How Expensive Is Albania? A Local Real Estate Expert Explains the Real Costs of Living on the Albanian Riviera

I get this question almost every single week—usually right after someone sees their first panoramic view of Saranda and whispers, “Wait… how is this place still affordable?”
And honestly, I understand the confusion. When you’re standing above the Ionian Sea, watching the ferry glide across to Corfu, it doesn’t look like a place that still belongs in the “affordable properties” category. Yet somehow, it still does.

I’ve lived in Saranda for years, long enough to see quiet fishing paths turn into lively promenades and sleepy villages become the next big thing in Mediterranean travel. But even today, when I talk to clients—some from the U.S., some from northern Europe—the reaction is always the same: “Albania is cheaper than we expected, but it doesn’t feel cheap.”

Exactly.
That’s the magic here.

Let me walk you through it from my perspective—the perspective of someone who spends every day scouting seaview apartments, walking construction sites, meeting investors, and grabbing quick coffees in places only locals know about.

Is Albania Really That Affordable? Let’s Start With the Basics

The short answer: yes, but not in the way people imagine.

Albania isn’t “cheap” in the sense of low quality. It’s affordable because the value-to-experience ratio is honestly unbelievable.
You’re paying Mediterranean-coast prices from 20 years ago, but you’re getting views and lifestyle that rival Greece, Italy, even Spain.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.
And I say that without hesitation.

Take restaurants, for example. The small family-owned grill near the entrance of the old Saranda port—where I stop for lunch in between client meetings—still serves fresh fish at prices that make visitors blink twice. Meanwhile, a beachfront cocktail in Ksamil might cost €7–9, depending on the season. Not exactly “cheap,” but for the setting? Extremely fair.

But of course, most people asking this question are actually thinking about something else.

Real estate.

So let’s talk about that.

Property Prices: The Part That Surprises People Most

Every time I take someone to a property viewing in Ksamil or Saranda, I hear a version of the same sentence:

“If this apartment existed anywhere else on the Mediterranean, it would cost double—maybe triple.”

They’re right.

Take a moment and compare a new seaview 1-bedroom in Saranda to anything in Crete, Mallorca, Malta, or Bari.
Here, depending on the location and residence quality, you’re still finding properties in the range that many would call accessible—even premium ones.

Last month, I walked a couple from Germany through a beautifully built residence on Skenderbeu Street. When they stepped onto the balcony and saw the open Ionian view—nothing blocking it, just the sea stretching out—they didn’t talk for a few seconds. Then one of them said, “How is this not already sold?”

I smiled. Because that’s exactly what I thought the first time I saw it too.

(If you’re curious, it’s this one here—a fully furnished 1+1 in a quiet, upscale part of Saranda with a private pool for residents, perfect for living or investment:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-skenderbeu-street-fully-furnished)

But let’s go deeper.

Saranda vs. Ksamil vs. Borsh – Prices, Value, and Lifestyle Differences

Saranda – The Heartbeat of the Riviera

Saranda mixes convenience, nightlife, city life, and seaview apartments all in one bowl. This is where buyers who want “everything close” tend to settle. Prices vary depending on whether you’re near the promenade, on the hillside, or tucked into quieter neighborhoods.

Some of the best values right now are in residences slightly off the main tourist flow—places where locals actually live.
These areas still feel peaceful, even in August.

There’s a new 2025 build in Ksamil I’ve been showing recently—a modern, 1-bedroom apartment with a shared private pool for residents. Seven minutes from the beach, in a quiet new neighborhood. It’s the kind of place where the luxury isn’t loud… it’s subtle. Calm. The kind of property sophisticated investors choose without needing to say much.
You can take a look at it here if you want:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/modern-1-bedroom-apartment-in-ksamil-62m2

Ksamil – The Rising Star

Ksamil is in a category of its own.
Prices rise every year, but they still have room to grow. And the demand? Explosive.

