Can Foreigners Live Comfortably in Albania? A Local Perspective from Saranda

It’s a question I hear almost every week.
Usually over coffee, sometimes during a property viewing, often right after someone watches the sunset for the first time from a balcony facing the Ionian Sea.

“But can we really live here comfortably?”

The short answer is yes.
The longer answer is more interesting — because comfort means different things to different people. And living in Albania, especially in the south, isn’t about copying Western Europe. It’s about adapting to a different rhythm. A slower one. In many ways, a better one.

I’ve lived and worked in Saranda for years now, and I’ve watched this place change from a seasonal destination into somewhere people genuinely choose to build a life.

The First Impression — And What Comes After

Most foreigners first arrive as tourists. They see the beaches, the water in Ksamil, the views from Lëkurësi Castle, and they think they’ve discovered something secret.

Then they stay longer.

That’s when the real questions begin. Healthcare, daily life, safety, community, cost of living. Practical things. The things that matter once the holiday feeling fades.

I remember showing a couple from Northern Europe an apartment not long ago. They had already traveled through Greece and Italy before coming here. What surprised them most wasn’t the view — it was how easy daily life felt. The bakery downstairs knew their order after two days. The neighbor invited them for coffee without even knowing their names yet. Small things, but they stayed with them.

Moments like that remind me why people don’t just visit the Albanian Riviera anymore. They stay.

Daily Life in Saranda — Simpler Than You Expect

Living comfortably here doesn’t mean luxury in the traditional sense. It means convenience.

You walk to buy fresh vegetables. Fish arrives in the morning, not frozen. Coffee breaks are not rushed. People still sit and talk.

Saranda works well year-round, which many foreigners don’t expect. Outside summer, the city becomes calmer but not empty. Shops stay open. Cafés are full of locals. Life continues normally.

And honestly, I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. Not only for investment, but for everyday living.

Seaview apartments here still cost less than small inland properties in many European countries. That surprises people.

Housing Comfort — What Foreign Buyers Usually Look For

Most foreign buyers aren’t looking for something extravagant. They want clean construction, good light, privacy, and a view that doesn’t disappear behind another building in two years.

That’s why demand for Saranda apartments for sale has grown steadily. Especially new residences designed with modern living in mind.

For example, some clients recently preferred a quiet area in Ksamil rather than being directly in the center. Something like this 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil — finished in 2025, private swimming pool for residents, a new and calm neighborhood, about a seven-minute walk from the beach. Nothing exaggerated. Just well thought-out, comfortable living.

And that’s the pattern I see more often now. Quiet luxury rather than visible luxury.

In Saranda itself, properties like this seaview apartment on Skënderbeu Street appeal to people who want both lifestyle and investment. A peaceful and safe area, private pool, open sea views that won’t be blocked later. Many buyers start thinking about rental income — and then end up spending half the year here themselves.

A Small Tangent About Food (Because It Matters More Than You Think)

I always say this jokingly to clients, but it’s true: if you eat well, you live well.

There’s a small family restaurant above the old road toward Qeparo where the owner still brings tomatoes from his own garden. No menu in English. You just eat what’s cooked that day. I’ve taken clients there after property visits, and somehow the conversation always shifts from investment numbers to lifestyle decisions.

Because comfort isn’t only about the apartment. It’s about how life feels outside it.

Anyway — back to real estate.

Privacy, Space, and the Appeal of Villas

Some foreigners, especially families, eventually want more space. Less density. A garden. Privacy.

That’s where villas in Saranda have started gaining attention. Not massive estates, but well-designed homes in quieter neighborhoods where you can actually hear the sea at night.

A good example is this private villa in the Surra area. New development, very private surroundings, spacious layout, private pool. The kind of place people move to when they stop thinking about holidays and start thinking about long-term living.

And interestingly, many buyers tell me the same thing after a few months here: they sleep better.

The Ksamil Effect — Tourism Turning into Residency

Ksamil has changed quickly. Social media brought attention, but now the area is evolving beyond tourism.

Some buyers come purely for investment. Others want a hybrid lifestyle — part personal use, part rental income. Duplexes have become especially popular for this reason.

I recently walked through one of the new duplex residences in Ksamil, and what stood out wasn’t the pools or the finishes, but the feeling of privacy. Two swimming pools, underground parking, only a few residents in the building, 300 meters from the beach and the center. It’s designed for people who want comfort without noise. For investors, returns can reach around 16% annually, but most buyers I meet are thinking beyond numbers.

They’re thinking about lifestyle.

For Those Thinking Bigger — Land and Business Opportunities

Not everyone wants an apartment. Some foreigners come with long-term plans.

In the last two years, I’ve seen more interest in land, especially from buyers who want to build boutique hotels or private villas. Areas like Porto Palermo and Borsh still offer that rare combination of nature and development potential.

There’s a seafront land parcel in Porto Palermo — literally first line, about ten meters from the beach — that always sparks imagination during viewings. You can see immediately how a small hotel or villa project could fit naturally into the landscape.

The same feeling exists in Borsh. Larger land plots, open views, less density. The kind of places that remind you how untouched parts of the Albanian Riviera still are.

And sometimes, foreigners don’t just move here to live. They build something.

Community and Cultural Comfort

This part is harder to explain until you experience it.

Albanians are direct, sometimes loud, always welcoming. You’ll be invited for coffee often. Sometimes without warning. It’s normal here.

Foreign clients often tell me they feel safe very quickly. Not because of systems or rules, but because communities are still strong. People notice if something feels wrong. Neighbors look out for each other.

It’s not perfect. Nothing is. But it’s real.

Can Foreigners Really Feel at Home Here?

Yes — if they come with the right expectations.

Albania is not trying to be Switzerland or Dubai. And that’s exactly its strength. Life here is more human. More flexible. Less controlled.

Foreigners who adapt to that usually stay longer than they planned.

And from a real estate perspective, this is exactly why affordable properties, beachfront property, and seaview apartments continue to gain value. Because demand isn’t coming only from investors anymore. It’s coming from people who genuinely want to live here.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, after a long day of viewings, I drive along the coast just before sunset. The light hits the buildings differently in the evening. Saranda slows down. Boats return to the harbor. You hear conversations in three or four different languages at once.

That’s when it becomes clear.

Foreigners can live comfortably in Albania — not because everything is perfect, but because life feels balanced. And once people experience that balance, it’s hard to go back.

The Albanian Riviera still feels like the beginning of a story.
And for many people arriving here today, it becomes the place where a new chapter starts.