Moving to Albania from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Albania — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Iceland to Albania, you would find that Albania is 52.4% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly ALL2,465,581 in Albania to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Albanian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iceland to Albania.

What does your salary buy?

ISK9,423,000 ALL2,465,581

To maintain the same standard of living in Albania

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 58.9% less

Groceries

pay 48.7% less

Transportation

pay 26.2% less

Housing

pay 61.5% less

Childcare

pay 67.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 59.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ISK = 0.6537 ALL (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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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Albania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
AL
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IS
2.4
AL
10.8

Iceland performs better than Albania across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
AL
$1,464
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
AL
18.8

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IS
8.0
AL
59.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
AL
1.8t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Albania leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
38.2
AL
20.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
AL
4.8%

Iceland performs better than Albania across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IS
3.6%
AL
11.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
AL
$18,100

Iceland 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

IS
83.6 yrs
AL
79.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
AL
10.8

Iceland performs better than Albania across all family life metrics.

Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Albania without a visa.
Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
Albania passport holders can enter Iceland 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 Albania than Iceland?

Yes — Albania is on average about 60% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Albania?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ALL616,395 in Albania on a ISK9,423,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Albania?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Albania has 20.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Albania safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Albania across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Albania is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.

How is healthcare in Albania compared to Iceland?

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 18.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Albania, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Albania scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What language do they speak in Albania?

The official language in Albania is Albanian. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS AL
Population 357,603 3,095,344
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Albanian Lek (ALL)
Languages Icelandic Albanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +355
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112