😐A single person spends $1,211 per month in Tepelene vs $1,206 in Ballsh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,887 per month in Tepelene vs $1,871 in Ballsh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,562 per month in Tepelene vs $2,537 in Ballsh, rent included.
😐Tepelene and Ballsh have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Tepelene and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Tepelene10% lower, Ballsh10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.56ALL 944
$11.77ALL 961
-1.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5ALL 4,779
$59.5ALL 4,860
-1.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.32ALL 762
$7.12ALL 582
30.90%
Cappuccino
$2.06ALL 168
$2.06ALL 169
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83ALL 149
$1.47ALL 120
24.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90ALL 73.8
$0.85ALL 69.6
5.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92ALL 239
$2.97ALL 243
-1.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07ALL 332
$4.10ALL 335
-0.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16ALL 176
$2.12ALL 173
1.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14ALL 93.4
$1.14ALL 93.1
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.22ALL 181
$2.20ALL 179
0.91%
Eggs
$3.83ALL 313
$3.99ALL 326
-4.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.01ALL 1,063
$13.08ALL 1,069
-0.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.88ALL 644
$7.79ALL 637
1.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.63ALL 1,278
$15.94ALL 1,303
-1.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73ALL 141
$1.72ALL 141
0.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74ALL 224
$2.69ALL 220
1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06ALL 168
$2.03ALL 166
1.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01ALL 164
$1.91ALL 156
5.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38ALL 113
$1.31ALL 107
5.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27ALL 104
$1.27ALL 104
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51ALL 124
$1.51ALL 123
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.7
$0.74ALL 60.5
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20ALL 343
$4.36ALL 357
-3.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.54ALL 861
$10.31ALL 843
2.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56ALL 128
$1.60ALL 130
-2.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15ALL 176
$2.12ALL 174
1.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALL 39.98
$0.48ALL 39.55
2.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.90ALL 1,545
$18.98ALL 1,551
-0.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.47ALL 283
$3.50ALL 286
-0.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.11ALL 254
$3.22ALL 263
-3.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.49ALL 1,429
$17.67ALL 1,444
-1.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13ALL 174
$2.14ALL 175
-0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KALL 3.3M
$40.3KALL 3.3M
0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KALL 2.9M
$35.1KALL 2.9M
0.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105ALL 8,612
$106ALL 8,678
-0.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94ALL 1,466
$18.16ALL 1,484
-1.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.34ALL 1,499
$18.75ALL 1,532
-2.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2ALL 4,514
$55.9ALL 4,565
-1.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.87ALL 2,032
$25.00ALL 2,043
-0.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29ALL 759
$9.62ALL 786
-3.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157ALL 12.9K
$160ALL 13.1K
-1.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,582ALL 456.2K
$5,556ALL 454.1K
0.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.2ALL 5,084
$69.0ALL 5,634
-9.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9ALL 4,160
$49.58ALL 4,052
2.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107ALL 8,768
$106ALL 8,638
1.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127ALL 10.4K
$128ALL 10.4K
-0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450ALL 36.8K
$448ALL 36.6K
0.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346ALL 28.3K
$343ALL 28.0K
0.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$622ALL 50.8K
$613ALL 50.1K
1.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$438ALL 35.8K
$436ALL 35.6K
0.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,816ALL 148.4K
$1,844ALL 150.7K
-1.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,206ALL 98.6K
$1,234ALL 100.8K
-2.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$679ALL 55.5K
$673ALL 55.0K
0.89%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ballsh: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Tepelene versus $448 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 1% higher in Tepelene. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Tepelene versus $59.0 in Ballsh. Groceries tell a different story – $281 in Tepelene vs $280 in Ballsh – so Ballsh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,817 per month in Tepelene and $1,809 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Tepelene and $160 in Ballsh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 $1,206, than in Tepelene at $1,211. 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.