🙂A single person spends $1,205 per month in Tepelene vs $1,228 in Ballsh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,864 per month in Tepelene vs $1,838 in Ballsh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,522 per month in Tepelene vs $2,448 in Ballsh, rent included.
🙂Tepelene is about 2% cheaper than Ballsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tepelene and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Tepelene11% lower, Ballsh9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83ALL 794
$9.78ALL 790
0.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.3ALL 4,305
$52.6ALL 4,250
1.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01ALL 890
$7.09ALL 573
55.29%
Cappuccino
$2.37ALL 192
$2.30ALL 186
3.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39ALL 193
$1.47ALL 119
62.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21ALL 97.8
$0.90ALL 72.9
34.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38ALL 273
$3.39ALL 274
-0.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09ALL 331
$3.95ALL 320
3.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21ALL 178
$2.19ALL 177
0.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22ALL 99.0
$1.23ALL 99.3
-0.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35ALL 190
$2.40ALL 194
-2.08%
Eggs
$3.61ALL 292
$3.65ALL 295
-1.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.21ALL 1,068
$13.09ALL 1,058
0.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.69ALL 702
$8.95ALL 723
-2.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.02ALL 1,375
$16.99ALL 1,373
0.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.91ALL 154
$1.94ALL 156
-1.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50ALL 202
$2.59ALL 209
-3.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17ALL 175
$2.14ALL 173
1.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.94ALL 157
$1.85ALL 150
4.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09ALL 88.2
$1.08ALL 87.0
0.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30ALL 105
$1.26ALL 102
3.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40ALL 113
$1.46ALL 118
-4.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81ALL 65.5
$0.81ALL 65.6
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.76ALL 384
$4.96ALL 401
-4.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.97ALL 886
$11.29ALL 912
-2.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75ALL 141
$1.80ALL 145
-2.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10ALL 170
$2.12ALL 171
-0.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48ALL 39.05
$0.43ALL 34.94
11.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.30ALL 1,560
$18.63ALL 1,505
3.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.74ALL 302
$3.77ALL 305
-0.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.64ALL 294
$3.78ALL 306
-3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.40ALL 1,487
$18.41ALL 1,487
-0.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38ALL 192
$2.37ALL 192
0.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KALL 2.8M
$35.1KALL 2.8M
-1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8KALL 3.0M
$36.8KALL 3.0M
0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109ALL 8,816
$108ALL 8,696
1.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.68ALL 1,509
$19.01ALL 1,536
-1.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.21ALL 1,633
$20.51ALL 1,657
-1.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.4ALL 5,282
$62.6ALL 5,059
4.41%
Cinema Ticket
$9.65ALL 780
$9.65ALL 780
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349ALL 28.2K
$341ALL 27.5K
2.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,323ALL 672.5K
$8,274ALL 668.5K
0.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0ALL 4,041
$49.08ALL 3,966
1.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.18ALL 3,974
$49.00ALL 3,959
0.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123ALL 9,968
$122ALL 9,849
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114ALL 9,192
$113ALL 9,153
0.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478ALL 38.6K
$500ALL 40.4K
-4.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333ALL 26.9K
$362ALL 29.3K
-8.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$752ALL 60.7K
$714ALL 57.7K
5.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469ALL 37.9K
$520ALL 42.0K
-9.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,858ALL 150.1K
$1,724ALL 139.3K
7.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,246ALL 100.7K
$1,175ALL 95.0K
5.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tepelene
Ballsh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$669ALL 54.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.55
5.55
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tepelene: August 3, 2026
Last update for Ballsh: August 3, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Tepelene versus $500 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 $53.0 in Tepelene versus $53.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $294 – 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 – Ballsh is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,808 per month in Tepelene and $1,842 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 Tepelene, 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 in Ballsh?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Ballsh, 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 in Ballsh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Tepelene and $53.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tepelene or in Ballsh?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tepelene, where all-in costs run around $1,205, than in Ballsh at $1,228. In Tepelene it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballsh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tepelene or Ballsh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tepelene – 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 Tepelene. 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.