Oct 10, 2024 – Albanian households spend an astonishing 39.6% of their total expenses on food and non-alcoholic drinks, the highest in Europe, according to a recent analysis by “Scan Intel.” This finding highlights a big difference in spending habits between Albanian households and those in the European Union, where food accounts for only about 14% of total spending.
The analysis compares household spending in Albania and the EU, using data from the Institute of Statistics and the European Statistics Agency. It shows that while Albanians prioritize food, they spend much less on entertainment and culture, which makes up just 2.5% of their total expenses—almost 6 percentage points lower than the EU average.
Housing, water, and energy costs also show a notable difference. Albanian households spend only 9.7% of their budgets on these necessities, compared to the EU average of around 24%. This suggests that European households generally set aside more money for housing, rent, and utilities than those in Albania.
Transportation expenses vary significantly as well, with Albanians spending 6.8% of their budgets in this area, while EU households average about 12%. This indicates that Albanians spend less on transport, reflecting differences in lifestyles and economic conditions.
Although the overall spending structure has not changed much in recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in spending on restaurants and hotels across Europe. This trend suggests that European households are increasingly enjoying dining out and travel experiences.
