Albania’s crystal-clear waters and golden beaches have earned it the title of the ‘Maldives of Europe’.
And it’s fast becoming one of the continent’s top tourist destinations with international visitor arrivals soaring by 56 per cent between 2019 and 2023, according to the World Tourism Organisation.
But for some, the Balkan country appeals for a longer stay than a holiday. Its low cost of living is making it an increasingly attractive option for British retirees.
Jennifer Stevens, executive editor at International Living, a guide to retiring and investing abroad, tells MailOnline: ‘Albania is not yet on the mainstream radar for many, but it should be. It’s beautiful, for starters – with a coastline that rivals (lots of folks argue bests) that of Italy or Croatia. And the value when it comes to cost of living is extraordinary.’
Meanwhile, the expert team at Magic Towns, a guide to relocating to Albania, say they ‘receive inquiries from British residents’ on an almost daily basis.
Sara Alimehmeti, editor at Magic Towns, explains: ‘What we find is that the mix of affordability, generally good weather and quality of life, and extremely low tax rates, is quite attractive to expats generally, and in recent months particularly for British citizens – our impression is that this is tied to fears of increased tax in the UK.’
For British retirees tempted to join the trend, here’s the ultimate guide to the best places to live in Albania, how to get a visa, housing costs and how the healthcare system works…
Visas and tax perks
Albania’s low cost of living is making it an increasingly attractive option for British retirees. Pictured above is Saranda, a coastal city that’s a favourite for a post-work life, according to expat-location experts
British retirees can apply for ‘Albania’s dedicated retirement visa option for non-EU/EEA citizens’, explains William Cooper, marketing director at expat firm William Russell.
He says: ‘The initial application steps involve obtaining a ‘D’ Visa, which permits an extended stay while your residency application is processed.
‘Afterwards, you can then apply for a residence permit through the e-Albania portal. To do this you typically need to include proof of accommodation, evidence of your sufficient financial means, and health insurance coverage.’
In order to secure the visa, pensioners will need to demonstrate that they have a ‘regular monthly pension income of at least 120,000 Albanian lek (£1,011/$1,271)’, says William.
In terms of tax perks, the experts at Magic Towns explain that for foreign retirees in Albania, ‘income from pensions – including state, private and foreign pensions – is typically tax-free’.
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 per cent of the population identify as Muslims, 16 per cent as Christians, 17 per cent as non-religious and 16 per cent as undeclared.
Albania is a secular country with no official religion, but 53 per cent of the population identify as Muslims. Pictured above is the country’s largest mosque in Tirana
Jennifer at International Living tells MailOnline: ‘Albania suffers from outdated misperceptions. People hear “Albania” and think – if they think anything – “Wasn’t that a communist outpost – is it still?” Yet it’s been a democratic state since the early ’90s. It’s a friendly place to go where you can enjoy a high quality of life for a relatively low price.’
The country has ‘the highest number of cafes per capita in the world’, explains Sara at Magic Towns, who adds that it’s well-connected to the UK, with direct flights to London Heathrow, Luton and Stansted, as well as to Birmingham and Manchester from Tirana Airport.
Housing and where to live
The expat experts at Magic Towns explain that Albania’s property market ‘offers a diverse range of options’, from gated luxury apartment complexes to Ottoman-style houses and ‘turn-of-the-century’ Italianate homes. They say Tirana – the capital – and two seaside spots – Vlorë and Saranda – are great options for retirees.
Tirana
Sara at Magic Towns reveals to MailOnline: ‘As the capital, Tirana has the best infrastructure, plenty of recent investments, and the most healthcare and education options. I’d say it is a great choice for retirees who enjoy an active lifestyle, with lots of cafes, restaurants, bars, and cultural events.’
Cost: Magic Towns says that a one-bedroom apartment costs around €400-€700/£332-£582/$418-$732 per month in the city centre, while outside the centre it’s closer to €250-€500/£207-£415/$261-$523. Property prices range from €1,500-€3,000/£1247-£2495/$1,569-$3,139 per square metre.
Tirana (pictured above) has the ‘best infrastructure’ in the country and is great for retirees who want an ‘active lifestyle’
‘Vlorë (pictured above) is a coastal city along the famous Albanian Riviera and the perfect destination for retirees who want to live by the sea’
Saranda (pictured above) has direct ferry access to Corfu and a seaside town ‘atmosphere’
Vlorë
Sara explains: ‘Vlorë is a coastal city along the famous Albanian Riviera and the perfect destination for retirees who want to live by the sea. It has a growing expat community, a newly developed lungomare (seaside promenade) and easy access to some of Albania’s most beautiful beaches. It’s quieter than Tirana, but it still has everything you need, including an urban centre. In summer, it gets livelier but also crowded with tourists and locals.’
Cost: Prices vary based on proximity to the sea, but beachfront properties can reach €1,200-€2,500/£998-£2,079/$1,255-$2,616 per square metre. Rent is generally 20-30 per cent lower than Tirana.
Saranda
‘Saranda is the warmest of the three and has long been a favourite for retirees,’ explains Sara. She adds: ‘It has a similar feel to Vlorë, with lovely coastal views and that nice atmosphere you expect from a seaside town. It also has direct ferry access to Corfu, Greece. Winters are much quieter, as it’s more of a seasonal destination.’
Cost: Prices vary based on proximity to the sea, but beachfront properties can reach €1,200-€2,500/£998-£2,079/$1,255-$2,616 per square metre. Rent is usually 20-30 per cent lower than Tirana.
Cost of living
According to Numbeo, the average cost of living in Albania is 50 per cent lower than in the UK, while rent is as much as 70 per cent lower. The cost of living is also 11 per cent lower in Spain, a popular British retirement destination.
Sara explains that a meal at a mid-range restaurant could cost as little as €8-€15/£6.65-£12.48/$8.37-$15.70 per person, while coffee is usually under €1/83p/$1.05.
She adds that a couple can comfortably spend €250-€400/£207-£332/$261-$418 per month on groceries, depending on their lifestyle, while electricity, water, and internet usually cost around €100/£83/$104 per month.
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.
However, the expert explains that ‘private healthcare has seen significant growth’ and facilities usually ‘provide a higher standard 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’
American retirees Deborah and James, pictured above, ‘fell in love with the people and beauty’ of Albania
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 reveals: ‘Everybody has lots of fruits and vegetables growing in their yards, and so everything is fresh at the little stores that you go buy your vegetables at. We have oranges, lemons, kumquats, pomegranates and olives. We have arugula all year round plus roses.’
James adds: ‘Albania is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever go. You can travel for an hour and you’ll find so much variety. And then an hour further and something different. In our little village, you can walk to the ruins of a Byzantine church.’
James and Deborah love the country’s fresh fruit and vegetables