Is Albania Growing Economically? A View from Saranda

I get this question a lot.
Usually from clients who come to Saranda for the first time, sit on a balcony, look at the sea, and then pause for a second.

“So… is Albania actually growing?”

I always smile. Not because the question is wrong. But because the answer isn’t something you find in statistics or headlines. You feel it. You see it. Sometimes you hear it at the table next to you while drinking coffee.

And if you’ve lived in Saranda long enough, like I have, you know the difference between growth on paper and growth on the ground.

What Growth Looks Like When You Live Here

Let me start with something simple.

A few days ago, I was showing a property in Ksamil to a foreign client. Nothing dramatic. Just a calm visit, late afternoon, when the light is softer and the heat finally eases. We stepped onto the terrace, and there was that familiar silence — broken only by cicadas and the distant sound of plates from a nearby restaurant preparing for dinner.

The client didn’t say much at first. Then he turned to me and said something like, “I didn’t expect this level of quality here.”

That moment says more about Albania’s economic growth than any report ever could.

Because growth here isn’t loud.
It’s gradual.
And it’s very real.

From Survival to Strategy

Ten or fifteen years ago, most people in the south were focused on surviving the season. Summer came, tourists arrived, money was made. Winter came, everything slowed down. That was the cycle.

Today, the mindset has changed.

People think in terms of long-term value, not just short-term income. Builders invest more in quality. Families plan ahead. Foreign buyers don’t just rent — they buy. And not only for holidays, but for living, working remotely, or building something of their own.

You see it in the new residences, especially when it comes to Saranda apartments for sale and the new developments around Ksamil. They’re designed differently. Cleaner lines. Better layouts. Private pools. Underground parking. Quiet neighborhoods.

That doesn’t happen without economic confidence.

Tourism Was the Spark — But Not the Whole Story

Yes, tourism played a huge role.
The Albanian Riviera didn’t become popular by accident.

But what’s interesting is what happened after tourism took off.

Tourists became buyers.
Buyers became residents.
Residents started businesses.

Cafés that used to close in October now stay open all year. Construction doesn’t stop after August anymore. Even local conversations have changed — people talk about ROI, finishes, long-term maintenance. These are not things you hear in an economy that’s standing still.

And this is especially visible in places like Ksamil.

Properties like this modern 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil (finished in summer 2025, quiet new neighborhood, shared private pool, and just a short walk from the beach) are not built for mass tourism. They’re built for people who plan to come back. Or stay.
That alone tells you something important about where the market is heading.

Saranda: A City That’s Growing Into Itself

Saranda has always had beauty. That was never the issue.

What it lacked in the past was structure.

Now? Things feel more intentional.

Neighborhoods are calmer. Roads are improving. New residences are being built with a clear idea of who they’re for. I often show clients seaview apartments in areas like Skënderbeu Street, where you have complete sea views, privacy, and surprisingly little noise.

There’s one 1-bedroom apartment there, fully furnished, in a new residence, with a private pool and nothing blocking the view. It’s perfect for living — but also performs well as an investment. Properties like that wouldn’t exist if the local economy wasn’t moving forward.

And I’ll say it openly:
I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast right now.

A Small Tangent (But an Important One)

Sometimes, between viewings, I stop at a small bakery near the old road that locals use to avoid summer traffic. They make byrek early in the morning, and if you go at the right time, it’s still warm.

I see construction workers there, engineers, lawyers, and sometimes investors who have already bought property and are planning their next move.

That mix of people matters.
It means different layers of the economy are active at the same time.

Anyway. Back to real estate.

Ksamil: From Seasonal Village to Year-Round Market

Ksamil used to be simple.
And in some ways, it still is — thankfully.

But economically, it’s not the same place anymore.

New residences are finished to standards that would’ve been unthinkable a decade ago. Places like White Residence have changed expectations completely. A 1-bedroom apartment there, finished in summer 2025, with access to a private swimming pool and only a short walk from the beach, feels more like southern Italy than old Ksamil.

And then there are the duplexes.

The new luxury duplexes in Ksamil, with two swimming pools (one private, one shared), underground parking, full security, and location right on the main road — 300 meters from the beach and center — represent a different level of economic maturity. These are properties designed for families, serious investors, or people who understand long-term value. With potential ROI up to 16% per year, they’re not built on speculation. They’re built on demand.

That’s growth.

Affordable Properties… for Now

This part matters.

Albania is still affordable. Especially compared to the rest of the Mediterranean.
But not in the way people imagine.

Affordable doesn’t mean cheap quality.
It means better value per euro.

You can still find beachfront property, seaview apartments, and modern residences here at prices that feel almost unrealistic if you’ve spent time in Greece, Spain, or Croatia. But the gap is closing.

I see it every year.

Clients who waited too long often come back and say, “I should have bought last summer.”
They’re usually right.

Another Small Detour

One thing locals know: timing matters.

There’s a moment in late September when the tourists leave, the sea stays warm, and the city breathes again. That’s when Saranda feels most like home. It’s also when many serious buyers decide to move forward — quietly, without pressure.

Economic growth isn’t always about speed.
Sometimes it’s about rhythm.

So, Is Albania Growing Economically?

From where I stand — yes. Without question.

Not explosively. Not recklessly. But steadily.

You see it in the quality of construction.
In the confidence of buyers.
In the shift from short-term thinking to long-term planning.

You feel it when someone visits once… and then comes back to buy.

And if you’re looking at the Albanian Riviera today, especially Saranda and Ksamil, you’re not late. But you’re no longer early either. We’re somewhere in the middle — the most interesting phase.

Final Thoughts from a Local

I’ve watched Saranda grow from a sleepy summer town into a place people choose intentionally. Not just to visit. But to invest. To live. To build a future.

Economic growth here doesn’t shout.
It whispers. And if you listen closely — you’ll hear it in the details.

In the finish of a new apartment.
In the confidence of a returning buyer.
In the quiet luxury that’s slowly becoming the new standard.

And honestly?
That’s exactly the kind of growth you want to be part of.