Zabljak vs Lushnjë: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Zabljak costs roughly 3.4x less than Lushnjë. Lushnjë scores higher for retirees on healthcare and overall livability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Lushnjë is approximately 5% less expensive than Zabljak based on cost of living including rent. This makes Lushnjë a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Lushnjë has a FIRE Score of 90/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Lushnjë is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Zabljak
Zabljak is a cheap, high-altitude mountain town for those who genuinely want to live cheaply, not just visit. With a budget of $474/mo covering everything for a single person, you can survive on less than half the local average salary of $806/mo, but don't expect much in return. Healthcare is poor, English proficiency is limited, and the retiree score of 46/100 suggests this is no easy place to settle down in old age. If you're a digital nomad, the $1,542/mo income requirement for the visa is nearly double what you'd need to live comfortably here, making the math look silly.
About Montenegro
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a built-in expat scene, both are limited here. But at $701/mo living costs plus sub-$700 rent, a 9% entry-level income tax rate, and a low-bar digital nomad visa ($1,542/mo), it suits budget-focused remote workers and early retirees comfortable navigating a small expat footprint.
$2,349/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Lushnjë
Lushnjë is a cheap small-town bet with a cost of living index of 27/100 and a one-bedroom outside the centre at $183/mo, but the average monthly net salary of $611/mo means local wages barely stretch. The expat community size is none, English proficiency is limited, and the digital nomad score of 63/100 reflects that social and practical reality. Come for the FIRE score of 90/100 and the $446/mo budget tier, not for a ready-made expat scene.
About Albania
Albania works for budget-focused retirees willing to trade nightlife and expat density for cheap rent, not remote workers chasing top-tier infrastructure. A 1BR in the city center runs $561/mo, roughly half of many EU capitals. The digital nomad visa only requires EUR 450/mo income, but 23% income tax and a clear path to permanent residency cap the long-term upside.
$2,379/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Zabljak | Lushnjë |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $320 | $305.36 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $240 | $183.21 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $520 | $366.43 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $380 | $244.29 |
| Safety Index | 60 | 60 |
| Internet Speed | 45Mbps | 75Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Zabljak | Lushnjë |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $671/mo | $657/mo |
| Excluding rent | $431/mo | $474/mo |
| Rent | $240/mo | $183/mo |
| Groceries | $138/mo | $193/mo |
| Dining out | $78.00/mo | $98.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $32.00/mo | $47.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $149/mo | $136/mo |
| Transport | $34.00/mo | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Zabljak vs Lushnjë -- Frequently Asked Questions
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