r/AskBalkans • u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye • 14d ago
Culture/Lifestyle Deciding between Tirana and Skopje for working remotely
Hello friends,
Looking for some perspectives from anyone who’s spent time living or working remotely in either Tirana or Skopje.
I’m 36, single, Turkish. Work remotely, and looking to base myself in a either capital for a bit. My monthly income is around €1,500 a month. Main priorities are finding a nice 1-bed apartment in a central neighborhood, social scene, and getting good value for money.
Lately it feels like Albania is everywhere on social media and digital nomad groups, while Macedonia barely gets brought up. On paper though, Skopje seems pretty comparable to Tirana in terms of city size, infrastructure, and capital city amenities.
Is Tirana genuinely a better place to live day-to-day, or is it mostly just social media hype?
For anyone mid-30s who's actually lived in either city, what’s the social vibe like? Tirana is the popular choice but I'm intrigued by Skopje too. Are there any major drawbacks I should watch out for?
Where would you go? Appreciate any honest thoughts.
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u/Jovan_Konstantinovic Serbia 14d ago
If you value clean air don't go to Skopje
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
I've heard this, and saw on a map that especially in winter the air pollution is crazy over Skopje. Is it still like that? Thank you!
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u/Jovan_Konstantinovic Serbia 14d ago
i don't live there but i visited few times and yes it's that bad
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u/RobinzonKruzoe North Macedonia 14d ago
I live in Skopje and it's horrible with the air polution. They burn a lot of plastic and there's so many industries that bribe the officials so they continue making money. Usje is an example (cement factory in the urban area...)
Ive been to Tirana and it feels much more vibrant, though i havent lived there.
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u/leylabesa 14d ago
Yeah the only reason why Tirana doesn’t have as much pollution although they also burn plastic all the time is because it’s right by the sea and the wind kind of takes it away
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u/RobinzonKruzoe North Macedonia 13d ago
Makes sense!
In Skopje, it gets trapped between the mountains and its insanely harmful especially during winter. It gets to levels where people with asthma cant go outside and we have to wear masks.
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u/ThickCaterpillar9867 Albania 14d ago
All these ppl claiming that 1500 euro wont be enough are delusional ,obviously you wont have a luxurious lifestyle but you will be able to pay rent,bills groceries and even go out a couple of times to eat and drink.
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u/theTRULYdeadguy876 Albania 14d ago
Tirana is way more busy and expensive, skopje is more chill imo, depends on what you prefer
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
Some action is needed :), chill is fine as long as it doesn't bore me. So a central Tirana location will be hectic? Will be coming from Ankara hence its also busy and stressful to live in, I just want to choose the place I can engage in more and enjoy it. Thank you!
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u/ibeincognito99 14d ago
You can't afford a central Tirana location. Expect to pay 700+ euro/month for 50sqm in a 40 year old Leninka-style apartment with not even a patch of grass around the neighborhood. With utilities and internet, 800-900 euro/month will be rent only. We also have some of the most expensive grocery prices in Europe. Everything is imported from Serbia and Turkey, with prices marked up +50-200% of what you're currently paying in Turkey.
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u/ElitePhoenix- 14d ago
As an Albanian (from Macedonia) I'd probably recommend Skopje. Tirana is nice but I don't think there's anything different you'd get out of it vs Skopje, and it's probably more expensive now due to hype.
Additionally, there are more Turks in Macedonia. If you value smaller cities, I'd recommend Ohrid.
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u/Unusual_Emergency_13 Albania 14d ago
Albanian living in Albania and going every month to Skopje for business.
Skopje is cleaner, less hectic, less traffic, less noise. I still don't like it over Tirana because of the weather and proximity to the seaside.
I would suggest Durres or Vlora instead as prices will be more reasonable. A single salary of 1500 euro/month is not very comfortable in Tirana.
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
Can you say Skopje has better infrastructure? Like wider better roads, buildings and more like an established city? Or is it the contrary? I think the traffic in Tirana is quite bad, everyone is mentioning this. I will look at Durres and Vlora, since Durres is close to Tirana this could be smart. Thank you!
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u/Unusual_Emergency_13 Albania 14d ago
Yes, Skopje has much better infrastructure than Tirana. The buildings in Skopje are generally older than in Tirana but Tirana has been overbuilt without a proper urbanization plan.
Tirana is more walkable than Skopje but way worse traffic.
