Denada Jushi
The holiday table will be expensive for Albanian families this year as well, as the prices of the basket, but not only, continue to increase. Basic food products, which also make up the majority of monthly expenses, are becoming increasingly less affordable for a large part of the citizens.
Albania, from being the poorest country three decades ago, has transformed into the most expensive place in the region to live. A reality that is directly reflected in consumption, purchasing habits and the well-being of Albanian families. This comes at the same time that Albania, according to the IMF, still remains one of the countries with the lowest purchasing power per individual in Europe and the Balkans.
High prices are the most worrying economic issue for Albanians, according to the results of the Balkan Barometer 2025, recently published by the Regional Cooperation Council. According to the Barometer, 72 percent of Albanians consider rising prices as the main problem, ranking our country in second place in the region, after Kosovo, where for 77% of citizens prices are a worrying problem.
We returned to some markets in the capital, which we had visited. three years ago, to compare prices and see up close how the situation has changed. The differences are obvious, while the price increase is felt in almost every product.
Seli, a trader for years, says that the products that continue to grow are vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, which range from 200–240 lek per kilogram. A year ago, the same greenhouse products produced locally were around 180–200 lek per kilogram.
"In January, prices will increase even more, because greenhouse products run out and only imports come in," says Seli, adding that this situation is making the work of small traders even more difficult.
"With these prices, we don't expect to sell much, looking at it from the perspective of a family now, not a merchant," she says with concern, while admitting that she herself buys less for her family.
Although the Competition Authority has announced several times that it is monitoring prices, this has not stopped the abuse. The situation has also led to penalties for entities that have violated the law.
"The Competition Authority has fined six collection companies for price fixing to the detriment of farmers. The Authority emphasizes that after an investigation that lasted almost two years and included several regions of the country, the Competition Commission found prohibited practices that had distorted competition, dictated purchase prices and aggravated the negotiating positions of farmers," this institution states.
According to Artan Gjergji, an economic expert, the phenomenon of price increases is complex and is influenced by several factors simultaneously.
"Since we are a country that has over 80% of its import-export transactions with EU countries, we are undoubtedly exposed to the impact of inflation on these markets," he explains.
However, what makes this phenomenon paradoxical is the fact that, even though the value of the euro in Albania has been at its lowest point for months, this is not reflected in the prices we see on products. In fact, imports continue to enter at increased prices, bringing no relief to consumers.
Another component is the lack of competition in certain markets, especially in the trade sector, including food goods, says Gjergji, emphasizing that this situation favors the artificial increase in prices.
But the ongoing shortage of domestic products remains the biggest factor, which has been damaging the economy for years and increasing dependence on imports. According to the Barometer, in 2025 price increases and inflation continue to top the list of public concerns, mentioned by 66% of respondents.
A year ago, the index published by Mercer ranked Tirana 103rd in the world, leading as the most expensive city to live in the region. The elements taken into consideration were housing and food, two items that weigh the most on the family budget.
For Albanian families, food remains one of the largest monthly expenses and an increasingly difficult burden to bear.
Adileja is the head of the family and reveals how much she spends on shopping:
"I always buy small amounts, only for daily consumption, so that they don't spoil, mainly vegetables; less fruit, because they are very expensive. These days I bought oranges, because they are 100 lek per kilogram. With 5000 lek, you can hardly buy even 2~3 days of basic products."
Expert Gjergji says that this type of forced savings significantly reduces well-being.
"They drastically reduce the well-being of individuals, since with the same amount of money available they cannot buy the same amount of goods and are forced to give up quality," he says.
INSTAT data for September 2025 show that the Consumer Price Index increased by around 2.4% compared to September last year, reflecting an overall increase in the cost of living for Albanian families, and this translates into higher prices as we approach the end of the year.
Dairy and its by-products have also seen continuous growth since 2019, with cheese experiencing the greatest growth. A kilogram of cheese from Saranda's dairies cost 1200 lek a year ago, while today it ranges from 1400~1500 lek per kilogram.
Meat products have also become significantly more expensive. Beef and lamb are considered the most expensive, from 1000~1100 lek to 1300~1500 lek per kilogram. Meat is mainly imported, because livestock farming experiences a significant decline every year.
This year, Albania continues to be the "champion" of price increases, compared not only to the countries of the region, but also to European countries such as Greece and Italy. End-of-year bills are weighing on the pockets of citizens, who, instead of thinking about celebrating, have to think about the money spent on the festive table.
In many families, purchases are being limited to the bare minimum, while consumption continues to decline significantly.acqj.al
