Finding an apartment for rent under 400 euros within the yellow construction line in Tirana is extremely difficult.
Families with limited budgets are postponing home purchases and are forced to pay increasingly higher rents, while real estate agents claim that even in suburban areas, affordable apartments are scarce.
Rental market agents point out that very few properties are listed at prices of 300–350 euros, mainly in the "Astir" or "Fresku" suburbs, which are immediately taken by tenants.
According to Stela Dhami, from "Colliers International Albania", overall, in the long-term rental market, prices have increased, but the highest price increases are observed in areas near the center, on average 20 to 30% more than last year.
Finally, in the report published by "Deloitte", which analyzes the real estate market for 28 European countries, and in which Albania was included for the first time, it is stated that total rental income in 2024 reached approximately 350 million euros, with an increase of about 10% compared to the previous year.
"The increase in demand from short-term tourism led to a 20% increase in rents by the end of 2024, with one-bedroom apartments (1+1) in Tirana being offered for 500-800 euros per month (around 8-12 euros per square meter)," the report notes.
In the residential rental segment, this year prices for 1+1 apartments in Tirana have reached up to 900 euros per month in the most sought-after areas of the city. Data from real estate agencies show that the rental market is recording continuous growth, with prices increasing on average by 6 to 57% in just one year.
In contrast, tourists renting for short-term periods can find houses for rent in the capital through online platforms for as little as 40-60 euros/day, much cheaper than in popular European capitals, where on average they have to pay more than 100 euros per day.
Data from AirDNA, the analytical unit of the Airbnb rental platform, revealed that at the end of 2024, there were around 21 thousand listed units across the country, of which around 3 thousand were in Tirana.
According to AirDNA, the simple average daily price in Tirana in 2024 was 46 euros and the net profit 25 euros (calculating what percentage of days the apartment is occupied).
Rental prices for 1+1 apartments in the most sought-after areas of Tirana have increased significantly from 2024 to 2025, reflecting increased demand, reduced supply, and structural changes in the market.
"Monitor" has analyzed the change in rental prices for 1+1 and 2+1 apartments for 11 areas in Tirana. The average rental prices were taken from the finalization of rental transactions of some of the main real estate market agencies.
According to real estate agencies, average prices for the 11 areas analyzed are significantly affected by the age of the building and the level of furnishings. An apartment with older construction and worn-out furnishings may have a lower price, even if it is located in a high-value area.
For 1+1 apartments, the average rental prices in September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 have increased in value from 50 to 150 euros. For 2+1 properties, the increase in value ranges from 50 to 400 euros.
In Tirana, the most expensive area for apartment rentals continues to be near the “Air Albania” stadium. For 2+1 apartments, the average price reached 1,800 euros per month. Compared to the previous year, prices increased by 13%.
In the former Blloku area, the price for 1+1 apartments in September this year reached 650 euros per month. Compared to the previous year, rental prices have increased by 16%. For 2+1 apartments, the rental price has reached 900 euros or 6% more than in 2024.
On Elbasani Street, the rent price for 1+1 apartments is 700 euros per month in 2025, or about 8% more than last year. Rents for 2+1 properties have increased significantly in this area.
From 700 euros per month last year, this year they have reached 1,100 euros per month or 57% more, due to high demand and low supply, according to real estate agents.
Rents for 1+1 apartments in the Paris Commune area continue to remain at the same levels as in 2024, averaging around 650 euros per month. For 2+1 apartments, rental prices reached 800 euros per month or 14% more than in 2024.
Price changes have also been noted for rents in the Artificial Lake area. Rent prices for 1+1 apartments reached 900 euros per month. Compared to the previous year, prices increased by 13%. For 2+1 apartments, prices reached 1,400 euros per month, up from 1,200 euros per month last year. Compared to the previous year, prices have increased by 17%.
According to real estate agents, prices in the area near the Artificial Lake have increased, mainly as a result of the growing demand for apartments within the "Lake View" complex, which are increasingly being used for office functions.
Ani Meta, manager at one of the offices of the real estate agency "CPM", says that the highest demand for long-term rental properties, especially from families, is for areas near the Artificial Lake, the Dry Lake, the Paris Municipality and near the "Selman Stërmasi" stadium, easily accessible to job centers and educational institutions.