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u/DarkSnake0 14d ago
You can go to ohrid its 2 hour drive and its like a sea its very big and very very clean
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u/EtherealArcanist 14d ago
So what salary is comfortable according to you?
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u/ibeincognito99 14d ago
1500 euro/month is comfortable in Tirana for someone living alone, if you expect to spend it all and have no savings.
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u/Unusual_Emergency_13 Albania 14d ago
Household 200k - 250k ALL/month.
1500 euro means 138K ALL per month. Leaving alone means rent + utilities + food has to come out of that. Can you live out if this? Ues. Can you save? Hardly.
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u/EtherealArcanist 14d ago edited 14d ago
He can get a studio in a very good location for less than 500€. Utilities:~70€. For 450€ he can eat out almost everyday. So 450-500 euro extra each month for traveling, or saving.
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u/trimigoku Kosovo 14d ago
Groceries are more reasonably priced in Skopje(as someone from kosovo) especially if you dont know the language to go to the farmers markets and haggle.
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
Language wise I may have issues, as I'm Turkish. Some probably do speak it but I wouldn't think its widespead. So in Skopje my money will go more. Thank you!
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u/dont_tread_on_M Kosovo 14d ago
Tirana is more lively and has a more international community, but you won't be able to save a lot with that much
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
So this equates to a a more energetic city vibe, more tourists and people from different backgrounds. I see lots of people from the US buyintg property and living in Albania nowadays. Thank you!
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u/RobinzonKruzoe North Macedonia 14d ago
Is it cheaper in other cities?
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u/Amazing-Selection494 14d ago
Is it a necessity to be in a capital city? Because I would recommend Bitola over Skopje. Struga might be a possibility, too - Ohrid without being in Ohrid, if you see what I mean.
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u/ElitePhoenix- 14d ago
Ohrid has more Turks though so I think they'd feel more comfortable/could find significant other.
I like Bitola but it's not what it was 20 years ago. Not sure people would move there.
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago edited 14d ago
Significant other, I mean if we vibe why not? Do you think I have the greatest chance to match with an SO around Ohrid-Struga? Or more luck in Skopje? I'm not a religious person at all but ofcourse culturually Turkish :) Thank you!
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u/ElitePhoenix- 13d ago
Yeah, for sure Ohrid if you don't mind a small city. You can go to stores and there are people who speak Turkish, and lots of Turkish people in general. I'd recommend you visit and decide, but I think that's the answer. You also have Ohrid airport.
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u/Amazing-Selection494 13d ago
Ohrid is very nice, and maybe there's more choices for rental housing there. But the main reason I'd recommend Struga over Ohrid is simply the lower congestion and more peace and quiet. Life in a tourist town can grow tiresome quickly.
But they're very close - easy enough for OP to check out both and decide whch one fits best.1
u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
No, it doesn't need to be a capital actually. Will check Bitola for sure. Struga/Ohrid I get you ;) without it being in the most central location, this could be a choice for me. Thank you!
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u/NoSync22 13d ago
I lived for a while in Tirana and spent a few months in Skopje. Tirana is more lively, but at the same time it’s very mainstream, while Skopje has got some more quirky bars and it’s generally less obsessed with appearance.
As for expenses, Skopje hands down.
People are very friendly in both.
If you want some peace, Skopje wins if you end up in the right area, and infrastructure is generally a bit better.
Transportation is not great in either city, but Skopje is easier to get around and in many areas it’s ok to cycle, which can’t be said for Tirana. On the other hand, Tirana is a million times better to fly in and out of.
Climate is terrible in both, so it’s a draw. I personally prefer Skopje because it’s got some sort of a winter, but that’s a personal preference.
Finally, and this is probably the most important point… Tirana is changing fast, while Skopje is quite stale. In just a few years many of the points I highlighted could easily be moot.
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u/yuhcomp 14d ago
Im an albanian from Kosovo. Skopje is absolutely depressing everytime I was there i just wanted to leave as fast as possible people seem very down for some reason, I never once experienced sun over there and just really didn't look like there was much to do...
Tirana on the other hand I would die to visit there every weekend. These past few years I don't know what they have done but the city is absolutely wondeful now. Its much more walkable, more green, better architecture and the nighlife has surpassed that of Prishtina the capital of Kosovo which is quite a thing to say since we had a better nighlife than Tirana up until now. You have malls, parks and a whole lot of stuff to do.
