One Week in Albania: Life, Costs, and What Surprised Me Most
From warm welcomes to wallet-friendly living, here’s why Albania surprised us at every turn.
We’ve been in Albania, specifically, the capital city of Tirana, for eight weeks and will remain for 21 more weeks, until the beginning of 2026. You see, that’s just one of the beauties and benefits of Albania: for American passport holders, we can remain here for one year, no visa runs required. (Most other countries limit you to 90 days.) And that’s just one of the many reasons this country has captured our hearts. After 7.5 years of living as nomads (from California, USA) and visiting 43 countries, this may be “it”—the place where we finally decide to stop…
So, what is it about Albania that surprises people and lures them into a love affair with Tirana?
The Warm Welcome: Why Albanians Stand Out
First off, it’s the people—some of the kindest we’ve met over the course of our travels. The irony is, Albania has gotten such a horrible rap from the media, Hollywood movies, and TV shows. The impression that it’s dangerous is simply not true!
In many countries, we’ve felt less welcome, like, “What are you doing in my country? Leave your money, but get the hell out!” Not an exaggeration, unfortunately. Over-tourism has shortened the patience of many residents, especially during busy holiday seasons.
But Albanians have a special place in their hearts for America, which I’ll cover in more detail another time. In short, thirty years ago, when the Balkans were torn apart by ethnic wars and genocide, America and former President Bill Clinton came to their aid. Albanians remember and show their appreciation by allowing Americans to stay for one year, one of the few countries that are so generous. Even today, regardless of nationality, they make visitors feel welcome.
One example we’ve seen more than once is their extraordinary trust.
Besa: The Albanian Code of Trust
Our first experience of that was in the southern town of Saranda. We went out to dinner and didn’t realize, until we got the bill, that they didn’t take credit cards. No cash? No problem. “Bring it by tomorrow,” they said, which we did.
That same situation has repeated itself several times with other vendors, and they consistently show an inordinate amount of trust and friendliness.
The principle is called besa, which means “pledge of honor.” They consider it sacred, an unbreakable bond. Leaving your laptop or phone on the table at a coffee shop isn’t the tragic error it could be in other places.
Falling in love with Albanians was the second appeal of living here, after the primary one for us—and many others: it’s very affordable, especially by Western standards, and certainly compared to U.S. costs.
What It Costs to Live Here (and Why It’s a Steal)
We first came to Albania in the fall of 2023 and stayed in Saranda for seven months. During that time, we lived in three different units, but the last one was the showstopper: a two-bedroom, two-bath, almost-new unit with a full-on view of the Greek island of Corfu. Our monthly rent was $500 USD. Bear in mind that it was the off-season, not the prime holiday season, but it was an extreme example of how affordable it was.
Now, two years later, we’re living in a studio in the popular Blloku area of Tirana and paying about $920 USD per month. Blloku is where the “elite” lived under Communist rule, and it’s still considered prime real estate. But truthfully, we could live in almost any part of town and be just as happy. We haven’t seen any “bad” areas. Everything is flat and very walkable, and every neighborhood has coffee shops (more per capita than anywhere else in Europe, I believe), restaurants, gyms—pretty much anything and everything you need. Most of our dinners for two cost under $20; coffee is less than $2.
In 2019, when I left California, I was paying $2,300 per month for a 2/1 apartment in pricey Orange County; today, that rent is $2,950. When people ask us, “How do you live overseas? Did you win the lottery?” I share that comparison; paying one-third of my former rent makes living outside the U.S. a financial no-brainer.
Over the past two months, I’ve checked out several other smaller towns, either for visiting or maybe as an alternate place to hang out for a while. As a motorcycle guy, I appreciated the well-engineered and well-maintained road system (and it’s fun, too!). That’s because the country has poured massive amounts of money into infrastructure, trying to bring everything up to “European standards.” Their efforts show.
Tirana’s Secret: Why Weekends Feel Empty
There’s another unexpected perk of Tirana: weekend traffic. It’s practically non-existent! At least in summer. We’ve asked, “Where is everyone?” and they tell us many go to the beach for the weekend. How long this trend continues into the fall, I don’t know, but we love walking the streets without car traffic.
Albania has about 300 miles of coastline, with both sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. The Ionian Sea is just a 45-minute ride from Tirana. With regional buses departing several times a day to most of the popular cities, and an international airport that can take us anywhere we’d like to go, Albania and Tirana have it all. Fitting all of this into one week is a challenge, but what a fun effort!
Want to Know More About Life in Albania?
From beach towns to mountain hideaways, and from cost of living to residency options, there’s so much more to explore about this affordable European haven.
Visit our in-depth Albania country page for practical tips, expat insights, and detailed information on what it’s really like to live here year-round.