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Living in Albania Pros and Cons.
Here is a brief list of the pros and cons of living in Albania for Expats.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very cheap compared to most countries in Western Europe, the US, Australia etc. | Poverty levels. Unfortunately the poverty levels may shock some westerners who venture into Albania. |
| Great food. Expats are often surprised at how fresh and tasty the local produce is. This makes a huge difference in the quality and tastes of traditional Albanian food like cheeses, breads, pastries, especially the seafood, since Albania is a coastal Adriatic country. | Poor infrastructure. Although the infrastructure is improving, it is certainly not on levels of other countries in Europe, especially Western Europe. |
| Geography and nature. Albania’s got it all it seems. Beautiful pristine Adriatic beaches (many of these beaches are actually quite secluded), Hills and Mountains (for hiking and exploring). Also lakes, rivers and streams (all great for swimming and sailing). | Corruption. Although Expats and tourists are normally quite immune to the corruption in Albania, those who wish to put down deeper roots, especially buying real estate or starting a business, may and possibly will encounter different levels of corruption. |
| People. Albanians have gotten an undeserved reputation abroad. When you meet Albanians in Albania.
Albanians are quite hospitable and very friendly. Although English levels tend to be very low, it is more than made up for by the friendliness and curiosity of the people, especially towards foreigners. |
Healthcare. Albania healthcare system still has not recovered from the fall of communism. It’s national healthcare facilities are generally poor and in dire need of more modern equipment as well as greater access to the latest advances and access to modern pharmaceuticals and healthcare technology.
That being said, there are private healthcare clinics with modern facilities and well trained staff. However, regardless of whether or not you have health Insurance you will more than likely need to pay for any treatment upfront. If you do have International Health Insurance they will more than likely reimburse you after your medical treatment. The good news is the costs of healthcare even at private facilities is surprising affordable and of good quality. Though for any major surgery or medical treatment, it would be best to have these performed outside the country. |
| Apartments and real estate. Apartments in Tirana, the capital, go for between $200 and $800 dollars a month depending on location and how many bedrooms (the closer to the center, the more expensive). The average apartment will cost about $300 a month. | |
| Utilities as well as internet access are also quite cheap and surprisingly the connections tend to be fairly good, especially in the major cities. | |
| Still undiscovered. Albania is one of the few countries left in Europe that hasn’t been overrun by tourists. Enjoy it while it lasts. | |
| Safety. Another surprise many expats have is just how safe the country really is.
Although like most developing countries it does have some problems with petty crime etc, Albania is nowhere near as dangerous as many people may be led to believe, especially considering the reputation of Albanian organized crime in some parts of the world. This contrasts with the actual safety levels in Albania itself, which is surprisingly safe. In fact, Albania is safer than many Western capitals. |
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| Visa policy (US citizens). Albania is one of the few countries that actually allows US citizens to stay there for up to one year visa free.
Many other countries, including those in Western Europe don’t even enjoy this privilege. However, after your one year stays up you do need to leave a country for a period of 90 days before returning. |
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| Cafe culture and restaurants. You’ll find a very modern and quite a unique array of restaurants as well as cafes.
The coffee is excellent and quite cheap as well. You can get a cup of cappuccino for example, at a posh cafe for as little as a dollar. |
Is Albania a nice place to live?
Albania can be a very nice place to live. Whether you choose to live in its capital of Tirana or out on the coast, for example in Durres, Sarande or Vlore. If you prefer further inland by a lake there is Pogradec.
You’ll find a unique history, friendly people, delicious traditional cuisine and Adriatic living since Albania hugs the Adriatic coast. Albania is one of the cheapest places to live in continental Europe. It is also incredibly close to countries like Greece as well as Italy.
Is Albania a good place to retire?
Albania is an excellent place to retire. Especially, if you are a US citizen you can get up to one year visa free upon arrival.
However, the only caveat is you have to leave after that year and stay out a total of 90 days.
This, of course is if you are not interested in getting a residency permit. Although if you’re going to retire there, it might be worth checking into.
You can get a beautiful place right on the shores of the Adriatic for a quarter of what you would get for an equivalent property in the United States for example. Not to mention how healthy and fresh as well as cheap the local food and cuisine are.
Can you drink alcohol in Albania?
Although some consider Albania to a Muslim country, alcohol is sold everywhere. You can buy a half liter of beer for example, for about a dollar. Beer, wine and other spirits are served in restaurants and bars as well.
Can foreigners buy property in Albania?
Yes, foreigners can buy property in Albania. However, if that property is designated as agricultural property, a foreigner can only get a 99-year lease and not be able to own it outright.
Is English widely spoken in Albania?
Unfortunately, English isn’t as widely spoken in Albania as many would like, especially in rural regions.
Is Albania an Islamic country?
Although Albania is considered by many to be in Islamic country, it is not very religious.
For example, you can find plenty of locally brewed beers as well as wines etc. in most cafes, restaurants and of course stores and supermarkets.
Although if you live in some areas and there’s a mosque, you may occasionally hear the traditional call to prayer.
Living in Albania Pros and Cons, conclusions.
As you can see, living in Albania definitely has its pros and cons. However, as you can also see, living in Albania definitely has more pros than cons as well.
Albania’s beautiful topography with its mountains, lakes as well as Adriatic coastline, all unspoiled by the rampages of modern tourism, definitely make living in Albania a great option.
Let’s not forget of course, the friendly people and fresh locally produced food and traditional cuisine.
You can literally live like a king or queen in Albania for months on end with minimal damage to your wallet.
For those of you who are fortunate enough to be able to work from your laptop with a simple internet connection and want to live the digital nomad lifestyle in Europe, but you are not an EU citizen, then Albania can be one of your base countries, especially for US citizens, since it does allow up to one year visa free stays.
It’s a great place to be able to spend your 90 or so days outside of the Schengen Zone, but still close to the European Union with its location being ideal, especially, for Digital Nomads.