{"id":290802,"date":"2025-06-13T12:26:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T12:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/the-cost-of-travel-in-albania-my-detailed-budget-breakdown-2\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T12:26:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T12:26:46","slug":"the-cost-of-travel-in-albania-my-detailed-budget-breakdown-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=290802","title":{"rendered":"The Cost of Travel in Albania: My Detailed Budget Breakdown"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Albania is the country of the moment. <\/p>\n

At least when it comes to European travel. <\/p>\n

These days, it feels like every travel publication I turn to is singing this country’s praises and urging travellers to get there — but, like, yesterday<\/em>.<\/p>\n

This is the most underrated country in Europe, travel writers are announcing in their droves, and it’s one of the cheapest, too. Imagine the beaches of Croatia, the cuisine of Greece, and the landscapes of Montenegro, all blended together with an inexpensive price tag and a distinct lack of crowds.<\/p>\n

That’s what you’ll uncover in Albania. But it’s changing fast. <\/p>\n

It turns out a side effect of every traveller announcing that Albania is cheap and uncrowded, is that it rapidly becomes more expensive and crowded. <\/p>\n

Still, it’s got nothing on the overtourism of Greece and Croatia. <\/p>\n

I recently spent two weeks in Albania, determined to explore as much of the country as I could. It was an action-packed adventure!<\/p>\n

We started the trip by celebrating Dave’s birthday in an achingly hipster bar in Tirana, then rounded it off by sunbathing on the uncrowded beaches of the Albanian Riviera. In between, we ventured from Berat to Gjirokaster; Ksamil to Sarande, and more. <\/p>\n

What to Know About Money in Albania <\/h2>\n
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I always take photos of the currency whenever I arrive in a new country! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I hinted at this above, but one thing I do want to mention upfront is that while the internet is littered with articles declaring Albania the cheapest country in Europe, this is not the case in 2025.<\/p>\n

Sure, it’s cheaper than tourist-filled spots in neighbouring Greece and Croatia, and it’s definitely cheaper than Western Europe, but it’s likely not as cheap as you’re expecting it to be. Prices have been steadily increasing over the past couple of years and there’s little sign of them slowing down.<\/p>\n

Want to spend the day at the famous beaches in Ksamil? They’re all privately-owned and will cost \u20ac20-25 just to hire a sunbed and umbrella; on some beaches, you’ll pay as much as \u20ac70 for a spot for the day. Yikes!<\/em><\/p>\n

Still, it is possible to visit Albania on a reasonable budget. Dave and I stayed in budget guesthouses, used public transport to get around, ate local food, and squeezed in as many activities as we could. The closer to the coast we ventured, the more expensive things started to get, but there wasn’t a huge difference. On average, we each spent \u20ac80 a day<\/strong>. Not wildly expensive, but definitely not \u20ac20 a day, either!<\/p>\n

Albania uses the lek as its currency. Unfortunately, due to the country’s history of money laundering — and the resulting restrictions from international banks — you’ll be expected to pay in cash for almost everything, and especially accommodation. Yes, even if you reserve online through Booking.com, you’ll be expected to meet the hotel\/apartment owner in person and pay them in cash when you check-in. Even locals usually pay their rent in cash! This means you can expect to be visiting an ATM almost every day of your trip, and yes, that does get annoying. <\/p>\n

We were unable to find fee-free ATMs anywhere in the country and you can expect to spend a hefty \u20ac5<\/strong> per withdrawal. You could bring EUR or USD to the country to exchange once you’re on the ground (Iliria 98 offers the best rates), but the exchange rate isn\u2019t good enough to make it a better deal. In the end, using ATMs is the easiest option.<\/p>\n

You can occasionally pay for things in euros at the beaches along the coastline, but you’ll get a terrible exchange rate, so I’d recommend sticking with lek in this case, too. <\/p>\n

With all of that out of the way, let’s dive into all the details on how much it costs to travel in Albania.<\/p>\n

The Cost Of Accommodation In Albania<\/h2>\n
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In Berat, we stayed inside a castle<\/a> from the 13th century!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Accommodation in Albania was one area that I felt was disproportionately more expensive than everything else. Let’s start by looking at the cost of accommodation on the lowest end of the spectrum. If you’re flexible with your requirements and travel dates, it’s possible to score yourself accommodation for free.<\/p>\n

For starters, I always recommend that you take a quick look on Trusted Housesitters<\/a> before you start booking all of your accommodation. There’s usually multiple options up for grabs in Albania, and especially over the summer months. <\/p>\n

Housesitting involves taking care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, often (but not always) looking after their pets, too. This option is best for long-term travellers, digital nomads, or retirees, as you obviously can\u2019t set your own dates and destinations, so you\u2019ll need to have flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year.<\/p>\n

If you\u00a0do<\/em>\u00a0have that freedom, though, it\u2019s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while.\u00a0Trusted Housesitters<\/a>\u00a0is the best site for getting started with housesitting, as they have the highest number of listings for Albania. And hey, you never know! You may strike gold and discover a Tirana local is heading overseas on the same dates that you are.<\/p>\n

Another option, when it comes to free accommodation, is WorldPackers<\/a>, which might be something that appeals to my backpacking readers. It\u2019s a work exchange program, where you can volunteer for locals in exchange for food and board. There are over a hundred options for Albania on the site right now, from helping to run boat tours along the Albanian coastline to taking care of rescued animals on a small, sustainable farm. Readers of this site get a $10 discount for WorldPackers with the promo code neverendingfootsteps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Cost of Hostels in Albania<\/h2>\n
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Our private room in Alsara Guesthouse, Gjirokaster<\/a> came in at \u20ac50 a night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to visit Albania on as tight a budget as possible, your best option for saving money is going to be staying in hostels. There are dozens upon dozens of hostels in Albania, so it’s easy to find one that suits your comfort requirements.<\/p>\n

