Key Takeaways
- The average Albanian makes around 700 to 800 euros per month.
- While digital nomads can live comfortably, the average Albanian salary leaves more to be desired.
- Higher education and specializations in Albania can lead to higher incomes.
Albania is coming across as an “emerging” tourist spot in 2024, where the Balkan nation continues to get more attention from increasing visitors every year. It’s a beautiful place, with lots to do, but when you look at its economic infrastructure, you can’t help but ask, is making a good living possible here?
Figuring out the average salary in Albania should answer that question straight away if you plan on coming here for work.
However, there are also other factors that influence how much the average Albanian makes in the country per month. Here’s what you should know.
What is the average salary in Albania?
While fairly affordable for expats and digital nomads who work remotely, the average income of an Albanian ranges between 700 to 800 euros, or 68,000 to 78,000 Albanian Lek.
The minimum wage, on the other hand, is in the range of 350 to 450 euros, but, of course, this can be mitigated if you apply for a high-income job. Variations in average income depend on the type of skillset you have and the kind of job you land.
According to insights provided by Take-Profit.org the minimum wage in Albania has seen an increase over the last 5 years. The salary has increased from 26,000 ALL (Albanian Lek) to 40,000 ALL as of 2023’s second quarter.
Albania does not fall in the category of nations where the average income per month is very high, so relying only on that income as a foreigner is not the best idea.
Let’s now take a better look at Albania’s economy and just how much it’s affordable by the masses.
Albania’s economy and affordability
Many think that the cost of living is high compared to the average salary in Albania, and that really does seem to be the case. Renting an apartment in the country costs about 400 euros on average, and considering other expenses as well, it makes managing finances challenging.
However, all of this is based on the fact that your primary source of income is tied to an average Albanian workplace, and you do not have high qualifications. This is not the case for expats who are categorically digital nomads working remotely for companies in the US, UK, Canada, and certain European regions. If you manage to make north of 1,500 euros a month living in Albania, you can set yourself up for a fairly cosy life.
All of this is detailed in a separate article that goes over the pros and cons of living in Albania, but if you’re concerned about just the affordability aspect, learn how much it costs to live in Albania here.
Landing a job in Albania as a foreigner
It’s far from impossible to secure a stable job here in Albania, according to the expats living in the nation’s major cities. You simply have to be mindful of certain principles during your job-hunting journey and you could very well be making more than the average wage in Albania soon.
The first step is thorough job market research. You need to know what type of work is available in Albania for you and whether there are chances of your employment in the field of your preference. Platforms such as LinkedIn are going to be your best bet here. But also, connections and engagement with like-minded people, for example, from Facebook groups.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:
- Focus on networking. It’s often said that your network is your net worth.
- Work on fine-tuning your resume and analyze areas of improvement.
- Foreigners who speak Albanian have considerably more options to explore as compared to those who don’t.
Important Tip: Always keep your documents ready. These typically include having the right visa and a work permit so you don’t stress out last minute.
Related: How to find a job in Albania as a foreigner
Conclusion
The average salary in Albania depends on the type of job that you work at. For higher-paying jobs, of course, you’ll be paid more, and it’s much simpler to manage life expenses despite the recent increase in prices in Albania. However, for a job that pays a minimum salary, it’s challenging to manage life expenses without other sources of income.
More and more people are starting to look for remote job opportunities to boost their income because the average salary in Albania leaves more to be desired. In my opinion, if you plan on living in Albania, the best course of action is to either specialize in a high-class skill that will net you a well-paid job or become a digital nomad.
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