Moving to Albania from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Albania, you would find that Albania is 1.0% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly ALL6,258,726 in Albania to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Albanian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Albania.

What does your salary buy?

¥12,124,875 ALL6,258,726

To maintain the same standard of living in Albania

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 47.7% more

Groceries

pay 20.6% less

Transportation

pay 20.5% more

Housing

pay 25.5% less

Childcare

pay 55.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 16.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JPY = 0.508 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

The numbers behind daily life in Albania compared to Japan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
AL
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
AL
10.8

Japan performs better than Albania across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
AL
$1,464
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
AL
18.8

Japan 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

JP
12.0
AL
59.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
AL
1.8t

Japan 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

JP
37.2
AL
20.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
AL
4.8%

Japan 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
AL
$18,100

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
AL
79.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
AL
10.8

Japan performs better than Albania across all family life metrics.

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Albania

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

Albania passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Albania passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

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 Japan?

Albania and Japan are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Albania?

Budget about ALL1,564,682 for 3 months in Albania (based on a ¥12,124,875 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Albania?

Connectivity is usually fine (Albania: 20.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Albania offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Albania safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Albania across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Albania is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Albania compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Albania leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 18.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Albania, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Albania scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What language do they speak in Albania?

The official language in Albania is Albanian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP AL
Population 124,214,766 3,095,344
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Albanian Lek (ALL)
Languages Japanese Albanian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +355
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 112