Is Albania Still the Cheapest Country in Europe in 2026?

The short answer

Mostly, yes — but the gap is closing. A day on the Albanian Riviera in 2026 still runs ~$45–90 per person, versus $120+ on the Greek side of the same sea. The catch: Ksamil and Himarë prices jumped ~20–30% in two years as Instagram found them.

What we actually paid

• Guesthouse double, Berat: €28/night
• Byrek + coffee, Tirana: €2.50
• Tavë kosi dinner for two, local spot: €18
• Furgon Tirana→Ksamil: €10

The verdict

Go now. Albania is in that narrow window where infrastructure is good enough and prices haven’t caught up. Five years from now this post will read like a “before” photo.