Cost of Buying Property in Albania

Closing costs when buying property in Albania

Total closing costs on an Albanian property purchase come to roughly 4–7% of the price. That covers notary, cadastre registration, legal fees and the buyer-side transfer charge. The exact split varies by municipality and property, so treat the line items below as typical ranges rather than fixed rates.

Legal / due diligence (attorney): Typically a few hundred to ~€600
Notary fee: A small percentage of the price
Cadastre (ASHK) registration: A fixed administrative fee
Buyer-side transfer charge: A per-m² municipal charge (not a flat 3%)

The "3% transfer tax" myth in Albania

Several foreign-buyer sites state a flat "3% transfer tax" paid by the buyer. That is inaccurate. Capital-gains tax (15%) is generally the seller’s responsibility, while the buyer’s building-transfer charge is a fixed per-square-metre municipal amount — often used as a ~2% rule of thumb, not a universal 3%. Always confirm the figure for your specific municipality.

Annual property tax is just 0.05% of value — about €100 a year on a €200,000 home.

Ongoing costs of owning property in Albania

This is where Albania stands out. The annual property tax is just 0.05% of the property value — one of the lowest rates in Europe. On a €200,000 home that is roughly €100 per year.

Rocky cove with a small beach on the Albanian coast — Albania’s 0.05% annual property tax is among the lowest in Europe.

Annual property tax: 0.05% of value (~€50–200/yr)
Typical on a €200,000 property: ~€100 per year

A 2026 property tax reform to watch

A market-value-based reform of the annual property tax has been proposed for 2026 and municipalities already vary the rate by up to 30% either way. The current position, including the draft rates, is tracked in property taxes in Albania.

Tax on rental income in Albania

Rental income is taxed at a flat 15%: on gross income for short-term lets declared through the DIVA platform, and on net income for long-term contracts. The full picture, including capital gains when you sell, is in property taxes in Albania.

Worked example: buying a €150,000 apartment in Albania

For a €150,000 apartment, plan for roughly €6,000–€10,500 in one-off closing costs (4–7%), then about €75 per year in property tax. If you let it long-term at, say, €700/month, you would pay 15% on the net rental profit.

Key takeaways

Closing costs: ~4–7% of price, all-in.
Annual property tax is only 0.05% — among the lowest in Europe.
Rental income is 15%: on gross for short-term, on net for long-term.
Ignore the "flat 3% transfer tax" claim — the buyer charge is a per-m² municipal amount.

Frequently asked questions

How much are closing costs when buying in Albania?

Total closing costs are typically 4 to 7% of the purchase price, covering notary, Cadastre registration, legal fees and the buyer-side transfer charge.

What does it cost in total to buy a €100,000 apartment in Albania?

Plan for about €4,000 to €7,000 in one-off closing costs on top of the price, then roughly €50 a year in property tax. Agency fees, if any, are agreed in writing and come on top.

Is there a transfer tax for buyers in Albania?

There is no flat 3% buyer transfer tax. The buyer pays a per-square-metre municipal charge on building transfers, often around 2% as a rule of thumb; the 15% tax on the sale is a seller-side capital gains tax.

How much are lawyer fees for buying property in Albania?

Independent legal due diligence typically costs from a few hundred euros up to about €600 for a standard apartment purchase. Complex cases such as land, legalisation or restitution checks cost more.

Do buyers pay an agency commission in Albania?

Agency fees vary and are agreed in writing, so ask who pays them before you view. Where the buyer pays, the fee is a percentage of the price and should be included in your closing-cost budget.

What is the annual property tax in Albania?

Around 0.05% of the property value, roughly €50 to €200 per year, or about €100 on a €200,000 property. A 2026 reform may change this.

How is rental income taxed in Albania?

At a flat 15%. Short-term rentals are taxed on gross income, declared via the DIVA platform; long-term rentals are taxed on net income.

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Property for sale and rent in Albania

Apartments for sale in Albania (7,574) Houses for sale in Albania (1,285) Land plots for sale in Albania (944) Commercial properties for sale in Albania (1,169) Apartments for rent in Albania (1,994) Houses for rent in Albania (201) Commercial properties for rent in Albania (908) Garages for sale in Albania (157) Warehouses and halls for sale in Albania (55) Land plots for rent in Albania (43) Garages for rent in Albania (20) Warehouses and halls for rent in Albania (60)

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Explore example locations

Tirana Durrës Sarandë

Sources

Figures and rules in this guide are checked against these primary sources.

For the media

Charts and figures on this page may be used free of charge, crediting BalkanHome.eu as the source with an active link to this page.

Entry asking price of an apartment for sale (2nd percentile), by location, EUR. Rows: 1 Himarë, 2 Orikum, 3 Vlorë, 4 Sarandë, 5 Shkodër, 6 Tirana, 7 Shëngjin, 8 Pogradec, 9 Durrës, 10 Kavajë, 11 Golem, 12 Korçë.

Median asking price per square metre of apartments for sale in Albania, by number of rooms (row = rooms), EUR.

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Author and media contact: Mateusz Sawicki, founder of BalkanHome.eu · contact@balkanhome.eu

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Verify current rules with a qualified Albanian attorney or notary before you buy.

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