A digital nomad is someone who uses technology to work remotely from anywhere in the world, allowing them to have the freedom to travel and work on their own terms.
Interested in life as a digital nomad in Albania? Well after spending almost two years living in different places and traveling around Albania, I’m going to give you the inside scoop.
Being a digital nomad has become a popular lifestyle choice for many individuals in recent years and Albania is becoming an attractive destination for nomads.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the benefits and disadvantages of being an Albania digital nomad.
And also look into the general digital nomad pros and cons and the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing.
What Is The Digital Nomad Lifestyle?
The digital nomad lifestyle is all about freedom and flexibility.
Digital nomads typically work as freelancers or remote employees, which means they have control over their schedules and can work from anywhere with a stable internet connection.
This lifestyle is perfect for individuals who love to travel, experience new cultures, and explore the world while maintaining their careers.
Albania Digital Nomad Benefits
There are a lot of good things about being a digital nomad in Albania, especially if you enjoy nature. Here are some of the biggest benefits of living in Albania as a digital nomad.
Incredible Nature
It’s no secret that Albania has stunning nature to enjoy. Slowly people are realizing, that the stereotypes about Albania are largely false and that it’s a great place to visit.
Albania has quite a variety of natural landscapes and environments to enjoy. It has 6 different climates, you can visit both hot springs and sub-arctic mountains.
Rich Cultural Heritage
If you try to learn anything about Albania, you’ll soon see how deep and intricate its history and cultural traditions go. Even after almost two years, I learn new things daily.
Plus, Albanian hospitality is unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. It’s woven into the fabric of Albanian life and has taught me to be more generous and caring.
Healthier Foods
Since I grew up in a rural, low-class area of the US, I do not take food for granted at all. Food poverty is a serious issue in Appalachia where I grew up. Access to healthy food is a privilege.
Living in Albania means you can have access to food grown locally. Though I’m sure produce and other fresh products aren’t always organic, there is still a huge difference in the mass-produced food I’m used to purchasing in Western countries.
Location
If you think in terms of location, Albania is pretty good. You can travel around the Balkans easily. I live in Shkoder, only 30 minutes away from Montenergo.
You’re close to the Middle East, and North Africa, and all of Europe at your fingertips.
Of course, you won’t have the same transport options as places like London, Barcelona, or Rome – but you also don’t have to worry about pickpockets either.
So-Called ‘Affordability’
As a digital nomad in Albania, it’s easy to say it’s ‘affordable’ from that perspective. Yes, if you make money in a Western currency, chances are that you can live comfortably.
Though it’s important to remember, it’s not affordable to locals. Most struggle to have what is considered a ‘normal’ life since the local economy is not strong. Many leave to make money elsewhere because of how bad it is.
Great Wifi
I pay around €13 for high-speed internet that works great for all of my heavy-duty use, like many different connected devices, working on my websites, and uploading youtube videos. It’s common to pay €13 – 18 per month.
Albania Digital Nomad Disadvantages
Living in Albania isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Since Albania is still developing, there are plenty of speed bumps you can run into. There are plenty of disadvantages of being an Albania digital nomad, let’s talk about them.
Technology Replacement Or Repair
Many foreigners don’t realize that owning or having access to a laptop or computer is not that common for Albanians. The average salary is around $300 so it makes sense that many don’t have extra money to purchase a laptop.
Since there isn’t a huge demand for higher price tech items like Macbooks or drones, it can be difficult to purchase new, and options will be limited.
And of course, repairing won’t be the easiest either. Tirana is getting better with this, though items are still priced way higher (than Western countries) because of import fees.
Dental Clinic
I’ve found that dentistry is very very good. Good dentists can be found all over the country, but for more general private care, it is limited.
As I mentioned before, young Albanians are leaving, so many areas remain remote and without adequate care. You’ll need to be in Tirana for most specialty care.
For medication, if there is a special thing you need, it might be hard to find, or limited options (like my asthma inhalers).
Vitamins and supplements can also have limited options if you need something out of the ordinary.
