Why More Americans Are Finding Freedom in Albania

Why More Americans Are Finding Freedom in Albania
From coast to capital, Albania is attracting Americans seeking safety, simplicity, and the freedom to live life on their own terms.|©iStock/maylat

If you asked the average American to find Albania on a map, chances are they couldn’t. I know, because I live here, now for the second time—and the first question I usually get is, “Where’s Albania?”

It’s understandable. This small Balkan nation of fewer than three million people spent decades hidden behind dictatorship and isolation. Under Enver Hoxha’s 40-year rule, Albania was sealed off even from its communist neighbors. Only in the late 1990s did the country begin to open up and step into the modern world.

Today, though, it’s a very different story. Americans are starting to discover Albania—a place where European culture meets affordability, where safety is the norm, and where the pace of life invites you to breathe again.

A Scary Leap That Paid Off

When 61-year-old Nancy A. left the U.S. on Halloween 2023, she called it “the scariest thing since Navy boot camp.” Moving abroad on her own wasn’t easy, but the motivation was clear: she wanted safety, simplicity, and a lower cost of living.

Nancy had lived outside Atlanta, Georgia, in a neighborhood that no longer felt safe. “It just didn’t feel comfortable walking at night anymore,” she told me. She’d spent years researching Ecuador as a possible escape, but grew uneasy with the country’s shifting political climate. So she went back to the drawing board, listing what mattered most—affordability, safety, European culture—and one destination kept popping up: Albania.

“None of my friends even knew where it was,” she laughed. “But the more I looked, the more it fit.”

Americans can stay in Albania for up to a year without a visa—a rarity in Europe. After that, they must leave for 90 days before returning, but even that lenient policy gives expats the freedom to settle in without red tape.

Durrës, Albania’s main port city, blends beach life with easy access to the capital.
Durrës, Albania’s main port city, blends beach life with easy access to the capital.|©iStock/Elton Xhafkollari

Nancy’s first stop was Durrës, a seaside city just west of the capital, but the busy port didn’t feel like home. She moved inland to Tirana, where she took language classes and began exploring permanent residency options. Now she’s looking to buy a small home in Tapi, a peaceful village near Kuçovë, about 90 minutes south of Tirana.

For her, Albania’s biggest draw is safety. According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Albania ranks 52nd out of 162 countries. The U.S. ranks 131st. “As a single woman, that matters,” she said.

Reinventing Life at 62

For 62-year-old Ron E., Albania represented a chance to take control of his future before someone else did. A high-tech specialist for decades, he saw the signs when his company began implementing AI across operations. “I knew my days were numbered,” he said. “So I made the choice before it was made for me.”

Within four months, Ron sold everything and booked a one-way ticket. He tried Portugal and Spain first, but found the residency requirements difficult. Then he discovered Albania, and its straightforward path to legal stay.

“What I like about Europe, and Albania especially, is that I feel I fit in. People are family-oriented, kind, and they don’t make me feel like an outsider.”

He now rents a comfortable apartment in Tirana for about $527 a month and has built a circle of Albanian friends. When he’s not exploring local markets or museums, he’s taking road trips across the Balkans or catching quick flights—Italy, Greece, and Croatia are all less than an hour away.

Like many new expats here, Ron’s only regret is not making the move sooner.

New Faces, Same Story

Meredith and Ian, from Georgia, have settled in the coastal city of Durrës.
Meredith and Ian, from Georgia, have settled in the coastal city of Durrës.

Not every expat comes to Albania looking for retirement. Some, like Ken E., 76, from New Hampshire, were simply ready for change. “After 40 years in the same place, I needed something new,” he said. Lower living costs and the promise of a fresh start were enough to convince him.

Others come as couples or digital nomads. Meredith Mueller and her partner Ian, 33 and 40, left Georgia earlier this year and now live in Durrës. Meredith continues to work remotely for a U.S. company and says Albania’s one-year visa makes it easy to settle in before deciding on long-term plans. “We may pursue residency,” she told me, “but the generous visa gives us flexibility.”

They’d first considered Tirana but fell in love with the coast instead. “We don’t have a car, but buses are easy and affordable. We’ve already seen so much of the country.”

Younger expats, she added, shouldn’t assume life abroad is only for retirees. “If you can afford to live in the U.S., you can probably afford to live here—and have a better quality of life doing it.”

Then there’s Tara and Z, a same-sex couple from the U.S. and Bosnia. After traveling extensively, they recently obtained Albanian residency. “It’s the stable home base we’d been searching for,” Tara said. Their story highlights another strength of Albania: quiet acceptance. While not outspokenly liberal, the country is remarkably tolerant and welcoming in everyday life.

The Freedom Factor

Albania’s appeal isn’t only about affordability, it’s about independence. Older single women like Nancy find a sense of safety and autonomy they’ve struggled to maintain in the U.S. Retirees like Ken find reinvention. Younger expats like Meredith and Ian find flexibility and adventure.

And for many, the math just works. Rents are modest, food and public transport inexpensive, and healthcare both accessible and affordable. English is increasingly spoken, especially in urban areas.

It’s also centrally located. From Tirana’s international airport, most of Europe is within a two-hour flight. And inside the country, a few hours’ drive takes you from mountain peaks to Mediterranean beaches.

But perhaps the biggest surprise for newcomers is the atmosphere itself. Albania feels calm. It’s a place where people greet you on the street, where café culture still matters, and where life isn’t ruled by hurry.

Daily life here moves at an easy pace—markets, coffee, and friendly hellos.
Daily life here moves at an easy pace—markets, coffee, and friendly hellos.|©iStock/Victor Golmer

A Place That Feels Possible

From a country once known to few Americans, Albania has quietly become one of Europe’s most welcoming surprises. New arrivals—single and married, young and retired alike—come for affordability and stay for something deeper: a sense of peace and possibility.

As Nancy put it, “Change is scary, but staying stuck is scarier.”

For anyone dreaming of a life that’s affordable, safe, and full of possibility, the real question isn’t why Albania—it’s why not?

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