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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,010 per month in Pogradec vs $1,188 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,509 per month in Pogradec vs $1,843 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,009 per month in Pogradec vs $2,497 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 25% lower, Ballsh 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.17 ALL 665

$11.74 ALL 955

-30.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.98 ALL 3,008

$59.2 ALL 4,812

-37.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.19 ALL 585

$6.98 ALL 568

3.01%

Cappuccino

$0.92 ALL 74.8

$2.00 ALL 163

-54.00%

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

$1.63 ALL 133

$1.45 ALL 118

12.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ALL 59.6

$0.91 ALL 73.9

-19.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ALL 118

$2.96 ALL 241

-51.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ALL 205

$4.20 ALL 342

-40.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ALL 165

$2.11 ALL 172

-3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ALL 72.6

$1.13 ALL 92.0

-21.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ALL 159

$2.16 ALL 176

-9.72%

Eggs

$2.18 ALL 177

$3.82 ALL 311

-42.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.72 ALL 628

$12.91 ALL 1,050

-40.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.00 ALL 325

$7.70 ALL 626

-48.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.16 ALL 1,071

$15.92 ALL 1,295

-17.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 ALL 93.1

$1.71 ALL 139

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 ALL 193

$2.80 ALL 228

-15.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 ALL 117

$1.95 ALL 159

-26.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ALL 95.0

$1.92 ALL 156

-39.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 ALL 74.2

$1.35 ALL 110

-32.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ALL 75.4

$1.34 ALL 109

-30.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ALL 73.2

$1.46 ALL 119

-38.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ALL 59.0

$0.80 ALL 64.9

-8.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 ALL 322

$4.32 ALL 351

-8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.34 ALL 842

$10.27 ALL 836

0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ALL 97.7

$1.64 ALL 133

-26.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ALL 147

$2.13 ALL 173

-15.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ALL 40.07

$0.45 ALL 36.85

8.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.86 ALL 1,535

$18.68 ALL 1,520

0.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 ALL 277

$3.61 ALL 294

-5.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 ALL 125

$3.06 ALL 249

-49.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.31 ALL 1,408

$17.46 ALL 1,420

-0.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.21 ALL 180

$2.06 ALL 167

7.28%

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

$34.8K ALL 2.8M

$39.5K ALL 3.2M

-11.75%

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

$25.7K ALL 2.1M

$35.8K ALL 2.9M

-28.07%

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

$66.8 ALL 5,430

$106 ALL 8,593

-36.81%

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

$17.58 ALL 1,430

$17.82 ALL 1,450

-1.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.87 ALL 1,291

$18.73 ALL 1,524

-15.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 ALL 4,486

$55.0 ALL 4,475

0.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.49 ALL 2,074

$24.98 ALL 2,032

2.04%

Cinema Ticket

$8.40 ALL 684

$9.54 ALL 776

-11.95%

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

$94.7 ALL 7,706

$157 ALL 12.8K

-39.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,615 ALL 456.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.91 ALL 3,897

$67.5 ALL 5,494

-29.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 ALL 4,388

$50.3 ALL 4,090

7.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ALL 7,807

$106 ALL 8,619

-9.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 ALL 11.6K

$130 ALL 10.6K

9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$458 ALL 37.2K

$444 ALL 36.1K

3.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 ALL 27.6K

$349 ALL 28.4K

-2.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ALL 50.5K

-0.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 ALL 35.8K

$437 ALL 35.5K

0.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,580 ALL 128.6K

$1,882 ALL 153.1K

-16.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ALL 120.5K

$1,233 ALL 100.3K

20.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ALL 38.5K

$696 ALL 56.6K

-32.00%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $458 in Pogradec versus $444 in Ballsh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Ballsh, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Pogradec versus $59 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $279 – 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 $1,516 per month in Pogradec and $1,782 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 35% 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 $37.00 in Pogradec and $59.0 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 $1,010, than in Ballsh at $1,188. 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.