Cost of living weighs on Albanian families, experts say: Budgets go toward food and rent; it is a matter of survival

The rising cost of living is deepening the economic difficulties faced by a growing number of Albanian families. Food, rent, fuel, clothing and children’s needs take up a significant portion of household budgets. Speaking on News24’s “News24 Weekend” program, citizens and experts described the daily sacrifices made to cover the most essential expenses.

Economist Romina Radonshqi said that almost every household need now comes at a high price. In addition to food and rent, families’ finances are also significantly strained by books, clothing, children’s activities and gifts for teachers.

She stressed that nothing is provided free of charge and that prices tend to rise during the summer months.

According to teacher and activist Olgert Rakipllari, vacations are no longer affordable for many families and have instead become a luxury.

He said summer brings a range of additional costs that make managing a household budget even more difficult. Rakipllari said vacations are out of the question when the primary concern is survival, describing parents’ sacrifices as extraordinary.

Salo Salillari, a divorced mother raising her children, also spoke about her struggles. Although she receives help from her former husband, she said she can barely cover her expenses because prices have, in her words, reached “the stratosphere.”

To provide her children with the minimum essentials, Salillari works from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., leaving her very little time to spend with them.

She said she has endured long days and difficult moments when she wondered how she would manage. According to Salillari, Albania does not offer many opportunities, while housing, fuel and other prices are interconnected in a chain of costs.

Salillari explained that financial problems are not limited to one season but persist throughout the year. She cited rent and food among the main burdens, adding that even some medical treatments have become a luxury for families.

Economist Romina Radonshqi also noted that the vast majority of Albanians’ spending goes toward basic needs, primarily food and rent.

She said citizens spend most of their money on consumption and physiological needs, while in difficult circumstances they are forced to cut back even on medication, which is not treated as a basic expense.

The studio discussion highlighted that, for many families, vacations and other expenses are no longer a priority. The main concern remains covering daily living costs and ensuring minimum living conditions for their children.