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The allure of retirement in Albania stems from its attractiveness and affordable lifestyle.
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Albania’s pristine waters and sandy shores have bestowed upon it the nickname ‘The Maldives of Europe’.
Moreover, it is rapidly emerging as one of the leading tourist spots on the continent, with international visitor numbers jumping by 56 percent from 2019 to 2023, as reported by the
World Tourism Organisation
.
However, for certain individuals, this Balkan nation holds an allure that extends their visit beyond just a vacation. Its affordability plays a significant role.
cost of living
is becoming an increasingly appealing choice for British retirees.
Jennifer Stevens, who serves as the executive editor at
International Living
A Guide to Retiring and Investing Abroad” shares with MailOnline, “Albania hasn’t become widely recognized among the general public yet, but it deserves more attention. Firstly, it is stunningly picturesque — boasting a coast that many people believe surpasses those found elsewhere.
Italy
Or Croatia. The value concerning the cost of living is exceptional.’
In the meantime, the specialist group at
Magic Towns
, a handbook for moving to Albania, mentions they receive queries from British citizens nearly every day.
Sara Alimehmeti, an editor at Magic Towns, shares her insights: “We observe that the combination of affordable living costs, favorable climate, high quality of life, and exceptionally low taxes is highly appealing to expatriates in general. Recently, this appeal has grown specifically among British nationals—our belief is that this trend correlates with concerns about potential future tax hikes in the United Kingdom.”
For retired Britons considering this move, here’s your complete guide to the top spots to reside in Albania, details on obtaining a visa, expenses related to accommodation, and an overview of their healthcare system.
Visas and tax perks
British pensioners can opt for ‘Albania’s special retirement visa designed for non-EU/EEA individuals,’ as outlined by William Cooper, who serves as the marketing director at an expatriate company.
William Russell
.
He states: “The first step involves acquiring a ‘D’ visa, allowing for an extended stay during the processing of your residency application.”
‘Once completed, you can subsequently apply for a residency permit via the e-Albania online platform. For this application, you generally have to provide documentation confirming your place of residence, proof of adequate financial resources, and evidence of health insurance.’
To obtain the visa, retirees must show evidence of a ‘consistent monthly pension income totaling at least 120,000 Albanian lek (£1,011/$1,271)’, according to William.
Regarding tax benefits, as explained by the specialists at Magic Towns, foreign retirees in Albania generally do not have to pay taxes on their pension income, which encompasses state, private, and foreign pensions.
Politics and culture
Albania was under the rule of a communist dictatorship from 1946 until the early 1990s. At this time it was closed off and known as the ‘
North Korea
of Europe’.
Things have changed a lot since then and Albania is now a parliamentary democracy with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The current prime minister is Edi Rama, who has been in the role since 2013.
Albania is a secular country with no official religion, but in the 2023 census conducted by the
Institute of Statistics
, 53 percent of the population identifies as Muslim, 16 percent as Christian, 17 percent as having no religious affiliation, and 16 percent without a declared religion.
Jennifer from International Living explains to MailOnline, “Albania faces misconceptions due to old stereotypes. When people hear ‘Albania,’ often their first thought—if they have one—is whether it was once a communist stronghold and if so, has it changed? However, Albania became a democracy back in the 1990s. It’s an inviting destination offering a great standard of living at affordable costs.”
The nation boasts ‘the greatest density of coffee shops per person globally,’ according to Sara from Magic Towns, who also mentions its easy accessibility to the UK via direct flights not only to London Heathrow, Luton, and Stansted but also to Birmingham and Manchester from Tirana Airport.
Where to Live and Housing Options
The specialists at Magic Towns highlight that Albania’s real estate market provides ‘a wide array of choices,’ ranging from exclusive modern condo developments to traditional Ottoman residences and early 20th century Italian-influenced properties. According to them, Tirana—the capital—along with the coastal towns of Vlorë and Sarandë, present excellent opportunities for those looking to retire.
Tirana
In Sara’s interview with MailOnline about Magical Towns, she shares, “Being the capital city, Tirana boasts superior facilities, numerous modern developments, as well as ample health care and educational opportunities. It would be ideal for seniors looking for an engaging way of life, featuring many coffee shops, eateries, pubs, and cultural happenings.”