The category that primarily seeks rental housing is families that do not have the financial means to buy a house, or those that have postponed the purchase due to budget constraints and high prices.
According to her, the growing demand from this category is one of the factors that has influenced the increase in rental prices in these areas.
"These are highly sought-after areas, mainly by families who prefer to rent. These areas are close to the center, have easy access to public institutions, schools for children and urban transport lines."
"These are families who have postponed buying an apartment due to high prices. They are waiting for a decrease in the market or are unable to buy due to budget constraints, which usually range up to 100 thousand euros," says Ms. Meta.
In areas such as “Don Bosko” and “Zogu i Zi”, prices have increased from 11 to 17%. In “Don Bosko” for 1+1 apartments, the monthly rent has reached 500 euros, an increase of 11% compared to the previous year. For 2+1 apartments, prices have reached 700 euros per month or 17% more expensive than in 2024.
For 1+1 category apartments, at "Zogu i Zi" prices have remained unchanged compared to last year. While rents for 2+1 properties have reached 700 euros per month or 17% more than last year.
In the "Astir" area, rental prices have remained unchanged for both property categories.
The monthly rent for 2+1 apartments in "Kinostudio", from 700 euros, has reached 800 euros per month this year, influenced by high demand, especially from students, after a private university moved to this area.
Prices have increased by 14% compared to the previous year. In the “Fresku” area, rental prices for 1+1 apartments have reached 400 euros per month. Compared to the previous year, prices have increased by 14%.
For 2+1 properties, rental prices in this area have reached 450 euros per month. Rents have increased by 13%.
"The number of apartments with prices from 300 to 350 euros listed for long-term rent is very low, while the demand for them is high. This category of properties, as soon as it is published on the site, is immediately taken by tenants."
In particular, this type of property for long-term rental is preferred in the 'Fresku' area or up to 'Astir'. Further on, the demand is low. We have rental properties at this price level in the Linza area as well, but the demand there is much lower", claims Ani Meta, manager at one of the offices of the real estate agency "CPM".
Near Elbasan Street, rental prices for 1+1 apartments, from 380–400 euros in 2021, reached 700 euros in 2025. The increase in rental prices for apartments in this area is 75%.
In the former Bllok, one of the most expensive areas in the capital in 2021, rents ranged from 440 to 500 euros, while in 2025, according to data from real estate agencies, prices reached 650 euros.
Compared to current rents, their increase reaches up to 47% more than in 2021. In the Municipality of Paris, rental prices range from 370–500 euros in 2021 to 650–800 euros in 2025. Even in this area, prices compared to 2021 have marked a significant increase ranging from 60 to 75%.
Near the "Selman Stërmasi" stadium, apartment rental prices have increased from 360–400 euros in 2021 to 600 euros for 1+1 apartments in 2025. The increase is from 50 to 66%.
Near the "Air Albania" stadium, one of the most frequented and developed areas of Tirana, rental prices for 2+1 category apartments from 800–1,060 euros in 2021, reached 1,800 euros in 2025. This represents an increase of 70 to 125% in price.
Even in more peripheral areas such as "Fresku", "Astiri", "Kinostudio", the increase is also noticeable compared to 2021. Prices in 2021 for 1+1 apartments ranged from 240 to 350 euros, while in 2025, prices start from 400 euros to 500 euros per month. The increase ranges from 43 to 66%.
"The high demand for rent is mainly due to the financial inability of many young families to buy an apartment, while sales prices have also increased significantly. These two main factors are constantly influencing the increase in rental prices. Especially in areas such as Liqeni i Thatë, near the Dam and near the 'Petro Nini Luarasi' high school, where demand is higher, rents have increased significantly. But in general, throughout Tirana, there has been a trend of increasing rental prices and no decrease is expected in the near future," says Dritan Leka, one of the managers of the "CPM" real estate agency.
Increased demand for housing, high sales prices and tourism drive up rents
Rental market agents and experts claim that the increasing demand for residential properties and the rising sale prices of apartments remain among the main factors that are directly affecting the increase in rents in Tirana.
"The high demand for rentals is mainly due to the financial inability of many young families to purchase an apartment, while sales prices have also increased significantly.
