😐A single person spends $1,234 per month in Tepelene vs $1,219 in Ballsh, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,857 per month in Tepelene vs $1,877 in Ballsh, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,480 per month in Tepelene vs $2,535 in Ballsh, rent included.
😐Tepelene costs about 1% more than Ballsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tepelene and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Tepelene8% lower, Ballsh9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.74ALL 959
$11.57ALL 945
1.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4ALL 4,775
$57.9ALL 4,733
0.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.64ALL 788
$6.96ALL 569
38.51%
Cappuccino
$1.96ALL 160
$1.98ALL 161
-1.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90ALL 155
$1.41ALL 115
34.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99ALL 81.2
$0.91ALL 74.6
8.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91ALL 238
$2.97ALL 243
-2.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19ALL 342
$4.10ALL 335
2.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06ALL 168
$2.15ALL 176
-4.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12ALL 91.8
$1.08ALL 88.1
3.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13ALL 174
$2.24ALL 183
-4.91%
Eggs
$3.94ALL 322
$3.96ALL 323
-0.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27ALL 1,084
$13.17ALL 1,076
0.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.89ALL 645
$7.81ALL 638
1.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.61ALL 1,275
$15.66ALL 1,279
-0.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79ALL 146
$1.71ALL 140
4.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74ALL 224
$2.68ALL 219
2.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05ALL 168
$2.04ALL 167
0.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.94ALL 159
$1.91ALL 156
1.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36ALL 111
$1.32ALL 108
3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32ALL 108
$1.32ALL 108
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50ALL 122
$1.46ALL 119
2.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.6
$0.79ALL 64.8
-6.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13ALL 338
$4.15ALL 339
-0.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.83ALL 885
$10.99ALL 898
-1.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64ALL 134
$1.59ALL 130
3.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09ALL 171
$2.14ALL 175
-2.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46ALL 37.44
$0.49ALL 39.73
-6.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.99ALL 1,551
$18.60ALL 1,520
2.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57ALL 292
$3.61ALL 295
-1.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.21ALL 262
$3.23ALL 264
-0.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.39ALL 1,421
$17.50ALL 1,430
-0.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15ALL 176
$2.06ALL 168
4.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1KALL 3.3M
$40.7KALL 3.3M
-1.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3KALL 3.0M
$35.6KALL 2.9M
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109ALL 8,866
$107ALL 8,734
1.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.52ALL 1,431
$17.98ALL 1,469
-2.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.38ALL 1,502
$18.25ALL 1,491
0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.0ALL 4,492
$54.8ALL 4,476
0.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11ALL 2,052
$24.88ALL 2,033
0.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20ALL 752
$9.63ALL 787
-4.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160ALL 13.1K
$156ALL 12.8K
2.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,615ALL 458.7K
$5,623ALL 459.4K
-0.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.8ALL 5,052
$68.8ALL 5,620
-10.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2ALL 4,183
$50.1ALL 4,093
2.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105ALL 8,605
$106ALL 8,686
-0.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131ALL 10.7K
$129ALL 10.5K
1.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450ALL 36.8K
$451ALL 36.9K
-0.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347ALL 28.3K
$338ALL 27.6K
2.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$610ALL 49.8K
$608ALL 49.7K
0.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427ALL 34.9K
$429ALL 35.1K
-0.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983ALL 162.0K
$1,753ALL 143.2K
13.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,313ALL 107.3K
$1,271ALL 103.9K
3.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677ALL 55.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.52
5.52
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tepelene: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ballsh: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Tepelene versus $451 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 $58.0 in Tepelene versus $58.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $281 – making Tepelene 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
Tepelene vs Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballsh cheaper than Tepelene?
Yes – Tepelene is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,850 per month in Tepelene and $1,829 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 Ballsh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Tepelene and Ballsh?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Tepelene, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Tepelene or Ballsh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Tepelene and $58.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tepelene or Ballsh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ballsh, where all-in costs run around $1,219, than in Tepelene at $1,234. In Ballsh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tepelene it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tepelene or Ballsh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ballsh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tepelene or Ballsh?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ballsh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tepelene makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.