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: $1,418 in Tirana versus $1,259 in Lushnje.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,229 in Tirana versus $1,938 in Lushnje.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,040 in Tirana versus $2,616 in Lushnje.

Living in Tirana is roughly 13% more expensive than in Lushnje, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tirana is 4% above, Lushnje is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.90 ALL 785

$9.94 ALL 788

-0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 ALL 4,544

$56.1 ALL 4,444

2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 ALL 904

$11.28 ALL 894

1.06%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ALL 186

$2.40 ALL 191

-2.50%

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

$2.51 ALL 199

$2.46 ALL 195

2.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ALL 106

$1.28 ALL 101

3.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 ALL 286

$3.58 ALL 283

0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 ALL 321

$4.21 ALL 334

-3.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ALL 182

$2.25 ALL 178

2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ALL 100

$1.21 ALL 96.1

4.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 ALL 190

$2.38 ALL 189

0.84%

Eggs

$3.82 ALL 302

$3.73 ALL 296

2.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 ALL 1,084

$13.75 ALL 1,090

-0.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.07 ALL 719

$9.08 ALL 720

-0.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.51 ALL 1,388

$17.32 ALL 1,372

1.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ALL 160

$1.95 ALL 154

3.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 ALL 197

$2.53 ALL 201

-1.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 ALL 180

$2.29 ALL 182

-0.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ALL 150

$1.86 ALL 147

1.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 ALL 82.3

$1.03 ALL 81.8

0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 ALL 107

$1.27 ALL 101

6.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 ALL 117

$1.46 ALL 116

1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ALL 63.5

$0.78 ALL 61.7

2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 ALL 399

$5.02 ALL 398

0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.20 ALL 888

$11.28 ALL 894

-0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ALL 136

$1.81 ALL 143

-4.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ALL 163

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ALL 38.38

$0.48 ALL 38.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.00 ALL 1,585

$20.74 ALL 1,644

-3.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 ALL 290

$3.85 ALL 305

-4.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.69 ALL 292

$3.79 ALL 300

-2.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.02 ALL 1,507

$18.78 ALL 1,488

1.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.41 ALL 191

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

$34.8K ALL 2.8M

$34.3K ALL 2.7M

1.31%

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

$37.2K ALL 2.9M

$36.4K ALL 2.9M

2.22%

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

$102 ALL 8,079

$105 ALL 8,304

-2.71%

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

$19.23 ALL 1,524

$18.99 ALL 1,505

1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.82 ALL 1,650

$20.73 ALL 1,643

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 ALL 4,590

$65.3 ALL 5,175

-11.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.03 ALL 1,429

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 ALL 799

$9.88 ALL 783

2.02%

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

$352 ALL 27.9K

$347 ALL 27.5K

1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,192 ALL 649.2K

$8,222 ALL 651.6K

-0.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 ALL 5,880

$49.56 ALL 3,928

49.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.79 ALL 3,867

$48.13 ALL 3,815

1.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ALL 9,823

$122 ALL 9,635

1.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ALL 9,063

$113 ALL 8,965

1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 ALL 67.0K

$487 ALL 38.6K

73.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 ALL 39.2K

$335 ALL 26.5K

47.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 ALL 124.9K

$708 ALL 56.1K

122.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$939 ALL 74.4K

$484 ALL 38.3K

94.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,602 ALL 364.7K

$1,748 ALL 138.5K

163.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,138 ALL 169.4K

$1,174 ALL 93.0K

82.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$913 ALL 72.3K

$625 ALL 49.5K

46.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.64

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

Last update for Tirana: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $845 in Tirana and $487 in Lushnje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tirana pays 46% 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: $57.0 in Tirana vs $56.0 in Lushnje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $298 per month, with Lushnje cheaper across the board.

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 13% 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.

Average pay runs 46% higher in Tirana, 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: $845 in Tirana versus $487 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 $56.0 versus $57.0 in Tirana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,418 per month in Tirana versus $1,259 in Lushnje – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,259 in Lushnje versus $1,418 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 13% less than in Tirana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.