Over the last few years, I’ve noticed something changing in Saranda.
Not just more tourists — we’ve always had those — but more people asking a different kind of question.
Not “Where should we stay for a week?”
But “What would it look like to live here?”
And honestly, I understand why.
I’ve worked in real estate here for years, watching the Albanian Riviera grow slowly, sometimes quietly. What surprises many people is that the movement we’re seeing now isn’t only about holidays anymore. Europeans are starting to leave expensive EU countries and relocate — full-time or part-time — to Albania. And Saranda is often where that story begins.
The Cost of Living Conversation
Let’s start with the obvious part.
Cost.
I’ve sat across from clients from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, even Scandinavia, and the conversation almost always turns the same way. Rising living costs back home. High taxes. Property prices that feel disconnected from reality.
Here in the south of Albania, things still feel… manageable.
You can have coffee by the sea without thinking twice about the price. Fresh vegetables come from nearby villages. Fish arrives at restaurants the same morning it was caught. Life feels simpler, but not in a primitive way — more in a balanced way.
And when people start comparing property prices, the difference becomes very clear. Seaview apartments here often cost less than small city apartments in secondary European towns. That realization alone makes many people reconsider their plans.
I truly believe Saranda offers the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast right now. Not because it’s cheap — but because it still feels authentic while improving every year.
Lifestyle Over Status
This is something social media doesn’t always show correctly.
Many Europeans moving here are not chasing luxury in the traditional sense. They’re looking for space, light, and time. The ability to walk to the sea in the evening. To sit outside in October without a jacket. To know their neighbors.
Last autumn, I was showing a couple from Belgium a property in Ksamil. We finished the viewing early and stopped for coffee near the road that leads toward Butrint. They watched locals greeting each other, kids playing outside, someone bringing fresh bread from the bakery. At one point they just looked at me and said, “This feels human again.”
Moments like that stay with you.
The Rise of Remote Work and Flexible Living
Another reason is simple: people no longer need to live where they work.
Remote work changed everything. Suddenly, living in a crowded, expensive city stopped making sense for many professionals. Why stay in grey winters when you can open your laptop with a sea view?
I see this especially with buyers looking at Saranda apartments for sale — not necessarily as permanent homes at first, but as hybrid spaces. A few months here, a few months back home. Over time, many end up staying longer than planned.
Properties that combine comfort and calm surroundings tend to attract this group. For example, something like this seaview apartment on Skënderbeu Street fits that lifestyle naturally. Quiet neighborhood, private pool, completely open sea views without obstruction. It works equally well as a home or as an investment — which is often exactly what buyers want today.
The Albanian Riviera Still Feels Real
This part is harder to explain unless you’ve spent time here.
The Albanian Riviera hasn’t been over-polished yet. You still find small family-run restaurants where the owner insists you try homemade raki before leaving. You still see fishermen repairing nets in the morning near Limani. And in places like Borsh, you can drive five minutes from the main road and suddenly hear nothing but the wind and the sea.
There’s a small roadside grill above Lukova where locals stop late in the evening — not many tourists know it. I’ve taken clients there after property viewings more than once. Conversations become easier there. Decisions too.
That sense of authenticity is something many Europeans feel they’ve lost at home.
Affordable Properties With Long-Term Potential
Let’s talk honestly about investment, because that matters too.
Many buyers coming from EU countries are not only looking for lifestyle improvements. They’re thinking long-term. Property value growth, rental income, flexibility.
The demand for beachfront property and seaview apartments along the Albanian Riviera has grown steadily, especially in Saranda and Ksamil. And compared to Spain, Italy, or Croatia, entry prices are still relatively low.
A good example is this 1-bedroom apartment in Ksamil. It’s part of a new 2025 building, finished with modern standards, located in a quiet new neighborhood about a seven-minute walk from the beach. Residents share a private swimming pool, and the overall atmosphere is calm rather than crowded. This is the kind of property that appeals to buyers who want understated comfort — not something flashy.
And that’s becoming the new definition of luxury here.
A Small Tangent About Time
I’ll admit something slightly unrelated.
Sometimes in winter, Saranda feels even better than summer. The pace slows down. You recognize the same faces every morning. The sea becomes darker, quieter. It reminds you that this place isn’t only a seasonal destination — it’s a real town where people live year-round.
This matters more than people think when buying property.
Because eventually, the question becomes not “Can I rent it?” but “Can I live here?”
Families, Privacy, and Space
Another trend I’ve noticed is families moving away from dense cities toward more private living environments.
Villas have become increasingly attractive, especially for buyers who want independence and outdoor space. Properties like this private villa in the Surra area of Saranda reflect that shift. Quiet surroundings, private pool, spacious layout — designed more for everyday living than seasonal use. For families, that privacy is often the deciding factor.
And once people experience waking up with open views instead of buildings across the street, it’s hard to go back.
Investors Thinking Bigger
Not everyone coming to Albania is looking for an apartment. Some are thinking long-term development.
I’ve spoken with investors interested in building small hotels or villa complexes rather than buying finished properties. Locations like Porto Palermo or Borsh attract this kind of vision. For example, this seafront land in Porto Palermo sits only about ten meters from the beach — first line, open exposure to the sea. Rare opportunities like that are becoming harder to find.
Similarly, land in Borsh offers space and tranquility that many Mediterranean countries lost years ago. The potential is obvious once you stand there and look at the coastline.
Ksamil’s New Direction
Ksamil deserves a separate mention.
It’s evolving quickly, but not in the chaotic way people sometimes expect. New developments are becoming more refined — fewer units, better construction, more attention to privacy. Buyers want security, parking, and quality finishes.
That’s why properties like these new luxury duplexes in Ksamil stand out. Two swimming pools, underground parking for a limited number of residents, only 300 meters from the beach and center. Everything feels intentional. For investors, the potential ROI can reach around 16% annually, but interestingly, many buyers choose to keep them for personal use instead.
That says a lot.
Business Opportunities Following the Migration
Where people move, business follows.
I’ve noticed increasing interest not only in residential property but also in commercial spaces. Cafés, boutique shops, small hospitality concepts. As the population becomes more international, the demand changes too. A space like this commercial property near the beach in Saranda reflects that shift — first-line location, terrace, parking, close to the sea. Exactly the kind of place that benefits from both tourism and year-round activity.
Why This Movement Is Just Beginning
If you ask me personally, this trend is still early.
Europeans are not leaving their countries because they dislike them. They’re leaving because they’re searching for balance again. Better weather. Lower pressure. A sense of community. And yes, more affordable properties that still offer long-term growth.
Albania — and especially Saranda — happens to offer that combination right now.
I’ve seen people arrive curious and leave with keys in their hands. I’ve seen families come for a two-week holiday and return six months later looking for beachfront property. And every year, the number grows.
The Albanian Riviera is changing, but slowly enough that it still feels genuine.
And maybe that’s the real reason people are coming here — not just to invest, but to live differently.
