most people get caught in the "regret" category.

Voltage vs. Adapters

• Adapters: These just change the shape of the plug. Bring a few, but buy local ones once you arrive. The heavy "universal" ones often fall out of the wall sockets here!

• Converters: These change the voltage (North America: 110V vs. Europe: 220V).

• The Golden Rule: If it has a motor or heating element (hair dryer, kettle, straightener), DO NOT BRING IT. You’ll either fry the device or start a fire. A $20 hair dryer isn't worth a $150 extra bag fee plus the cost of a converter.

The Bedding Myth

People say "bring fitted sheets." Don't. American and European bed sizes are statistically different.

• European beds are typically 200 cmlong.

• American beds are shorter 190 cm for Twins/Fulls

  Your sheets won't fit snugly. We’re currently playing "Sheet Roulette" in our apartment because we don't even know if our mattress is a 140 or 160!

4. Tips for the "Is it there?" Panic

Before you pack it, run it through these three websites (the "Albanian Holy Trinity"):

1. Temu: They deliver here (Amazon doesn't!). If it's on Temu, you can get it here.

2. Jumbo: Like a mix of Dollar Tree and Walmart. Check their site for kitchen gear.

3. Neptun: The main electronics retailer here. Check prices before you pack heavy tech.

What’s the one "weird" thing you’d be terrified to leave behind? Let me know in the comments!

Moving abroad changes you in ways no one prepares you for. Not the visa process. Not the cost of living. Not even the excitement of adventure. The shift that really hits is psychological — the moment when you realize you don’t fully belong anywhere anymore.

I want to talk about that moment, because it’s the part no one tells you about, yet it’s the part that shapes you most profoundly.

🎥 Watch the full video here

From Across the Country… to Across the World

I started traveling when I was 17. I remember standing at a Greyhound bus station with a single backpack and a five-day ticket across the country. Everything I owned fit in that bag. I had no idea what to expect, but I wanted change. A new beginning. Adventure.

I didn’t focus on the risks. If I had, I might have scared myself out of it. I focused on the unknown in front of me as something to experience — not something to fear.

Years later, that same curiosity carried me across countries and continents: Canada, China, back to Canada, and finally Albania, where my daughter and I made our most recent leap. And a few months ago, I experienced something I wasn’t expecting.

When Fear Hits

I was walking home from work, lost in thought as I often am. And then — suddenly — a curtain lifted. I felt fear. Real, heavy fear.

Questions hit me all at once: What if our visa doesn’t work out? What if we can’t make rent? What if everything goes wrong?

It was crippling, and it made me realize that this fear is exactly what holds many people back from moving abroad. But here’s the difference: when I made my decision to move, it wasn’t from fear — it was from curiosity. From adventure. From a desire to experience life fully, even if it was uncertain.

The Three Psychological Shifts

After almost 20 years of moving around, here’s what I’ve learned about what happens when you make decisions from curiosity instead of fear.

1. Self-Concept Clarity

This is a fancy way of saying: “Who are you when no one’s watching?”

When you move to a new place, everything familiar disappears — your routines, your language, your culture, even the friends you grew up with. You are forced to ask yourself: Who am I in this unfamiliar space?

The answer doesn’t come from overthinking; it comes from living it. Every decision you make in discomfort, every time you push through fear, you are building the person you are becoming. You stop living on autopilot, make better choices, and stop chasing approval from people who don’t know who you’re becoming.

2. Cultural Adaptability

Moving abroad teaches you to read the room when you don’t speak the language. You learn to function in new contexts, adjust how you communicate, and navigate environments where you might feel fluent everywhere but at home nowhere.

It’s demanding, yes. But it’s also a superpower. That confidence doesn’t come from comfort; it comes from proving to yourself that you can do it, no matter what comes next.

3. Identity Built Through Action

At some point, you realize you don’t fully belong anywhere — not to a place, and not even to the person you used to be. It’s disorienting at first. But in that “in-between” space, your identity forms.

Identity isn’t inherited. It isn’t dictated by hometowns or friend groups. It’s built by you, through your actions, your choices, and your willingness to show up. You are not waiting to become someone. You are being someone — one decision at a time.

Fear Doesn’t Get a Vote

Whatever move you’re considering — a relocation abroad, a career shift, a creative project — the truth is, fear isn’t protecting you. Fear holds you still. It doesn’t go away.

If you wait until you’re not afraid, that moment will never come. What matters is deciding whether fear gets a vote in your choices. Focus on adventure, not catastrophe. Focus on the person you could become, not all the ways it could go wrong.

2026 Could Be Your Year

Every year goes faster than the last. We planned our move to Albania almost a year ago, and within three months we were here. Time moves quickly, but the choices you make now define who you become tomorrow.

The path reveals itself once you start walking it. Start walking. Show up. Take the leap.

🎥 If you haven’t yet, watch the full video here

If there's one question I get more than anything else — it's this one.

"What health insurance do I need?"

And honestly? I can never answer it directly — because what I have might not be right for you. Your age, your health history, whether you're working locally or remotely, whether you travel home often — it all changes the answer completely.

So instead of guessing, I built a free quiz that figures it out for you.

8 questions A clear, personalised recommendation at the end.

It covers:

• What type of plan actually fits your situation

• Age-specific guidance (including a special note for Americans on Medicare 🇺🇸)

• Pre-existing conditions — what to watch for and what to ask

• Maternity coverage timing (this one surprises people every time)

• Whether you need home country coverage included

👉 https://expathealth.netlify.app/

It also connects directly to International Citizens Insurance for free quotes once you know what you're looking for — no obligation, just real numbers.

Disclosure: If you request a quote, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely stand behind.

💡 Already know what type of plan you need and ready to evaluate actual policies?

The Health Insurance Decision Workbook is available for $5 and $10 tier members — it's the deep-dive companion to this quiz, with audit tables, broker questions, evacuation checklists, and everything you need to compare policies without missing the fine print.

As always — I'm not telling you what to buy. I'm just trying to make sure you don't go in blind. 🧡

— Christine