Tirana has become one of the least affordable cities for housing in Europe. According to the latest estimates, a family in the capital needs around 15 years of work to purchase an apartment.

An average family in Albania, particularly in Tirana, needs about 15.1 years of annual income in 2026 to buy a typical apartment.

Data from Numbeo show a clear gap between Albania and other European and regional countries. In some states, the national ratio is lower than that of capital cities, as prices in major cities such as Lisbon or Split are significantly higher than the national average. Albania continues to record one of the highest ratios in Europe—especially in Tirana—making housing affordability very low compared with Western EU countries.

Along with Serbia, Albania ranks at the top of the list for difficulty in purchasing a home, with a ratio exceeding 14–15 years, while Western EU countries such as Denmark and Germany report figures below 9 years.

In Western Europe, although absolute housing prices may be high, stronger purchasing power makes housing more affordable. For example, in Germany an average household spends about 20–30% of its income on housing, compared with over 40% in Albania. As accession negotiations with the European Union continue, Albania has the opportunity to adopt European housing models, turning housing into a genuine right for its citizens.