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: $1,432 in Tirana versus $1,233 in Lushnje.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,187 in Tirana versus $1,852 in Lushnje.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,942 in Tirana versus $2,471 in Lushnje.

Living in Tirana is roughly 16% more expensive than in Lushnje, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tirana is 8% above, Lushnje is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 ALL 966

$11.91 ALL 968

-0.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 ALL 4,773

$58.0 ALL 4,713

1.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.51 ALL 773

$9.39 ALL 763

1.28%

Cappuccino

$2.05 ALL 166

$2.00 ALL 162

2.50%

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

$1.84 ALL 150

$1.83 ALL 149

0.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 ALL 78.5

$0.91 ALL 73.6

6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 ALL 233

$2.96 ALL 240

-3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 ALL 341

$4.03 ALL 328

4.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ALL 166

$2.16 ALL 176

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 ALL 89.2

$1.09 ALL 88.5

0.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ALL 178

$2.24 ALL 182

-1.79%

Eggs

$3.87 ALL 314

$3.92 ALL 319

-1.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ALL 1,048

$12.99 ALL 1,055

-0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.94 ALL 645

$7.65 ALL 622

3.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 ALL 1,271

$15.62 ALL 1,269

0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ALL 139

$1.70 ALL 138

0.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ALL 216

$2.69 ALL 219

-1.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ALL 167

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ALL 160

$2.00 ALL 163

-1.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 ALL 110

$1.31 ALL 106

3.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 ALL 103

$1.27 ALL 103

-0.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 ALL 118

$1.46 ALL 119

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ALL 61.1

$0.75 ALL 61.3

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 ALL 334

$4.16 ALL 338

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 ALL 877

$10.74 ALL 872

0.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ALL 132

$1.58 ALL 128

2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ALL 167

$2.13 ALL 173

-3.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 ALL 36.84

$0.46 ALL 37.05

-2.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.59 ALL 1,510

$19.01 ALL 1,545

-2.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ALL 293

$3.44 ALL 279

4.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 ALL 249

$3.20 ALL 260

-4.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.44 ALL 1,417

$17.35 ALL 1,410

0.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 ALL 167

$2.08 ALL 169

-1.44%

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

$40.0K ALL 3.3M

$39.9K ALL 3.2M

0.32%

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

$35.1K ALL 2.9M

$36.1K ALL 2.9M

-2.62%

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

$107 ALL 8,701

$106 ALL 8,605

1.11%

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

$17.83 ALL 1,449

$18.03 ALL 1,465

-1.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.26 ALL 1,484

$18.24 ALL 1,482

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 ALL 4,463

$55.3 ALL 4,489

-0.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.73 ALL 1,847

$25.39 ALL 2,063

-10.48%

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 ALL 755

$9.69 ALL 788

-4.13%

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

$294 ALL 23.9K

$158 ALL 12.8K

86.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,610 ALL 455.8K

$5,538 ALL 449.9K

1.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 ALL 5,527

$69.4 ALL 5,638

-1.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ALL 4,130

$50.0 ALL 4,064

1.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ALL 8,775

$109 ALL 8,886

-1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 ALL 10.5K

$128 ALL 10.4K

0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 ALL 67.1K

$456 ALL 37.0K

81.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ALL 44.0K

$340 ALL 27.6K

59.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 ALL 120.9K

$612 ALL 49.7K

143.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$891 ALL 72.4K

$435 ALL 35.3K

104.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,275 ALL 347.3K

$1,786 ALL 145.1K

139.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,133 ALL 173.3K

$1,080 ALL 87.8K

97.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$867 ALL 70.4K

$605 ALL 49.1K

43.27%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lushnje: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $826 in Tirana and $456 in Lushnje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tirana pays 43% 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: $59.0 in Tirana vs $58.0 in Lushnje. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $279, with Tirana 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 16% 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 43% 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: $826 in Tirana versus $456 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 $59.0 in Tirana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,432 per month in Tirana versus $1,233 in Lushnje – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,233 in Lushnje versus $1,432 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 16% less than in Tirana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.