These two main factors are continuously influencing the increase in rental prices. Especially in areas like Liqeni i Thatë, near the Dam and near the 'Petro Nini Luarasi' high school, where demand is higher, rents have increased significantly.
"But in general, throughout Tirana, there has been a trend of increasing rental prices and no decrease is expected in the near future," says Dritan Leka, one of the directors of the "CPM" real estate agency.
In addition to high demand, the increase in rental prices is also being affected by the decline in supply, as more and more properties are moving from the long-term rental market to the daily rental market.
The latter has been greatly driven by tourist demand. Foreigners prefer accommodation in daily rental apartments, due to their cheap prices, rather than in traditional structures.
"In recent years, significant increases in rental prices have been recorded in most of the city's main areas.
This trend is closely related to the high demand for properties, which has been strengthened by investments in daily rental hotel units, which have significantly reduced the supply of properties for long-term rental.
Also, the increased influx of expatriates (foreign nationals living temporarily or for a long time in a country other than their country of origin, usually for work, business or personal reasons) and individuals choosing to live in Albania has contributed to the increase in demand for rental housing, especially in areas with good access to services and infrastructure.
As a result, rental prices have been steadily increasing, creating pressure on the market and making it more difficult to find apartments at reasonable prices for long-term residence,” asserts Ms. Dhami.
According to Dritan Leka, the daily rental market in recent years has been organized mainly through specialized agencies, which manage from 4 to 20 properties each.
"A growing number of individuals are buying apartments or renting properties long-term, then renting them out on a daily basis. Many of them choose to entrust the management of their properties to agencies, for a certain fee."
This management model has proven to be more efficient than direct management by the owner himself.
This is because operating costs are lower: a cleaner takes care of all the agency's properties, and a maintenance worker covers all their technical needs, increasing efficiency and reducing costs for each property individually.
This development has led to a significant increase in demand for daily rental properties, significantly reducing the supply on the market for long-term rentals. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for citizens to find apartments for permanent rental, especially in urban and tourist areas.
Stela Dhami, from Colliers International Albania, says that the increase in daily rental structures has significantly reduced the stock of properties available for long-term rental, directly impacting the increase in prices.
"Prices are following a clear upward trend, especially in the central areas of the city. This is closely related to the increase in the number of residents in Tirana and the fact that the residential stock is increasingly being used for other purposes."
In recent years, Albania has experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors spending several days in the capital. As a result, many apartments in central areas have been converted into daily rental units, following the model of platforms like Airbnb.
In Tirana, a significant portion of the residential property stock is being used to serve the hospitality sector. Although new hotel projects are being built, the accommodation capacity still remains low for a city with this high level of visitors.”
According to AirDNA data, in April there were 23.4 thousand units listed for rent, an increase of 38% compared to the same month a year earlier, or about 6.4 thousand more apartments or residential units.
In April 2023, there were only 12.6 thousand units listed, so in two years, their number has doubled. The number of apartments available for rent in April 2025 was the same as in August 2024, when it always sets a record due to high demand at the peak of the season.
Increased competition and relatively low daily rental prices, ranging on average from 45 euros in February to 80 euros in August at the peak of the season, along with an occupancy rate that fluctuates from 30 to 60%, are making this business unprofitable, despite the high demand for accommodation from tourists.
The first indicator that the rental business is no longer as profitable is the decline in the occupancy rate of residential units.
In February 2025, the occupancy rate was 39.3%, down from 42.2% in the same month a year earlier. In March, the indicator was 37.2%, down from 44.1% in March 2023. In April alone, occupancy was almost at the same levels, at 46.2%.
Young families lead the demand for rental housing
While supply is limited, demand for rental properties is increasing. The increase in supply is one of the main factors driving up rents, according to real estate agents.
Dritan Leka, from the real estate agency CPM, claims that currently demand is dominated by young couples looking to live in rented apartments, as they are unable to buy, students and foreign citizens temporarily living or working in the country.
While young couples, according to agent Ani Meta, prefer rental properties near downtown areas, due to their proximity to their workplace, to avoid using the car.
Demand is high even in suburban areas like "Astiri" or "Fresku" for 1+1 apartments at affordable prices, but their supply is limited.
Demand from foreigners is led by Turkish citizens, mainly employed in the information technology sector. This also includes the increasing demand from citizens from Canada or the USA who come to Albania for employment.
