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.