Is Albania Good for Startups? A Local Perspective from the Albanian Riviera

I get this question more often than people expect.
Usually not from investors looking for large developments, but from younger entrepreneurs. Remote workers. Small business owners who visited Saranda once, posted a few photos online, and then started wondering… could I actually build something here?

The short answer is yes.
The longer answer is more interesting.

Because Albania — especially the south — is not just becoming a tourism destination. It’s slowly becoming a place where people want to stay longer, work differently, and build businesses around lifestyle as much as profit.

And that changes everything.

Why Startups Are Suddenly Looking at Albania

Ten years ago, starting a business in the south of Albania meant opening a restaurant, maybe a small hotel, or something seasonal. Today, the conversation feels different.

People arrive here because of the Albanian Riviera. They come for the sea, the slower rhythm, the affordability. But after a few weeks, they notice something else — costs are still reasonable, competition is not saturated, and there’s space to experiment.

I’ve met designers working remotely from Saranda cafés, software developers renting apartments for six months at a time, and even small wellness brands testing concepts here before expanding elsewhere.

Last month, I showed a property in Ksamil to a couple who originally came only for vacation. By the end of the viewing, they weren’t talking about holidays anymore. They were discussing opening a small online business while living here part of the year. That moment — when tourism turns into long-term thinking — happens more and more now.

Lifestyle First, Business Second

This is something many outsiders don’t understand at first.

Startups in Albania, especially in the south, often begin with lifestyle. People choose where they want to live first. Then they build the business around it.

And honestly, it makes sense.

You finish work and ten minutes later you’re swimming. Or having coffee overlooking the sea while fishermen return to the harbor. That balance is difficult to find elsewhere in Europe without paying a premium.

I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast. Not only for real estate, but for quality of life. And for entrepreneurs, quality of life matters more than people admit.

The Real Estate Connection Nobody Talks About

Here’s where my world and the startup world overlap.

When people start businesses here, they almost always start with property decisions. Where to live. Where to work. Whether to buy or rent. Whether the space can generate income later.

This is why Saranda apartments for sale and seaview apartments have become so interesting not just for investors, but for founders. They’re not buying only for appreciation — they’re buying flexibility.

For example, I recently walked through a 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil with a client who runs an online business. Brand new 2025 construction, quiet neighborhood, private pool shared only by residents, about seven minutes walking distance from the beach. Nothing excessive. Just clean, modern, calm. The kind of place where you can actually focus.

That’s becoming a pattern.

People want something comfortable, understated. Quiet luxury rather than showy investment.

Small Details That Make a Difference (Only Locals Notice)

There’s a spot just above the old road toward Qeparo where locals stop for coffee early in the morning. No sign, just plastic chairs and strong espresso. If you sit there long enough, you hear conversations about construction, tourism, new businesses opening.

That’s how you understand the real economy here.

Or the small bakery near Skënderbeu Street in Saranda that opens before sunrise — builders and shop owners meet there before work. It sounds like a small thing, but these informal networks matter. Business here still runs on relationships and trust as much as contracts.

For startups, that can be an advantage. Things move faster when people know each other.

Affordable Entry Compared to the Rest of Europe

Let’s talk honestly about money.

One of the biggest reasons startups consider Albania is simple: affordability. Not cheap in a low-quality sense — but accessible. Especially when compared to Greece, Italy, or Croatia.

You can still find affordable properties close to the sea, something almost impossible elsewhere on the Mediterranean now.

Take something like this seaview apartment on Skënderbeu Street in Saranda. Quiet area, new residence, private swimming pool, completely open sea views without obstruction. High-end finishes, but still realistic pricing compared to other coastal markets. For someone building a business, owning a home that can also generate rental income changes financial pressure entirely.

And less pressure usually means better decisions.

A Short Tangent About Time (Because It Matters)

One thing I’ve noticed with foreign entrepreneurs is how quickly their perception of time changes here.

In bigger cities, everything feels urgent. Meetings, traffic, deadlines. In Saranda, people still stop to talk. Coffee lasts longer. Decisions sometimes take an extra day — which can be frustrating at first — but eventually you realize it creates space to think more clearly.

Strangely, many startups become more creative because of that slower rhythm.

Anyway, back to business.

Opportunities Beyond Tech

When people hear “startup,” they often think technology. But in South Albania, opportunities are broader.

Hospitality concepts. Boutique accommodation. Experience-based tourism. Wellness retreats. Even small food brands connected to local agriculture.

And of course, property development itself.

Some clients prefer to start from land — especially those thinking long-term. Properties like this seafront land in Porto Palermo, literally first line and only meters from the beach, naturally attract entrepreneurs considering boutique hotels or villa concepts. Porto Palermo still feels untouched, which is rare today.

Others look at areas like Borsh, where larger parcels such as this seaview land opportunity allow more freedom in planning future projects.

The key is timing. And timing here still feels early.

Living and Building at the Same Time

Not everyone wants to build big projects. Many startups are simply families relocating.

A good example is a private villa in the Surra area of Saranda. Quiet, private neighborhood, spacious layout, private pool — the kind of property that allows someone to live comfortably while running a business remotely. Privacy matters more than people realize when you work from home.

Then there are hybrid opportunities. I’ve seen entrepreneurs combine living space with rental income or small commercial activity. Spaces like this commercial shop near the beach in Saranda work well for cafés, showrooms, or service-based startups that benefit from seasonal foot traffic but operate year-round.

The Ksamil Momentum

Ksamil deserves a mention on its own.

The growth there is not accidental. Social media brought attention, yes — but infrastructure and newer developments are what sustain it. New duplexes and residences are designed differently now. More privacy. Better materials. Smaller communities.

Properties like these new luxury duplexes in Ksamil reflect that shift — two private swimming pools, underground parking, only 300 meters from both the beach and the center, and strong rental performance potential with returns reaching up to 16% annually. For founders thinking long-term, that kind of dual-use property — lifestyle plus income — makes a lot of sense.

So… Is Albania Good for Startups?

I’d say yes. But not for everyone.

If you need perfect systems, instant infrastructure, and fast-paced corporate environments, you might struggle at first. Albania still operates with a certain Mediterranean flexibility.

But if you value opportunity, lower entry costs, lifestyle balance, and being early in a growing market — then this place offers something special.

The Albanian Riviera is still writing its next chapter. And startups, in a quiet way, are becoming part of that story.

Sometimes when I drive along the coast in the evening, past Lukova toward Borsh, the sea completely calm and the mountains behind turning orange, I think about how much has changed in just a few years. And how much is still ahead.

For entrepreneurs willing to look beyond the obvious, Albania isn’t just a place to visit anymore.

It’s a place to build.