Albania ranks 10th out of about 40 European countries for the high increase in food prices between 2015 and March 2025.

Data from the Harmonized Index that the EU uses to compare price changes in Europe shows that since 2015, Turkey has led the way in the high increase in food inflation due to the waves of inflation in recent years and on the other hand Switzerland had the lowest increase.

The Albanian food and non-alcoholic beverage price index from 2015 to March 2025 have increased by 67%, one of the highest levels in Europe.

Food prices in Albania increased 14% more than the EU average in this period. Eurostat ranks Albania 10th out of 40 economies, while countries with unusual developments, with very high inflation, are ahead of us.

Albania also had the strongest price increase in the Balkan region, excluding Serbia. The high rate of increase in food prices compared to other countries in Europe is damaging long-term convergence (achieving EU living standards), Monitor reported on Monday.

On the one hand, pressure on consumption from foreign visitors and on the other, an aging population are creating an environment with higher prices in the future. Positive developments in tourism are not boosting agricultural production and the country has increased its dependence on imported food supplies in recent years. As this dependence is growing, policies that address the structural costs of the food supply chain are lacking.

To mitigate the consequences of high inflation after the war in Ukraine, all European countries, including those in the region, applied aggressive policies to increase salaries and pensions. Albania has made some interventions, especially in the public sector, but still lags. In Albania, the average gross monthly salary for 2024, according to INSTAT, reached 77.5 thousand lek/month, or about Euro 770.

The highest average gross monthly salary is in Serbia, at Euro 1,150 per month. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the salary is almost Euro 1,100. In Montenegro, the salary is Euro 1,083. North Macedonia also pays employees on average more than a thousand euros per month, specifically 62 thousand Macedonian dinars, or Euro 1,020 per month.

Furthermore, the cost of living for the middle class has increased more than income in the last year, according to the results of a survey conducted by local business news provider Monitor. The survey conducted in February-March period involved 271 participants, 95% of whom were educated with high salaries.

49% of participants claimed that the cost of living had worsened in 2025 compared to the beginning of 2024. About 70% claimed that the largest part of their monthly income went to buying food, followed by housing and health services.