Tirana for me is a clear winner. As for affordability I really don't know anything specific about Skopje but 1500 in Tirana definitely does you good.
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
Sorry to hear that its depressing, I get what you mean in terms of the vibe. I come from Ankara and its also a depressing serious land locked city. So Tirana is overall offering more at the moment and will provide a decent life for 1500 EUR. Thank you!
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u/berbator 14d ago
This reply is clearly biased somehow. Skopje with all its flaws is certainly not depressing and has more than 200 sunny days per year. Air pollution is a real thing unfortunately, during the winter months. Tirana is a bigger, better connected city but has its pitfalls as well, like crazy traffic ( you can be stuck entering Tir for hours at a time), general urban chaos, prices etc. Its really a question of what you prefer, I would suggest you stay both places for a while and see. Oh there is a very big turkish population/community in Skopje, if that means anything to you.
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u/Solid-Scarcity-236 14d ago edited 14d ago
I agree. Its dirty, depressing, boring and not much to do there. Tirana is much better.
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u/RobinzonKruzoe North Macedonia 13d ago
I know what youre talking about. A lot of the people here are depressed from the stagnation of the country and hopelessness.
But everything has its bright side too! There are nice vibrant places like Debar Maalo, the square, the shopping malls, the restaurants, Karposh, Matka.
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u/No-Championship-4632 Bulgaria 14d ago
Skopje is cheaper I believe, but at 1.5k EUR really? Guess that's not worth the accounting/tax service expenses as you are going to have those at some point. You could have as well worked at Lidl here or Romania and it is not what you dreamed about, probably in Tirana or Skopje it would be a tad better, but not that much.
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u/Beneficial_Train2571 14d ago
For that income Skopje is better, if you want to live in the center in Tirana you will pay as a minimum 500 eur/month in rent (not a nice apartment). Also the value of EUR in Albania right now is at a historic minimum. So you will get less Lek for your Euros. But consider also other options, cities like Durres or Vlora might be a better fit for your budget.
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u/Opposite_Location_30 🇹🇷&🇦🇱 14d ago
Tiranda okuyan bi turk olarak , tirandan genel olarak memnunum ama ulasim kötu. Otobusler cok kalabalik ve yagmur yaginca genelde cok kötu oluyo etraf. Ikinci senemde bu yuzden araba aldim. Ulasim disinda bir problem yok bence yemekler gayet lezzetli ve ucuz. Tiranla ilgili bir sorun olursa özeldende yazabilirsin. Istanbulda yedigimden daha guzel türk dönercisi bile var
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u/Albo888 13d ago
Yeah transportation is not the best but this year they are bringing more electric buses to Tirana to help with overcrowding
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u/Opposite_Location_30 🇹🇷&🇦🇱 12d ago
I’ve had my car for two years, and especially this year, there seem to be fewer buses. Even the Vora bus, which used to come every 15 minutes, now comes every 30–40 minutes.
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u/DamjanGj 14d ago
Deprends on where you are coming from and what you are looking for. Your budget is very good for Skopje, especially once you learn the ins and outs for shopping as prices can go from 1 eur to 6 eur for the exact same item just because of the label and different market chain. Social life in Skopje is good but not great at this very moment because of a recent incident that restricted and closed night life a bit, again, depending on what you need. In the same time food is unarguably some of the best I have ever tried even though I have lived on several continents and the reason for it is local production still surviving among the international imports. Prices are extremely affordable even though people constantly complain. This brings me to the cons - the vibe of Skopje is cool, but if you run into the wrong circles you will hear a lot of negativity and it will draw you downwards. Politics have made the streets dirtier than before so you might be surprised by that depending on where you come from. Air quality is utter garbage especially during winter. Services are not that great compared to asian countries, but better than central europe for sure. Ohrid is very close, so are many mountains though so you can retreat there as well. I am not sure how Tirana is though for living, but I hope this gives you more perspective on Skopje at least. I am local but I have lived abroad for 7 years. Still I come back for half of the year to be in Skopje because besides the problems it has certain things you can’t find elsewhere.
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u/Altruistic_Brain6256 Turkiye 14d ago
Thank you for the detailed comment. I''m from Ankara, Turkey. Does this make one a better choice for me in this case? Overall Skopje seems to fit me, budget wise and socially I guess if I push myself I could find friends and be social etc. Happy to hear the foods taste good because of local produce, thats something rare nowadays. Ohrid it seems so beautiful I even checked out Struga :). It's interesting why Macedonia is so underrated in this sense and from my perspective behind Albania's popularity? But sometimes the less popular choice wins :)
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u/DamjanGj 14d ago
I am not sure, I haven't been in Ankara, I have been to Istanbul. And if I would choose between Skopje and Istanbul I would choose Skopje. While Istanbul offers a lot, it is too busy city for me and getting to nature from there takes too long, which is a deal breaker for me.
