Oct 5 – Albanian households are grappling with increased living costs, driven largely by a surge in food prices. New figures reveal that the average household now spends over a third of its monthly budget on basic groceries.
The average Albanian household, consisting of 3.7 people, now spends 91,675 lek (£790) per month—up 3.7% compared to last year, according to official data. The most significant burden comes from the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accounts for 39.6% of household spending.
Leading this category are essential items like meat, bread, cereals, and vegetables. Households are seeing higher bills for everyday staples, with meat products taking up a particularly large chunk of their budgets.
Rising costs
Compared to 2022, spending in other areas has also risen sharply. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco have seen a 5.6% increase, while other goods and services have jumped by 6.2%. Despite this, housing-related costs—such as water, electricity, and rent—remain relatively modest, making up only 9.7% of monthly expenses.
Regional differences
There are stark differences across the country when it comes to household expenditure. Residents of the capital, Tirana, lead the way, spending an average of 108,098 lek (£930) each month. Other regions such as Korça and Durrës follow with similarly high figures.
At the opposite end of the scale, Kukës and Dibra record the lowest household expenses, with households spending just over 73,000 lek (£630) on average per month.
As inflation continues to affect key sectors of the economy, many Albanian households are left balancing rising costs with their daily needs.
