Moving to South Korea from Albania

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Albania to South Korea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Albania to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 53.4% more expensive than Albania overall. A ALL6,149,207 salary in Albania would need to be roughly ₩123,580,026 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Albania and South Korea.

What does your salary buy?

ALL6,149,207 ₩123,580,026

To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 21.1% less

Groceries

pay 2.4 times more

Transportation

pay 1.9% more

Housing

pay 34.2% more

Childcare

pay 3.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 22.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ALL = 18.15 KRW (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Albania to South Korea.

Moved in 2023
21 ↑ 11% vs 2022

people moved from Albania to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to South Korea?

Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Albania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AL
1.6
KR
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AL
10.8
KR
6.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Albania across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

AL
$1,464
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AL
18.8
KR
25.2

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Albania leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AL
59.0
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AL
1.8t
KR
11.4t

Albania generally does better on environment, though South Korea leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AL
20.6
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AL
4.8%
KR
85.2%

South Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though Albania leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AL
11.6%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AL
$18,100
KR
$50,600

South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Albania leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AL
79.5 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AL
10.8
KR
2.9

South Korea generally does better on family life, though Albania leads in literacy rate.

Data: Albanian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Albania and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.

Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting South Korea

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Albania passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter South Korea.
South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Free
South Korea passport holders can enter Albania without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in South Korea than Albania?

On average South Korea is around 11% pricier than Albania, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to South Korea?

Budget about ₩30,895,006 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a ALL6,149,207 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from South Korea?

Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is South Korea safe for expats?

South Korea performs significantly better than Albania across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Albania.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Albania?

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Albania leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 18.8 in Albania. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Albania: 64).

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Albania, the official language is Albanian.

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At a Glance

AL KR
Population 3,095,344 51,844,834
Currency Albanian Lek (ALL) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages Albanian Korean
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +355 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112