Cost of Living Comparison Between Tirana and Lushnje Cost of Living Comparison Between Tirana and Lushnje

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Tirana versus $1,220 in Lushnje.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,202 in Tirana versus $1,868 in Lushnje.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,956 in Tirana versus $2,516 in Lushnje.

Living in Tirana is roughly 19% more expensive than Lushnje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tirana is 9% above, Lushnje is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 ALL 964

$11.89 ALL 969

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.8 ALL 4,712

$58.2 ALL 4,743

-0.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.51 ALL 775

$9.59 ALL 781

-0.83%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ALL 159

$2.06 ALL 168

-5.34%

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

$1.84 ALL 150

$1.90 ALL 155

-3.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ALL 75.7

$0.98 ALL 79.8

-5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 ALL 233

$3.01 ALL 245

-5.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 ALL 332

$4.04 ALL 329

0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ALL 175

$2.11 ALL 172

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ALL 88.7

$1.13 ALL 92.4

-3.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ALL 175

$2.23 ALL 181

-3.59%

Eggs

$3.84 ALL 313

$3.99 ALL 325

-3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 ALL 1,074

$12.94 ALL 1,055

1.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.87 ALL 642

$7.56 ALL 616

4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.69 ALL 1,279

$15.46 ALL 1,260

1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ALL 138

$1.72 ALL 140

-1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 ALL 223

$2.71 ALL 221

0.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 ALL 166

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ALL 162

$1.93 ALL 157

3.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ALL 108

$1.36 ALL 111

-2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ALL 107

$1.29 ALL 105

2.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ALL 122

$1.52 ALL 124

-1.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ALL 60.0

$0.75 ALL 60.9

-1.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 ALL 353

$4.20 ALL 343

3.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.87 ALL 886

$10.94 ALL 891

-0.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 ALL 134

$1.56 ALL 127

5.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ALL 175

$2.16 ALL 176

-0.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ALL 40.03

$0.45 ALL 36.61

8.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.56 ALL 1,513

$18.92 ALL 1,542

-1.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ALL 283

$3.45 ALL 282

0.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 ALL 260

$3.18 ALL 260

0.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.85 ALL 1,455

$17.87 ALL 1,457

-0.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.16 ALL 176

$2.05 ALL 167

5.37%

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

$40.8K ALL 3.3M

$40.0K ALL 3.3M

1.94%

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

$35.7K ALL 2.9M

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

2.09%

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

$105 ALL 8,579

$108 ALL 8,808

-2.60%

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

$17.98 ALL 1,466

$17.71 ALL 1,443

1.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.40 ALL 1,500

$18.75 ALL 1,528

-1.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ALL 4,519

$54.1 ALL 4,407

2.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.45 ALL 1,830

$25.70 ALL 2,094

-12.65%

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 ALL 754

$9.20 ALL 750

0.54%

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

$284 ALL 23.2K

$162 ALL 13.2K

75.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,607 ALL 457.0K

$5,619 ALL 458.0K

-0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.9 ALL 5,535

$69.2 ALL 5,640

-1.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 ALL 4,135

$49.44 ALL 4,029

2.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ALL 8,680

$107 ALL 8,687

-0.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ALL 10.4K

$130 ALL 10.6K

-1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$832 ALL 67.8K

$454 ALL 37.0K

83.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$549 ALL 44.7K

$344 ALL 28.0K

59.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,487 ALL 121.2K

$601 ALL 49.0K

147.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$893 ALL 72.8K

$440 ALL 35.9K

102.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,515 ALL 367.9K

$2,201 ALL 179.4K

105.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,235 ALL 182.2K

$1,293 ALL 105.4K

72.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$910 ALL 74.2K

$617 ALL 50.3K

47.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

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

Last update for Tirana: June 14, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $832 in Tirana and $454 in Lushnje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tirana pays 48% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $58.0 in Tirana vs $58.0 in Lushnje. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $279, with Lushnje cheaper for home cooking.

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

Tirana vs Lushnje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lushnje wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Tirana. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lushnje the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Tirana pays 48% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $832 in Tirana versus $454 in Lushnje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lushnje – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $58.0 in Tirana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,447 per month in Tirana versus $1,220 in Lushnje – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,220 in Lushnje versus $1,447 in Tirana, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lushnje but tight or insufficient in Tirana. The gap between the two cities makes Lushnje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tirana and Lushnje are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lushnje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Tirana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.