Cost of Living Comparison Between Pogradec and Ballsh Cost of Living Comparison Between Pogradec and Ballsh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,012 per month in Pogradec vs $1,194 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,536 per month in Pogradec vs $1,831 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,059 per month in Pogradec vs $2,468 in Ballsh, rent included.

Pogradec is about 15% cheaper than Ballsh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pogradec and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Pogradec 24% lower, Ballsh 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 ALL 687

$11.70 ALL 951

-27.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ALL 3,063

$57.7 ALL 4,688

-34.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.24 ALL 588

$7.14 ALL 580

1.40%

Cappuccino

$0.95 ALL 77.2

$2.04 ALL 166

-53.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ALL 130

$1.48 ALL 120

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ALL 55.9

$0.90 ALL 73.1

-23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ALL 113

$2.88 ALL 234

-51.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 ALL 213

$4.22 ALL 343

-37.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ALL 162

$2.09 ALL 170

-4.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ALL 73.0

$1.08 ALL 87.8

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ALL 157

$2.21 ALL 180

-12.22%

Eggs

$2.06 ALL 168

$3.99 ALL 325

-48.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 ALL 607

$13.34 ALL 1,084

-44.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 ALL 343

$7.78 ALL 633

-45.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.30 ALL 1,080

$15.98 ALL 1,299

-16.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 ALL 95.0

$1.77 ALL 144

-33.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 ALL 199

$2.77 ALL 225

-11.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 ALL 117

$2.00 ALL 162

-28.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ALL 93.6

$1.90 ALL 155

-39.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ALL 74.8

$1.31 ALL 107

-29.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ALL 77.6

$1.32 ALL 107

-28.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ALL 79.6

$1.44 ALL 117

-31.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ALL 62.8

$0.81 ALL 65.6

-4.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 ALL 327

$4.15 ALL 337

-3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 ALL 813

$11.09 ALL 901

-9.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ALL 93.8

$1.63 ALL 132

-29.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ALL 141

$2.13 ALL 173

-18.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ALL 39.04

$0.49 ALL 39.80

-2.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.10 ALL 1,551

$18.51 ALL 1,504

3.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ALL 279

$3.48 ALL 283

-1.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ALL 126

$3.20 ALL 260

-51.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.75 ALL 1,442

$17.82 ALL 1,448

-0.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.17 ALL 177

$2.06 ALL 168

5.34%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.9K ALL 2.8M

$39.6K ALL 3.2M

-11.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K ALL 2.0M

$36.3K ALL 2.9M

-31.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$68.4 ALL 5,557

$106 ALL 8,578

-35.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.21 ALL 1,398

$17.73 ALL 1,441

-2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.15 ALL 1,312

$18.40 ALL 1,495

-12.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 ALL 4,544

$56.2 ALL 4,564

-0.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.92 ALL 2,025

$25.61 ALL 2,081

-2.69%

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 ALL 649

$9.24 ALL 751

-13.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$95.1 ALL 7,724

$160 ALL 13.0K

-40.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,536 ALL 449.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.49 ALL 3,858

$68.6 ALL 5,570

-30.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ALL 4,308

$49.86 ALL 4,051

6.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 ALL 7,609

$106 ALL 8,613

-11.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 ALL 11.5K

$127 ALL 10.3K

10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ALL 37.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 ALL 27.5K

$341 ALL 27.7K

-0.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 ALL 50.2K

$605 ALL 49.2K

2.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 ALL 35.0K

$432 ALL 35.1K

-0.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 ALL 126.0K

$2,050 ALL 166.5K

-24.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,448 ALL 117.7K

$1,333 ALL 108.3K

8.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$465 ALL 37.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

-27.54%

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

Last update for Pogradec: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Pogradec versus $455 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 $38.00 in Pogradec versus $58.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $283 – making Pogradec the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Yes – Ballsh is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Pogradec and $1,790 in Ballsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pogradec, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Ballsh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Pogradec and $58.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pogradec, where all-in costs run around $1,012, than in Ballsh at $1,194. In Pogradec it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballsh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pogradec. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ballsh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.