Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pogradec and Ballsh

For one person, living is cheaper in Pogradec: $820 a month against $1,185 in Ballsh, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pogradec, Albania
Ballsh, Albania
Pogradec
🇦🇱 Albania
$820
/mo nomad
Ballsh
🇦🇱 Albania
$1,185
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pogradec and in Ballsh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pogradec and in Ballsh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $820 per month in Pogradec vs $1,185 in Ballsh, rent included.

  • Pogradec $820
  • Ballsh $1,185

A couple spends around $1,353 per month in Pogradec vs $1,834 in Ballsh, rent included.

  • Pogradec $1,353
  • Ballsh $1,834

A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Pogradec vs $2,484 in Ballsh, rent included.

  • Pogradec $1,887
  • Ballsh $2,484

Pogradec is about 31% cheaper than Ballsh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Pogradec and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Pogradec 40% lower, Ballsh 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.62 ALL 781
$9.65 ALL 784
-0.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.12 ALL 3,177
$54.6 ALL 4,431
-28.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.30 ALL 593
$7.04 ALL 572
3.69%
Cappuccino
$1.58 ALL 129
$2.25 ALL 182
-29.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ALL 147
$1.47 ALL 120
23.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ALL 55.6
$0.90 ALL 73.1
-24.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 ALL 121
$3.50 ALL 285
-57.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ALL 216
$4.11 ALL 334
-35.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ALL 160
$2.24 ALL 182
-12.05%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 ALL 73.8
$1.22 ALL 98.7
-25.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 ALL 167
$2.35 ALL 191
-12.77%
Eggs
$2.28 ALL 186
$3.80 ALL 309
-40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 ALL 665
$13.01 ALL 1,057
-37.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 ALL 354
$9.45 ALL 768
-53.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.35 ALL 1,166
$17.32 ALL 1,407
-17.15%
Apples (1kg)
$1.27 ALL 103
$1.97 ALL 160
-35.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.35 ALL 191
$2.51 ALL 204
-6.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ALL 122
$2.22 ALL 181
-32.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ALL 102
$1.91 ALL 155
-34.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 ALL 79.0
$1.06 ALL 86.5
-8.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 ALL 83.1
$1.32 ALL 107
-22.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ALL 82.6
$1.50 ALL 122
-32.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ALL 68.4
$0.80 ALL 65.4
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ALL 348
$4.79 ALL 389
-10.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.80 ALL 634
$10.42 ALL 846
-25.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ALL 102
$1.62 ALL 131
-22.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ALL 148
$2.03 ALL 165
-10.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ALL 41.08
$0.53 ALL 42.75
-3.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.76 ALL 1,524
$18.09 ALL 1,469
3.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 ALL 296
$3.77 ALL 306
-3.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ALL 151
$3.82 ALL 310
-51.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.50 ALL 1,503
$18.59 ALL 1,510
-0.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 ALL 185
$2.42 ALL 196
-5.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K ALL 2.7M
$33.2K ALL 2.7M
-0.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K ALL 2.0M
$29.1K ALL 2.4M
-16.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ALL 4,976
$97.8 ALL 7,942
-37.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.66 ALL 1,353
$18.77 ALL 1,525
-11.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ALL 1,419
$20.21 ALL 1,641
-13.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.29 ALL 2,947
$50.8 ALL 4,128
-28.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 ALL 1,521
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.62 ALL 700
$9.73 ALL 790
-11.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.8 ALL 8,105
$341 ALL 27.7K
-70.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$8,309 ALL 674.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.22 ALL 3,998
$48.97 ALL 3,978
0.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 ALL 4,549
$47.59 ALL 3,866
17.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 ALL 7,871
$118 ALL 9,607
-18.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 ALL 12.1K
$112 ALL 9,123
32.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$185 ALL 15.1K
$446 ALL 36.2K
-58.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$126 ALL 10.2K
$332 ALL 27.0K
-62.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 ALL 29.7K
$612 ALL 49.7K
-40.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 ALL 20.4K
$486 ALL 39.5K
-48.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,626 ALL 132.1K
$1,745 ALL 141.7K
-6.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,499 ALL 121.8K
$1,144 ALL 92.9K
31.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pogradec
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$478 ALL 38.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.16
-3.10%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Pogradec: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pogradec
$213
Ballsh
$295 38.7% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Pogradec
$158
Ballsh
$147 6.9% $11
Eating Out
Pogradec
$141
Ballsh
$160 14.1% $20
Accommodation & Living
Pogradec
$126
Ballsh
$332 165% $207
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pogradec
$95
Ballsh
$137 43.4% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Pogradec
$54
Ballsh
$70 31.3% $17
Getting Around
Pogradec
$34
Ballsh
$43 27.6% $9.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $185 in Pogradec versus $446 in Ballsh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39 in Pogradec versus $55 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $295 – making Pogradec the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇱 Pogradec
🇦🇱 Ballsh
🕒 Local time
19:56 7:56 PM
19:56 7:56 PM
Same time as Pogradec
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
20,848
7,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ALL – Albanian Lek Converter

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 81.22 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.69 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pogradec Ballsh 85 km
From you
  • Pogradec
  • Ballsh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Pogradec vs Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pogradec cheaper than Ballsh?
Yes – Ballsh is pricier by about 45%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,230 per month in Pogradec and $1,778 in Ballsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pogradec, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $185 there versus $446 in Ballsh.
How do food prices compare in Pogradec and in Ballsh?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Ballsh, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Pogradec or in Ballsh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39 in Pogradec and $55 in Ballsh. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Pogradec or in Ballsh?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $820 in Pogradec and $1,185 in Ballsh. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Pogradec or Ballsh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pogradec – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Pogradec vs other spots: cost of living compared

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