I showed a family from Norway a duplex there recently—one of the 2025 new constructions. When they saw the layout, the private underground parking, and the two pools (one only for the duplex, one shared with the residence), the husband just said, “This would rent instantly.”
He’s not wrong. ROI here can hit up to 16% annually.

If you're curious which property they were looking at, it's this one—again, integrating this quietly, not as an ad:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

And yes… it’s 300 meters from the beach.

Borsh – The Next Great Mediterranean Village

Now, here’s where prices surprise people the most.

Borsh is wide, raw, and stunning.
The kind of place where time slows down because the landscape forces you to breathe differently. Most tourists don’t know the small café halfway up the hill where you can drink a cold espresso and see the entire bay at once. But locals do.

Investors who want quiet luxury—the real kind, not the cliché—are gravitating here.

We’re developing White Villas in Borsh right now, and every time I visit the site, I’m reminded of what coastal living used to feel like before the world became busy.
Four villas, each surrounded only by nature.
Sea views.
300 m² of private land and interior space.
Three floors.
Private pools.
Private parking.
Zero percent commission.
A seven-minute drive to the beach.

These are the kinds of residences that become legacy properties—vacation homes that one day your children will inherit and thank you for.

You can glimpse the project here if you’re curious, without any big pitch—just so you have a visual:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/projects/white-residence-villas-borsh

Daily Living Costs: The Part Nobody Believes Until They Experience It

People always expect real estate prices to vary. But daily life? That’s usually where the biggest shock happens.

Here’s a simple snapshot of what life actually costs:

• A morning macchiato in a local bar: around €1.

• A full lunch of grilled fish, salad, and bread: often under €12.

• A taxi across Saranda: €4–6 depending on the hour.

• Groceries for a week for two people: around €40–60 if you shop like a local.

• A beachfront sunbed set in peak season: €10–20 depending on the beach club.

Of course, there are fancy places too. Albania isn’t frozen in time. A gourmet dinner with wine can cost €50+ per person—but you’re choosing it, not forced into it.

And that’s the difference.

The Unexpected Part: Lifestyle Value

Here’s the real secret about cost in Albania:

You’re not just buying a property or paying for a meal. You’re buying a lifestyle.

A slower one.
A sunnier one.
A more human one.

It’s the lifestyle where:

– Your neighbor brings you fresh figs from their garden because “you looked tired today.”
– The waiter remembers how you take your coffee after two visits.
– A spontaneous swim at sunset is a normal part of the day.
– You look at the sea more than you look at your phone.

And honestly—what’s that worth?

I once had a client from Chicago tell me, after staying in Saranda for a week, “This place feels like Europe before Europe became expensive.”
I never forgot that line because it’s absolutely true.

So… Is Albania Expensive?

Let me answer this in the most honest, local, real-estate-agent way possible.

Albania isn’t cheap. It’s fair.
It gives you more than what you pay for.
Not because the prices are low, but because the experience is rich.

From Saranda apartments for sale to beachfront property in Ksamil to quiet-luxury villas in Borsh, the value is in the balance between cost and lifestyle.

Where else can you buy seaview apartments at these prices while being minutes from UNESCO sites, crystal bays, and a culture that still believes in hospitality the old way?

I don’t think there’s another coastline in Europe offering what the Albanian Riviera is offering right now. Not with this quality. Not with this potential. And certainly not with this authenticity.

Final Thoughts (From Someone Who Has Watched This Coast Grow)

If you’re thinking about Albania—whether to live, invest, or simply explore—my advice is simple:

Come with an open mind.
Judge with your eyes, not with online comments.
Talk to locals.
Taste the food.
Walk the neighborhoods at sunset.
Visit properties even if you’re “not sure yet.”

That’s usually all it takes.

Because Albania doesn’t convince people through marketing or numbers.
It convinces people through feeling.

And if you ever end up on a small hill in Borsh, or in a quiet alley in Saranda, or on a hidden path in Ksamil, staring at the sea and wondering how life can be this peaceful…

Well, then you’ll understand what I mean.