Cost:
According to Magic Towns, a one-bedroom apartment within the city center typically ranges from approximately €400-€700/£332-£582/$418-$732 per month, whereas outside the central area, it drops to about €250-€500/£207-£415/$261-$523. The cost of property varies between €1,500-€3,000/£1,247-£2,495/$1,569-$3,139 for each square meter.
Vlorë
Sara elaborates: “Vlora is a seaside town situated along the renowned Albanian Riviera and serves as an ideal location for those seeking retirement near the ocean. The city boasts a burgeoning foreign resident population, a recently constructed waterfront pathway, and convenient proximity to several of Albania’s loveliest shores. Compared to Tirana, Vlora is more serene; however, it retains all essential amenities within its developing downtown area. During summertime, the atmosphere becomes more vibrant yet simultaneously busier due to both visitors and local crowds.”
Cost:
The cost varies depending on how close you are to the sea, with beachfront homes reaching prices of €1,200-€2,500/£998-£2,079/$1,255-$2,616 for each square meter. Typically, rental costs here are about 20-30 percent less compared to those in Tirana.
Saranda
‘Saranda is the most temperate of the trio and has long appealed to retirees,’ says Sara. She continues, ‘It shares a resemblance with Vlorë, offering beautiful ocean vistas and the pleasant ambiance typical of beachside towns. Additionally, Saranda boasts direct ferry service to Corfu, Greece. The winter months see less activity since it primarily functions as a seasonal getaway.’
Cost:
The cost varies depending on how close you are to the seaside, with beachfront homes potentially costing between €1,200-€2,500/£998-£2,079/$1,255-$2,616 for each square meter. Typically, rental prices are about 20-30 percent less expensive compared to those found in Tirana.
Cost of living
According to
Numbeo
The average cost of living in Albania is 50 percent less compared to the UK, with rents being up to 70 percent cheaper. Additionally, the cost of living in Spain—a favored spot for British retirees—is about 11 percent lower.
Sara mentions that dining at an average-priced restaurant might set you back around €8-€15/£6.65-£12.48/$8.37-$15.70 per person, whereas coffee typically costs less than €1/83p/$1.05.
She mentions that a pair might easily allocate between €250-€400/£207-£332/$261-$418 each month for food expenses, based on their way of life, whereas utilities such as electricity, water, and internet typically amount to approximately €100/£83/$104 monthly.
Healthcare
William, at William Russell, explains: ‘Albania operates a universal healthcare system funded by mandatory and voluntary contributions, supplemented by the state budget.’
He warns that the ‘quality of public healthcare can vary’ and facilities may be limited outside of Tirana.
The specialist indicates that private healthcare has experienced considerable expansion, with facilities often offering a superior level of care.
He says that retirees should purchase private international health insurance and consider moving somewhere with medical facilities close by, which may not be the case in rural areas.
‘We just fell in love with the people and beauty of the country’
Albania’s friendly and warmhearted residents are one of the reasons that Deborah and James Riley, both in their 70s, are enjoying retirement in a village outside the port city of Durres. They moved to the country from Bloomington, Indiana, in 2020. Deborah tells MailOnline: ‘Once we came here, we found such warmth and love and friendship. We just fell in love with the people and beauty of the country.’
James adds: ‘They’re very welcoming to people from other countries. We bought our house from brothers and they are so gracious to us because we’re an older couple. We had this epic flood two weeks ago that destroyed the engine of my vehicle. So I said “I don’t really have enough [money] for this right now” and he says, “Oh, I’ll get it. I’ll buy it for you. Just pay me later.”‘
The couple explain that they can spend as little as $7/£5.56 a day on food, which includes food for their four pets and other animals in the neighbourhood.
Deborah shares: “In everyone’s yards, plenty of fruits and veggies are cultivated, making the small shops selling produce exceptionally fresh. Our selection includes oranges, lemons, kumquats, pomegranates, and olives. Arugula grows throughout the year here as well, along with beautiful roses.”
James notes: “Albania is among the most stunning destinations you will visit. Within just an hour’s journey, you’ll encounter incredible diversity. Move another hour ahead, and you’ll discover yet more differences. In our small village, you can stroll to the remnants of a Byzantine church.”
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