Moving to Albania from United States

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United States to Albania, you would find that Albania is 32.2% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly ALL3,530,025 in Albania to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Albanian.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United States and Albania.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ALL3,530,025

To maintain the same standard of living in Albania

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 40.5% less

Groceries

pay 30.9% less

Transportation

pay 36.1% more

Housing

pay 69.6% less

Childcare

pay 85.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 43.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 82.44 ALL (June 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 United States to Albania.

Living there in 2020
2,225 ↓ 6% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Albania · UN DESA

Who's moving to Albania?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Albania compared to United States.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

US
6.4
AL
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

US
14.2
AL
10.8

Albania performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

US
$13,473
AL
$1,464
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

US
36.1
AL
18.8

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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

US
14.0
AL
59.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

US
13.6t
AL
1.8t

United States 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

US
37.8
AL
20.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

US
28.2%
AL
4.8%

United States 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

US
$73,600
AL
$18,100

United States 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

US
80.6 yrs
AL
79.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

US
5.2
AL
10.8

United States performs better than Albania across all family life metrics.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Albania without a visa.
Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Albania passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 United States?

On average Albania is about 43% less expensive than United States, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Albania?

Budget about ALL882,506 for 3 months in Albania (based on a $75,000 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?

Albania performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Albania is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.

How is healthcare in Albania compared to United States?

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 18.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Albania, compared to 36.1 in United States. Albania scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).

What language do they speak in Albania?

The official language in Albania is Albanian. In United States, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

US AL
Population 337,341,954 3,095,344
Currency United States Dollar ($) Albanian Lek (ALL)
Languages English Albanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +355
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112