Cost of living in Albania compared to Bulgaria
Currency:
| Food | - 3% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Albania is about the same as in Bulgaria | ||||
| Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 830 Lek (16 лв) | 17 лв | - 2% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 800 Lek (16 лв) | 16 лв | - 1% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 340 Lek (7 лв) | 8 лв | - 12% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 152 Lek (2.99 лв) | 3.40 лв | - 12% | |
| 12 eggs, large | 327 Lek (6 лв) | 8 лв | - 16% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 198 Lek (3.88 лв) | 4.17 лв | - 7% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 398 Lek (8 лв) | 10 лв | - 25% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 179 Lek (3.51 лв) | 2.86 лв | + 23% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 92 Lek (1.82 лв) | 2.13 лв | - 15% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 109 Lek (2.13 лв) | 2.33 лв | - 8% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 1,293 Lek (25 лв) | 21 лв | + 22% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 190 Lek (3.73 лв) | 3.12 лв | + 20% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 50 Lek (0.99 лв) | 1.05 лв | - 5% | |
| Housing | - 6% | |||
| Housing in Albania is 6% cheaper than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 54,597 Lek (1,072 лв) | 1,292 лв | - 17% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 41,798 Lek (821 лв) | 872 лв | - 6% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 13,504 Lek (265 лв) | 218 лв | + 22% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 30,000 Lek (589 лв) | 786 лв | - 25% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 23,699 Lek (465 лв) | 705 лв | - 34% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 8,941 Lek (176 лв) | 174 лв | + 1% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 1,311 Lek (26 лв) | 17 лв | + 53% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 29,173 Lek (573 лв) | 607 лв | - 6% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 20,293 Lek (398 лв) | 181 лв | + 121% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 1,296 Lek (25 лв) | 17 лв | + 47% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 959 Lek (19 лв) | 25 лв | - 25% | |
| Clothes | - 19% | |||
| Clothes in Albania is 19% cheaper than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 3,917 Lek (77 лв) | 118 лв | - 35% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 3,564 Lek (70 лв) | 89 лв | - 21% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 8,669 Lek (170 лв) | 204 лв | - 16% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 12,963 Lek (255 лв) | 186 лв | + 37% | |
| Transportation | - 31% | |||
| Transportation in Albania is 31% cheaper than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 550,000 Lek (10,799 лв) | 52,642 лв | - 79% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 178 Lek (3.49 лв) | 2.65 лв | + 32% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 1,551 Lek (30 лв) | 47 лв | - 35% | |
| Personal Care | - 18% | |||
| Personal Care in Albania is 18% cheaper than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 200 Lek (3.93 лв) | 15 лв | - 74% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 669 Lek (13 лв) | 24 лв | - 45% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 2,500 Lek (49 лв) | 78 лв | - 37% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 250 Lek (4.91 лв) | 7 лв | - 26% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 375 Lek (7 лв) | 6 лв | + 13% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 413 Lek (8 лв) | 8 лв | + 2% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 334 Lek (7 лв) | 4.06 лв | + 61% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 382 Lek (8 лв) | 3.73 лв | + 101% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 564 Lek (11 лв) | 28 лв | - 60% | |
| Entertainment | - 6% | |||
| Entertainment in Albania is 6% cheaper than in Bulgaria | ||||
| Albania | Bulgaria | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 3,059 Lek (60 лв) | 53 лв | + 14% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 1,600 Lek (31 лв) | 27 лв | + 16% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | - | 50 лв | - | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 4,588 Lek (90 лв) | 118 лв | - 24% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 799 Lek (16 лв) | 14 лв | + 12% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 200 Lek (3.93 лв) | 5.17 лв | - 24% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 313 Lek (6 лв) | 4.45 лв | + 38% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 75,000 Lek (1,473 лв) | 1,897 лв | - 22% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | - | 0.33 лв | - | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 3,617 Lek (71 лв) | 72 лв | - 1% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 349 Lek (7 лв) | 7 лв | - 6% | |
| TOTAL | - 15% | |||
This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 418 prices entered by 89 different people.
These prices were last updated on March 16, 2025.
Exchange rate:
0.01963
BGN
/
ALL
Cost of living in Albania is 15% cheaper than in Bulgaria
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