Albanian families' consumption patterns have undergone minor changes in 2023. Food continues to be the largest expenditure for households, accounting for 39.6% of the total budget, nearly the same level as a year ago.
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| A 40-year-old man shopping in a supermarket in Tirana with a checkered notebook in his hand |
There is a growing trend toward spending more on restaurants, hotels, and furniture, while the weight of education and health expenses has remained constant. This data was revealed in the 2023 family budget survey published by INSTAT.
In 2023, the average monthly spending on consumption for a Family Economic Unit (FEU), consisting of an average of 3.7 people, is estimated at 91,675 lekë. This figure is 3.7% higher than in 2022. Total consumption expenditures amount to approximately 68.4 billion lekë per month.
The group with the highest increase in monthly expenditures in 2023 is "other goods and services," at 6.2% compared to 2022, followed by:
► "Alcoholic beverages and tobacco" 5.6%
► "Furniture and ordinary maintenance of the dwelling" 5.1%
According to the structure of average monthly consumption expenditures, the main groups are:
► "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" with an average monthly expenditure of 36,349 lekë, accounting for 39.6% of the family budget. The sub-groups with the highest weight in food expenditures are:
• "Meat and meat products" 18.5%
• "Bread and cereals" 16.5%
• "Vegetables" 16.0%
"Expenditures for housing, water, electricity, and rent paid" with an average monthly value of 8,904 lekë, constituting 9.7% of the total budget.
"Restaurants and hotels" with an average monthly expenditure value of 6,755 lekë, accounting for 7.4% of the total budget.
In 2023, expenditures for the group "other goods and services" increased by 6.2%. This increase was primarily driven by higher spending on "personal hygiene," "aesthetic treatments," and "hairdressing and barber services." Consequently, the weight of this group in the average monthly expenditures of FEUs has increased.
Expenditures on "alcoholic beverages and tobacco" rose by 5.6% compared to 2022, mainly due to an increase in spending on "alcoholic beverages" by approximately 8%.
Expenditures on "furniture, household appliances, and dwelling maintenance" increased by 5.1% compared to the previous year. This increase was driven by higher spending on "periodic services" (cleaners, gardeners, etc.), "purchase of cooking appliances," and "various repairs in the household."
Average monthly consumption expenditures by region, 2023. In 2023, the family economic units of Tirana district spend the most on consumption, averaging 108,098 lekë per month.
Other districts with high monthly consumption expenditures are:
• Korça: 91,034 lekë
•Durrës: 89,561 lekë
Districts with the lowest average monthly consumption expenditures are:
•Kukës: 73,225 lekë
•Dibra: 74,479 lekë