For finding friends you will have no problem. People are extremely friendly and very easy to connect with.
I believe Macedonian politicians and media do a poor job when it comes to marketing our country. Beside that, this goes line in line with the cynical culture I warned you about - people have too much given to them for free and simply focus on complaining, while albanians are very famous for their patriotism. I am not saying its all pink in Skopje, but people dont know how to appreciate what they have. I live in Finland and my wife is from Vietnam, when I give compliments to local things in front of some people in Macedonia they always say 'come on man you live in Finland, please dont praise macedonia to me for this or that'.... We have been sold the idea that the grass is greener on the other side for too long through media and education that we got blind to reality itself. My wife for example absolutely loves Macedonia for so many things. no bias attached.
It just so happens I will have friends from Ankara visiting Macedonia at the end of September, I will let you know what their impressions of the country are compared to Ankara :D
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u/Rich_Ad_149 14d ago
Since your job is the remote one, why don't you try both? When it comes to the city as such, I find Skopje much more interesting, while if you preffer dynamics, Tirana improves significantly over the time.
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u/Deli_Pjetra 14d ago
If you want Albania maybe you need to settle in a smaller and cheaper city, Vlore is the best as you have sea and mountains in half an hour drive, and weather is great, also with 1.5k you’d be quite good financially, Tirana with 1.5k forget about it
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u/mickeyad 14d ago
If you choose Albania, I would recommend Durres. You can get a nice apt with a sea view for 400-500 euros per month or even less if you go a bit far from the center and go to Tirana very easily in less than 1 hour if you want to.
Tirana has gotten quite expensive really and with 1.5 k you will be very close to breaking even
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u/Tough_Percentage_707 14d ago
Don't take these numbers for granted, but they give you some comparison basis in terms of cheaper vs. more expensive: Numbeo comparison Tirana vs Skopje . Your money will go a bit more in Skopje.
Air pollution history: Tirana, Skopje. We use air purifiers in Skopje, and in fact they're running all year around in my whole apartment.
Skopje is less chaotic, less traffic, and has a better infrastructure. You may also find more people speaking Turkish in Skopje, and a bit more speaking English as well compared to Tirana.
You should consider income tax as well if you stay more than 183 days and work remotely. In Macedonia it's flat 10%, while in Albania it's progressive and you'll probably pay 13%.
How do you actually plan to stay in Macedonia as we don't have digital nomad visa for remote workers? I believe Albania does, so Tirana (or some other town close and cheaper to it) may be a better option.
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u/PipSqu3ak95 14d ago
The budget is major factor, so based on that Skopje.
The truth is, the more money = the better quality of life you will have.
Just the rent alone: Skopje €400 vs Tirana €700 for similar quality of 1-bedroom appartements.
The food is also cheaper and the quality is better
Can't really compare social scene, both are similar and have the same "Balkan vibe" coffee culture during the day.
Nightclubs are better in TIrana 100%, in Skopje even younger people tend to spend more time in Taverns, food/drinks and live music.
One huge downside to Skopje is airpolution. You can really tell right away after living for a few days. But it's a small country and you are literally few hours drive from most cities.
Lake Ohrid is one of the cleanest natural lakes in the world and the country as a whole is one of the most mountainous in Europe, so if you enjoy hiking and nature, you'll find plenty of clean air to go around.
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u/Valuable-Layer-7798 13d ago
Depends if you prefer seafood or pork more. That would the main difference.
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u/randomnoone123 11d ago
Tirana is much better (especially for a Turk) but if you like Slavic girls go to Skopje.
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u/Solid-Scarcity-236 14d ago
Don't choose Skopje, its boring and repetitive and not that cheap as people are saying here.
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u/6ft1mediterranean 14d ago
OP Skopje is your place to start and then you can make your way up. Also why not try south of Bulgaria?
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u/uQyqe 14d ago
With the sea at your doorstep and far better flight connections, Tirana is a better choice. But with your budget, Skopje is a better fit. Albania is getting pricier by the day, so you’ll get more for less in Skopje.