In general, you can expect to spend \u20ac18-25 a night<\/strong> for dorm in a well-reviewed hostel, or \u20ac35-50 a night<\/strong> for a private double room — both inland and on the coast. Given that most guesthouses are around \u20ac50 a night, though, I’d recommend staying in those if you’ll be travelling as a couple. <\/p>\n

I use HostelWorld<\/a> to find the cheapest hostels, as they have significantly more listings for Albania than anywhere else I checked.<\/p>\n

Where I Stayed While Traveling In Albania<\/h2>\n
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My beautiful hotel room in Tirana! UrbanBllok5<\/a> was priced at \u20ac50 a night: not bad at all!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve sprinkled a few photos of where I stayed in Albania in this guide so far; Dave and I opted to stay in budget and mid-range properties for this trip. We were looking for places that were in a central and safe location, were rated 9.5 or higher on Booking.com, and offered excellent value for money, with friendly staff and decent internet. <\/p>\n

As you’ll see below, this generally meant we spent \u20ac50 a night.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I always find it’s helpful for me to list out the properties I chose to stay in on my trips, along with a brief review, so that you can get a good idea of what you can get for your money. Here’s where I stayed on my two-week trip to Albania:<\/p>\n

Tirana:<\/strong> UrbanBllok5<\/a> (\u20ac50 a night<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Dave and I absolutely adored our colourful room at UrbanBllok5! It\u2019s located in the coolest neighbourhood in Tirana — Blloku — surrounded by all the best bars and restaurants. Despite that, the room was silent, even on busy weekend nights. The internet was super fast, the shower pressure was great, and the air conditioning worked well. We met the owner outside the property after flying into Tirana, which made checking in easy. There was even free fruit placed out every morning for all the guests!<\/em><\/p>\n

Berat:<\/strong> Kris Guesthouse<\/a> (\u20ac50 a night<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

When it comes to accommodation in Berat, you have two options for where to stay: inside the old town or atop the hill inside the castle walls. For us, it was a no-brainer: <\/em>how many times do you get the opportunity to sleep inside an actual castle?! Kris Guesthouse was the best-rated property in town and was just as cosy as we imagined. Our room was spacious and decorated in a traditional style, the owner was super-helpful, and we were within walking distance of everything. The rooftop terrace offered up amazing views over the town, too; the perfect spot for enjoying the homemade breakfast each morning.<\/em><\/p>\n

Gjirokaster: <\/strong>Alsara Guesthouse<\/a> (\u20ac50 a night<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

If you forced me to choose just one property as my favourite place to stay in Albania, I think I would have to go with Alsara. The owner was absolutely wonderful! He met us in town to walk us to his guesthouse, served us an amazing breakfast in the morning, and shared all of his favourite restaurants that aren’t frequented by tourists. He even drove us to the bus station at the end of our stay! The guesthouse is right in the heart of the old town, but the rooms are silent, so we were able to sleep well. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Our lovely little apartment in Himare cost \u20ac65 a night and was a few minutes from the beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sarande:<\/strong> Memories Apartments<\/a> (\u20ac49 a night<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

We loved the bright and beachy-themed apartment we chose for Sarande! We were just steps away from both the ocean and bus station, which made exploring the area particularly convenient. The apartment was large, with a living area, kitchenette, and a lovely balcony that was perfect for drinking wine in the sunshine. Most importantly, the room was on a high level in the building, so we managed to avoid the loud noises that afflict most other properties in town. The only weird part was that the owner refused to text us the lockbox code for the key until we were standing directly in front of the front door!<\/em><\/p>\n

Himare:<\/strong> Sea Breeze Rooms<\/a> (\u20ac55 a night<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Dave and I adored the family that runs this little guesthouse in Himare. It’s set a five-minute walk back from the beach and in a lovely local neighbourhood, with some of the most impressive gardens I’ve seen. The family we stayed with, in particular, are growing so many unusual vegetables that I couldn’t stop taking photos of them! Our room was more basic than anywhere else we stayed, but the family and vibe more than made up for it. In particular, we loved the beachy views from the guesthouse terrace. <\/em><\/p>\n

I also highly recommend jumping on the tour the family offers all along the coastline of Albania — you’ll head out on their own little boat and spend the day beach-, cove-, and cave-hopping to some of the most pristine spots in the country; many of which are only accessible by water!<\/em> <\/p>\n

The Cost Of Transportation In Albania<\/h2>\n
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The minivan we took from Tirana to Berat: it was just 500 Lek (\u20ac4.50) for the two hour journey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ve been lucky enough to visit 100 countries, but I’ve also been unlucky enough to have experienced Albania’s public transportation.<\/p>\n

Yes, I’m ready to declare this country’s bus network one of the most maddening I’ve encountered. While the confusion and chaos felt like an adventure at the start of our trip, by the end of our time here, we were pretty over it.<\/p>\n

Something always seemed to go terribly wrong, no matter how much we’d prepared for exactly that.<\/p>\n

In this country, you\u2019ve got three options for getting from A to B, each with its own set of advantages and difficulties. Let’s briefly go over them.<\/p>\n