Can Investors Live in Albania Long-Term?

This is one of the questions I hear most often.
Not from tourists. Not from people just passing through.

From investors.

They usually ask it quietly, almost cautiously, after we’ve spent a few days together viewing properties, having coffee by the promenade, watching the sun drop behind the hills above Saranda. And I always smile a bit, because by the time they ask it, they already know the answer.

But let’s talk about it properly.

The Moment It Clicks for Most Investors

A few weeks ago, I was showing a client around Ksamil. We had just finished viewing a brand-new apartment — the kind of place that feels calm the second you step inside. Clean lines, soft light, a quiet neighborhood where you don’t hear traffic or summer noise.

When we walked back outside, instead of asking about numbers or paperwork, they said something else:

“I could actually live here.”

That moment is familiar to me. I’ve seen it many times.
It usually happens after lunch, when the heat slows everything down and the sea looks unreal. Or early in the morning, when Saranda still belongs to locals walking to the bakery.

That’s when investors stop thinking like visitors.

Living in Albania Is Very Different from Visiting

Living here long-term isn’t about beaches every day.
It’s about rhythm.

You learn which cafés open early and which ones don’t rush you out. You know which streets stay quiet even in August. You figure out where to park without stress. You start greeting the same people every morning.

Saranda has that balance. Busy when you want it to be. Peaceful when you need it.

That’s why Saranda apartments for sale attract not only investors looking for returns, but people planning real lives here — families, remote workers, early retirees.

And yes, investors can absolutely live here long-term. Many already do.

The Practical Side (Without Making It Boring)

I won’t go into legal technicalities here. Not because they aren’t important — they are — but because most investors who ask me this question already have lawyers and advisors.

What I can tell you from experience is this:

Owning property changes everything.

Once you have your own place, Albania stops feeling temporary. You’re not counting days. You’re planning seasons.

A client of mine recently bought a seaview apartment in Saranda, in a quiet and secure neighborhood on Skënderbeu Street. Fully furnished, private swimming pool, unobstructed sea views — the kind you never get tired of. It works beautifully as an investment, but he spends several months a year living there himself. Morning swims. Evening walks. No rush.

That’s the lifestyle many investors are quietly choosing.

Ksamil: Where Long-Term Living Meets Quiet Luxury

Ksamil used to be purely seasonal.
That’s changing.

New neighborhoods are developing — calmer, better organized, designed for people who want comfort without noise. One example is a new 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil, finished in summer 2025, with a shared private pool for residents, just a short walk from the beach. It’s modern, discreet, and sits in an area where nights are actually quiet.

I often tell clients: Ksamil now has two sides.
The postcard side everyone knows.
And the residential side that only locals talk about.

That second side is where long-term living makes sense.

A Small Tangent: Food, Routine, and Feeling at Home

I know this sounds unrelated, but it isn’t.

There’s a small place outside Saranda where the owner still brings your coffee without asking what you want. He remembers. That’s Albania. It doesn’t disappear just because tourism grows.

Long-term living here means you become part of those small routines. The Friday fish market. The neighbor who insists you take figs from their garden. The way everyone slows down after lunch, even in business.

Investors who understand this usually adapt faster.
And enjoy it more.

Families, Space, and Privacy

Not everyone wants apartment living.

Some investors ask me about villas — not for show, but for space. Privacy. Family life.

Saranda still has areas where you can own a private villa with a pool, in a neighborhood that feels residential, not touristic. One recent development I’ve shown sits in a very quiet part of the city. Spacious layout. Private swimming pool. Designed for families who value calm and comfort.

It’s rare, honestly. Saranda doesn’t have many opportunities like that anymore.

But when it works, it really works.

The Duplex Option (And Why It’s Underrated)

Let me say something unpopular:
Duplexes are one of the smartest long-term investments in Ksamil right now.

Why? Because they offer flexibility.

A new luxury duplex in Ksamil, completed in 2025, can function as a family home, a rental property, or both. Two private swimming pools — one exclusively for the duplex, one shared within the residence. Underground parking. Security. Privacy. Walking distance to both the beach and the center.

Some owners live there during spring and autumn, then rent it during peak summer. Others do the opposite.

ROI can reach up to 16% per year, yes — but the real value is flexibility.

Cost of Living and the “Affordable” Reality

People are often surprised when I say this, but Albania still offers affordable properties compared to the rest of the Mediterranean.

And living costs follow the same logic.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast — not because it’s cheap, but because what you get for the price still makes sense.

That won’t last forever.

Beachfront Dreams vs. Real Living

Everyone asks about beachfront property.
And yes, waking up to the sea is incredible.

But long-term living is about more than views. It’s about access, calm, daily comfort. Some of the best seaview apartments aren’t directly on the promenade — they’re just above it, where life feels more grounded.

That’s usually where locals choose to live.

And investors who think long-term often follow the same logic.

Can You Really Build a Life Here?

Short answer? Yes.

Long answer? Only if you want to.

Living in Albania long-term isn’t about escaping something. It’s about choosing something different. Slower mornings. More human interactions. Space to breathe.

I’ve lived in Saranda long enough to see people come “just for the summer” — and never leave. I’ve seen investors who planned to rent out properties end up redesigning them for themselves.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

Final Thoughts from Someone Who Lives This Daily

If you’re asking whether investors can live in Albania long-term, it probably means you’re already halfway there.

You’ve seen the coastline. You’ve felt the pace. You’ve imagined yourself here — not as a guest, but as part of the place.

And from where I stand, after years of working in real estate on the Albanian Riviera, I can tell you this:

The best investments aren’t always the ones with the highest numbers on paper.
They’re the ones that still feel right when the season ends and the city goes quiet.

If you ever reach that moment — when you stop asking if you can live here, and start asking where — then you already know the answer.

And Saranda will be waiting.