😐A single person spends $1,447 per month in Tirana vs $1,219 in Tepelene, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,202 per month in Tirana vs $1,879 in Tepelene, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,956 per month in Tirana vs $2,540 in Tepelene, rent included.
😐Tirana costs about 19% more than Tepelene, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Tirana sits 9% above the global median, while Tepelene is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83ALL 971
$11.56ALL 948
2.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8ALL 4,744
$59.5ALL 4,883
-2.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51ALL 780
$9.65ALL 792
-1.45%
Cappuccino
$1.95ALL 160
$2.02ALL 166
-3.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84ALL 151
$1.90ALL 156
-3.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93ALL 76.3
$0.92ALL 75.7
1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.85ALL 234
$2.91ALL 239
-2.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08ALL 334
$4.14ALL 340
-1.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15ALL 176
$2.07ALL 170
3.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09ALL 89.3
$1.14ALL 93.7
-4.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15ALL 177
$2.19ALL 180
-1.83%
Eggs
$3.84ALL 315
$3.99ALL 328
-3.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.18ALL 1,081
$12.87ALL 1,056
2.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87ALL 646
$7.66ALL 629
2.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.69ALL 1,287
$16.00ALL 1,312
-1.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69ALL 139
$1.69ALL 139
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.73ALL 224
$2.75ALL 226
-0.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04ALL 167
$2.04ALL 167
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99ALL 163
$1.97ALL 162
1.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33ALL 109
$1.30ALL 107
2.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32ALL 108
$1.29ALL 105
2.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50ALL 123
$1.52ALL 125
-1.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74ALL 60.4
$0.74ALL 60.5
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34ALL 356
$4.13ALL 339
5.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.87ALL 892
$10.90ALL 894
-0.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65ALL 135
$1.59ALL 130
3.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15ALL 177
$2.15ALL 176
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49ALL 40.30
$0.45ALL 36.89
8.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.56ALL 1,523
$18.75ALL 1,539
-1.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.47ALL 285
$3.54ALL 290
-1.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.19ALL 262
$3.20ALL 262
-0.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.85ALL 1,465
$17.60ALL 1,444
1.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16ALL 177
$2.10ALL 172
2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8KALL 3.3M
$39.3KALL 3.2M
3.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KALL 2.9M
$35.6KALL 2.9M
0.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105ALL 8,637
$106ALL 8,733
-1.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.98ALL 1,476
$17.71ALL 1,453
1.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.40ALL 1,510
$18.69ALL 1,534
-1.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.4ALL 4,549
$54.2ALL 4,447
2.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.45ALL 1,842
$25.75ALL 2,113
-12.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.25ALL 759
$9.25ALL 759
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284ALL 23.3K
$157ALL 12.8K
81.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,607ALL 460.1K
$5,655ALL 464.0K
-0.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9ALL 5,572
$62.4ALL 5,122
8.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7ALL 4,163
$50.1ALL 4,108
1.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107ALL 8,739
$108ALL 8,875
-1.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127ALL 10.4K
$132ALL 10.8K
-3.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$832ALL 68.2K
$451ALL 37.0K
84.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549ALL 45.0K
$337ALL 27.6K
63.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,487ALL 122.0K
$606ALL 49.7K
145.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$893ALL 73.3K
$428ALL 35.1K
108.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,515ALL 370.4K
$1,995ALL 163.7K
126.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,235ALL 183.4K
$1,327ALL 108.9K
68.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tirana
Tepelene
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$910ALL 74.7K
$678ALL 55.6K
34.27%
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 Tirana: June 14, 2026
Last update for Tepelene: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $832 in Tirana versus $451 in Tepelene. 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 34% higher in Tirana, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Tirana versus $60.0 in Tepelene. Groceries tell a different story – $281 in Tirana vs $280 in Tepelene – so Tepelene 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
Tirana vs Tepelene: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tirana and in Tepelene compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Tirana, $1,219 in Tepelene – roughly 19% apart. Tirana costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tirana compared to Tepelene?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Tirana and $1,828 in Tepelene. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tirana and Tepelene?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tirana or Tepelene?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,447 in Tirana and $1,219 in Tepelene. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Tirana and in Tepelene?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Tepelene. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tepelene, where all-in costs run around $1,219, than in Tirana at $1,447. In Tepelene it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tirana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Tirana or Tepelene?
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.
Is Tirana or Tepelene safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Tirana and Tepelene?
If budget matters most, go with Tepelene. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tirana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.