Exactly What I Spent in 10 Days Crossing Albania

I spent $580 (€540) total for 10 days in Albania. That's accommodation, food, transport, and activities. No flights (I flew from Athens and that was $40). This is not a budget diet; I ate well, stayed in comfortable guesthouses, and did activities. Here's where every dollar went.

The 10-Day Itinerary

Days 1–2: Durrës (Adriatic beach town)

Days 3–5: Gjirokastër (mountain stone town)

Days 6–8: Sarandë (southern coast)

Days 9–10: Vlorë (beach town back toward Durrës)

Daily Breakdown

(I rounded daily totals above—actual total was $534, but call it $550 with miscellaneous.)

What the Money Got Me

Accommodation ($286, average $28–30/night):

Most nights were in small family-run guesthouses. Think: a clean room with a private bathroom, breakfast included, a friendly owner who recommends restaurants. Not luxury, but genuinely nice. Gjirokastër guesthouses were slightly pricier ($30–35) because the stone town aesthetic commands a premium. Smaller coastal towns (Sarandë) were cheapest ($22–28). One night in Durrës at a hostel (private room) was $22—cheapest of the trip.

Food ($132, average $13/day):

Breakfast was usually included with accommodation (bread, cheese, coffee, eggs). Lunch was a plate of rice or pasta with a meat or vegetable dish, bought at casual restaurants or food stalls: $3–5. Dinner was a nicer restaurant meal: $6–12. I averaged eating at one nicer restaurant per day and eating cheaper for other meals. A beer cost $1.50–2.50. Coffee cost $0.50–1.

Specific meals I remember:

Fresh fish grilled and served with lemon: $8

Pork chop with rice and salad: $5

Burek (savory pastry): $2

Street falafel wrap: $2

Transport ($73):

This is intercity minivan transport between towns. Durrës to Gjirokastër (3 hours) was $8. Gjirokastër to Sarandë (2.5 hours) was $10. Sarandë to Vlorë (3.5 hours) was $12. Vlorë to Durrës (3 hours) was $8. Local minivans connecting towns run regularly, cost $8–15 per ride, and leave when full. No advance booking. Just show up at the station.

Activities ($43):

This was admittedly light. Activities were:

Entrance to Gjirokastër Fortress: $5

Boat tour of Sarandë coast: $20

Karaburun Peninsula trip (small tour): $12

Miscellaneous: $6

Many attractions are free (walking old towns, beaches, hiking). I deliberately skipped some paid options (national parks, additional museums) to keep costs down.

Why Albania Is So Cheap

Currency and exchange rates: The Albanian Lek is weaker than most European currencies. 1 USD ≈ 100 ALL. Your dollar goes further.

Labor costs: Wages are lower than Western Europe. Restaurant staff, guesthouse owners, and tour guides earn less, so meals and services cost less.

Tourism infrastructure: Less developed than Greece (which is literally across the water). Fewer tourists means less inflation.

No value-added tax on tourism: Albania doesn't add tourist taxes the way many countries do.

No famous "Instagram spots": The beach photos from Albania aren't on TikTok. Less hype = fewer tourists = lower prices.

Comparison to Nearby Countries

Albania is genuinely cheaper. Same Mediterranean coastline, same good food, 40% of the price of Greece.

The Honest Reality

Albania is not "budget" in the sense of "roughing it." You're staying in guesthouses with hot showers, eating well-cooked meals, and moving comfortably between towns. It's just cheap because the local economy hasn't inflated from tourism yet.

Is it changing? Yes. Sarandë has become touristy. Gjirokastër sees more visitors. But compared to Greece or Croatia, it's still affordable.

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