What currency do I pay with in Albania? How much do goods cost in a regular supermarket and how much in a restaurant?

Show cheap hotels in Albania

Albanian lek

The local currency is the Albanian lek.

You can find coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lek and banknotes of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 lek.

One lek is divided into 100 qindarkë, but these are not used at all in normal payment.

• International currency code: ALL (numeric code 008)
• Currency symbol: L

Payment in Euros

Hotels in particular often use the Euro as their main currency, which is significantly more convenient to pay with if the hotel in question does not accept cards. When converted into Albanian lek, you will always pay more than in euros.

Euros are also commonly accepted by taxi drivers, so there is not necessarily a need to exchange or collect Albanian lekë directly at the airport.

Conversely, some tourist goods vendors or taxi drivers may not be able to convert, so it's always a good idea to get an accurate exchange rate beforehand.

Currency exchange and payment by card

Ideally Euros can be exchanged at the airport on arrival or later at any bank or exchange office. In general, there are a really large number of exchange offices in Albania, even completely outside the tourist centres.

ATM card withdrawals can be made in all major cities and tourist locations.

Even ATMs are always plentiful in the larger cities, so you won't have a problem withdrawing money. Some banks have withdrawal fees, which are quite substantial 600 all to 800 all, but some can be withdrawn without a special fee, e.g. Union Bank.

Card payments are accepted on a limited basis, mostly at petrol stations, better accommodation and larger shops. Card acceptance in hotels is certainly not automatic; often even nice modern smaller hotels do not take cards.

How much does what cost - prices in Albania

In general, prices in Albania are lower than in Western or Central Europe, and this includes alcohol.

Book a hotel in Albania in advance

Example prices

How much does basic food, tourist attractions or transport cost in Albania? Check out the indicative price table.

Accommodation in a double room (prices per night)

• Cheap hotel with shared bathroom - from 22 eur
• 3* hotel in the hinterland - from 29 eur
• 3* hotel by the beach - from 48 eur (off-season from 29 eur)
• Hotel with half board by the beach - from 92 eur
• Accommodation offers in Albania

Food in restaurants

• Hot main meal in the beach restaurant - 1 000 all
• Hot main meal in an inland restaurant - 650 all
• Three-course menu for 2 in a better restaurant in the city centre - 3 000 all
• Menu in a fast-food restaurant - 800 all
• Espresso or Cappuccino - 160 all
• Water 0.33 l - 70 all
• Draft beer - 250 all

Food in a supermarket

• Water 1.5l - 62 all
• Coca Cola (and other sodas) 2l - 115 all
• Milk 1l - 180 all
• Ice cream scoop - 80 all
• Canned fish - 100 all
• Apples - 135 all / kg
• Bananas - 225 all / kg
• Oranges - 165 all / kg
• Eggs 6 pcs - 160 all
• Chicken meat 500 g - 650 all

Shipping

• Petrol prices - prices vary considerably over time, but are more expensive than in neighbouring countries, with the exception of Greece. They normally range between 1,60 eur and 1,80 eur
• Long-distance bus ticket - normally between 500 all and 1 000 all
• Suburban bus - approx. 60 all / 1 hour journey
• Public transport, one way - 40 all
• Taxi - 300 all boarding rate + 300 all rate per km
• Car rental - from 880 all per day in low season
• Compare car rental prices at Tirana airport

Cigarettes and alcohol

• Pack of cigarettes - 350 all
• Beer 0.5 l - 150 all
• Bottle of good wine - 100 all
• Cocktail at the beach bar - 350 all

Tipping and haggling

Tipping is not required except in better restaurants where it may be added to the price, but is warmly appreciated.

Bargaining is not common in Albania except for taxi travel outside the big cities, where bargaining can reduce the price by up to half.

Daily budget

The prices below are based on two people travelling together and budgeted per person.

The low-budget traveller stays in cheap hostels, eats in fast food restaurants and walks or takes local transport. In this case, you can fit in 3 000 all per person/day even with transportation.

Cheapest hotels in Albania

The golden mean includes a double room in a three-star hotel, lunch and dinner in classic restaurants and transportation by rental car. In this case you will pay about 6 000 all per person/day .

The luxury option includes a double room in a five-star hotel, lunch and dinner in better restaurants, bars and a more expensive rental car. So the daily budget comes out to at least 18 000 all per person/day.

These examples are only a guide and whenever you are budgeting, always have at least 20% of the total amount extra for contingencies.