Cost of Living Index, where does Albania rank? The country is at average levels globally
The cost of living remains one of the most important indicators for measuring the real level of well-being and economic opportunities of citizens in different countries of the world. This indicator reflects basic expenses for food, housing, transportation, services and other daily needs, highlighting the standard of living in each country.
According to the 2026 Cost of Living Index by Numbeo, Albania ranks 71st out of 155 countries globally. With a score of 45.8, our country is classified as a country with an average cost of living. However, compared to countries in the region, Albania turns out to be the most expensive country to live in.
Immediately after Albania are Montenegro and Serbia, which are ranked 76th and 77th respectively, with a similar cost of living. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina is rated 37.8 points and ranked 95th, reflecting a significantly lower cost of living.
North Macedonia and Kosovo are presented with the lowest costs in the region, ranking 108th and 129th respectively. From this data it results that Kosovo is the cheapest country to live in the Western Balkans.
Globally, the country with the highest cost of living is Bermuda, which tops the rankings with a score of 135.8. In Europe, the most expensive country to live in remains Switzerland. Singapore and Iceland also rank among the top 10 countries with the highest cost of living index in the world.
At the other end of the ranking, the country with the lowest cost of living index is Libya. Also, countries such as India, Pakistan and Egypt are presented with very low levels of living expenses, reflecting minimal costs for basic needs.
These data provide a clear picture of the economic differences between countries and highlight the challenges faced by Albanian citizens, especially in relation to income and purchasing power in the region.
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