Supermarket Prices: UK vs Vlorë, Albania

When I stayed in Vlorë, I tracked supermarket prices to help compare to my home country. What does a kilo of chicken actually cost? How much for olive oil? Toilet paper?

I built this comparison myself. I'm comparing to UK prices since that's home, but the Google Sheets embed below shows EUR and USD conversions too.

The Data

Below is a side-by-side comparison of common supermarket items. UK prices are from Sainsbury's. Vlorë prices are from local supermarkets including Conad and Market IM. Conad is slightly more expensive but contains a good selection of international items.

The spreadsheet updates automatically with live exchange rates, so the EUR and USD columns always reflect current conversion.

Can't see the spreadsheet? Open it directly

What the Numbers Show

Where Vlorë beats the UK:

• Olive oil: £3.22 vs £6.50 in the UK. Half price for comparable quality.
• Bottled water: £0.97 for 6 litres vs £3.00. Essential when tap water isn't drinkable.
• Toilet paper: £1.57 vs £3.00. Everyday items add up.
• Chicken breast: £5.40/kg vs £6.49. Fresh meat is cheaper.
• Wine: £5.81 vs £7.00 for a decent table wine. And the local options are better than you'd expect.
• Prawns: £12.54/kg vs £15.00.

Where the UK wins:

• Imported goods: Tuna, avocados, and pasta cost more in Albania. They're importing what the UK imports, but with smaller volumes and longer supply chains.
• Some personal care: Toothpaste and specialty items can be pricier.

The Bigger Picture

These supermarket prices only tell part of the story.

The real value in Vlorë comes from the places that don't appear in spreadsheets: the fishmonger selling fresh fish much cheaper than the UK. Salmon for £12/kg (versus £16 at the supermarket), the bakeries where a fresh loaf costs 90p, the vegetable market where seasonal produce costs a fraction of packaged supermarket equivalents.

If you're shopping on a tight budget in Albania, the supermarket is for packaged goods, cleaning products, and wine. Everything you're actually going to eat you can get from the market.

How I Collected This Data

I photographed price tags, kept receipts, and tracked purchases in a spreadsheet throughout my stay. The UK baseline uses Sainsbury's online prices for equivalent items.

Some items don't have perfect equivalents. Where sizes differ, I've noted this and calculated per-unit prices where it makes sense.

This isn't scientific research. It's one person's real shopping over 35 days. Your experience may vary by season, location, loyalty cards, and shopping habits.

The Bottom Line

Albania isn't uniformly cheaper than the UK. Some things cost more, particularly imports. But the items that matter most for daily life, fresh food, basics, and household essentials, tend to cost less.

Combined with lower rent and cheaper dining out, the overall picture is clear: you can live well here for considerably less than a comparable UK lifestyle would cost.

For a full breakdown of my monthly spending, see What a Month in Vlorë Actually Cost Me.

Data collected October 2025. Prices may vary by season and specific store.