In Albania, each family spends on average nearly 93 thousand Albanian lek (963.24 euros), with 40 percent of the family budget going to food alone, writes Euronews Albania, adding that for other needs – education, entertainment or savings, very little money remains, BTA reported.
According to information from the Albanian statistical institute INSTAT, quoted by the media, the consumer basket remains the most important element of the budget of Albanian families.
According to journalist Ortensa Budla from Euronews in Albania, the prices of basic products such as bread, oil, milk and vegetables have increased significantly in the last two years, which has led to food costs reaching almost half of the monthly income of families.
Albanian citizens told the media that with the salary they receive, they hardly manage to cover their expenses and buy only the essentials. They express their surprise that prices in the country are much higher than in Western countries, citing the price of formula milk in Berlin (1.4 euros) and Albania (400 lek or 4.14 euros) as examples.
A pensioner says that she is coping with the difficult economic situation thanks to the help of her children who live abroad, adding that even for people with salaries in Albania it is difficult to save anything at the end of the month.
According to citizens interviewed by the media, the country's economy is unstable, and the increase in salaries has not been able to compensate for the cost of living.
They also point out that in some larger cities in Albania, such as Tirana, Durres and Korça, there is high consumption, but in others, such as Kukes and Dibra (Debar), people have low expenses, which indicates low income and low purchasing power.
Economic expert Eduard Xokutai says that in Tirana's cost of living has reached over 108,000 lek (about 1,118 euros), making life in the capital much more expensive than in other parts of the country.
According to sociologist Entela Biniacu, "the majority of Albanians come from poor backgrounds." She said the challenges of urban life force people to save money, but the high cost of living prevents families from thinking about tomorrow as they live day to day.
Experts warn that if this trend continues, the gap between the rich and poor in Albanian society will widen.