Cost of living in Albania compared to Bulgaria
Currency:
Food | + 4% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food in Albania is about the same as in Bulgaria | ||||
Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 897 Lek (15 лв) | 18 лв | - 16% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 602 Lek (10 лв) | 12 лв | - 13% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 440 Lek (7 лв) | 7 лв | + 9% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 177 Lek (2.96 лв) | 2.65 лв | + 12% | |
12 eggs, large | 291 Lek (4.88 лв) | 4.73 лв | + 3% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 163 Lek (2.73 лв) | 3.61 лв | - 24% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 619 Lek (10 лв) | 9 лв | + 21% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 167 Lek (2.79 лв) | 2.07 лв | + 35% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 138 Lek (2.32 лв) | 1.70 лв | + 37% | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 111 Lek (1.86 лв) | 1.59 лв | + 17% | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 1,625 Lek (27 лв) | 20 лв | + 38% | |
2 liters of coca-cola | 175 Lek (2.94 лв) | 2.74 лв | + 7% | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 101 Lek (1.70 лв) | 1.08 лв | + 57% | |
Housing | + 40% | |||
Housing in Albania is 40% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 80,360 Lek (1,348 лв) | 1,126 лв | + 20% | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 46,061 Lek (773 лв) | 699 лв | + 11% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 16,618 Lek (279 лв) | 214 лв | + 30% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 68,495 Lek (1,149 лв) | 769 лв | + 49% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 49,156 Lek (825 лв) | 548 лв | + 51% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 25,430 Lek (427 лв) | 128 лв | + 232% | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 1,811 Lek (30 лв) | 19 лв | + 64% | |
40” flat screen tv | 49,320 Lek (828 лв) | 536 лв | + 54% | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 30,000 Lek (503 лв) | 248 лв | + 103% | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 1,388 Lek (23 лв) | 28 лв | - 17% | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 545 Lek (9 лв) | 10 лв | - 9% | |
Clothes | - 1% | |||
Clothes in Albania is about the same as in Bulgaria | ||||
Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 4,435 Lek (74 лв) | 126 лв | - 41% | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 3,919 Lek (66 лв) | 56 лв | + 17% | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 8,354 Lek (140 лв) | 145 лв | - 4% | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 10,450 Lek (175 лв) | 139 лв | + 26% | |
Transportation | - 29% | |||
Transportation in Albania is 29% cheaper than in Bulgaria | ||||
Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 994,106 Lek (16,680 лв) | 38,441 лв | - 57% | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 224 Lek (3.76 лв) | 2.81 лв | + 34% | |
Monthly ticket public transport | 1,554 Lek (26 лв) | 51 лв | - 49% | |
Personal Care | + 15% | |||
Personal Care in Albania is 15% more expensive than in Bulgaria | ||||
Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 1,200 Lek (20 лв) | 13 лв | + 50% | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 1,000 Lek (17 лв) | 17 лв | - 3% | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 3,108 Lek (52 лв) | 41 лв | + 28% | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 949 Lek (16 лв) | 8 лв | + 92% | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 366 Lek (6 лв) | 5.14 лв | + 19% | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 534 Lek (9 лв) | 9 лв | - 5% | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | 262 Lek (4.39 лв) | 3.54 лв | + 24% | |
Tube of toothpaste | 312 Lek (5.23 лв) | 5.43 лв | - 4% | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 729 Lek (12 лв) | 20 лв | - 38% | |
Entertainment | - 1% | |||
Entertainment in Albania is about the same as in Bulgaria | ||||
Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 3,000 Lek (50 лв) | 40 лв | + 25% | |
2 tickets to the movies | 1,769 Lek (30 лв) | 24 лв | + 23% | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | - | 66 лв | - | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 4,547 Lek (76 лв) | 97 лв | - 21% | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 1,198 Lek (20 лв) | 13 лв | + 49% | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 239 Lek (4.01 лв) | 3.82 лв | + 5% | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 365 Lek (6 лв) | 3.96 лв | + 55% | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 75,000 Lek (1,258 лв) | 1,400 лв | - 10% | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 25 Lek (0.42 лв) | 0.45 лв | - 7% | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | 3,661 Lek (61 лв) | 59 лв | + 5% | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 343 Lek (5.76 лв) | 5.84 лв | - 1% | |
TOTAL | + 1% |

These prices were last updated on January 28, 2023.
Exchange rate:
0.01678
BGN
/
ALL
Cost of living in Albania is about the same as in Bulgaria
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