Just two more days to go-or, as I used to tell my kids, two more sleeps, lol! I can't wait to be there and explore what Albania has to offer. I'm looking forward to meeting you, my friend. I'm glad you are feeling better, and as always, thank you for sharing your experience with us.
@@HopeBeyondBorders Hi guys! I booked an apartment in Durres. I'm leaving on the 31st and will be staying through January or possibly longer. I'm just trying to figure out how to pack. It looks to be rather cold right now, and I'm sure that Durres will be cold since it is on the coast. I will connect with Patrick and some other friends who still live in Tirana at some point. Maybe we might meet also!
Happy New Year! We love the repositioning cruises for getting back and forth from the US and Europe. Still hope to do some Pacific someday as well. We miss Tirana and you guys 😊.
Hello Patrick! I found your channel recently and I'm very glad I did. I've been looking for a country in the Balkans for some time to use as a place to stay "semi" long term if that makes sense. After my 3 month visit to Ukraine, I will be coming to Tirana for 2 weeks from late June to early July to explore the area for a place to live for 3-4 months, and maybe longer. I'm taking your advice to come so I can hopefully meet you as well as other ex-pats "face to face" for advice. And based on your advice, I'll be getting a lawyer and real estate agent for help and advice. I have spent the last three "summer/falls"(using most of my 90 visa)in Ukraine visiting a family I met on RUclips. It was during the pandemic when I was laid off and spent a lot of time on RUclips. I've stayed in the same studio apartment for 10-12 weeks on all three years. I'll be booking same apartment for the 4th time April-June 2025. The location in Kremenchuk is ideal. I'll be looking for a place to rent month to month. I'm single and my needs/wants are pretty simple---studio or 1 bedroom, kitchen with range/oven, microwave, frig, shower(not bathtub). I don't necessarily need a "view" although it'd be nice. Walking distance to center city. And hopefully for Euro500 max per month. So that said, I'll wish you, your wife and all your friends here on the channel and expats in Albania a Happy New Year! PS Should anyone want to ask about Ukraine, I'd be happy to offer my opinion if they want to visit.
I always smile when I see you have a new video. Re: Taxes. I wondered how the government got their money...consumption tax and tax on utilities make sense. I just told myself after you've been there a year you would let us know if you had to pay a yearly income or property tax. There is no pressing need for me to know...I'm just curious. Painting in the Spring makes sense. I hope you will do another walk-through of your place AFTER everything is done. I am also curious about the chair and couch you had built. but I would rather see them after all your changes. I hope you get to feeling better. Take care.
Thanks I will do a walk when done. Not trying to tease with this..I stay away from tax questions because i dont want to argue , because on line search is wrong. But i will give you this..When you sit down with your lawyer and ask about income or property tax...your jaw will hit the floor...in a good way. Thats as much i will get into that. Hope you are doing well my friend. Happy New years !
Congratulations on your condo! Something I'd love to see you cover on your channel is what rights - if any - renters have in Albania. Even with the low cost of living there, I cannot afford to buy. I'd have to rent. But I worry that it would be easy for a landlord to just toss people out without cause and there would be no recourse (particularly as a non-citizen). If you have any information on rights & responsibilities of renters there, it would be great to know.
Tough one. In the contract You can have it written if either side wants to break the lease, You must give a 60 day notice. Some have 30 day, you can ask for 60 which is given no problem. Protects them aswell. Also, who ever breaks the lease gives up the deposit the renter paid at the beginning of lease. Which is normally equal to 1 months rent.
@@patrickoverseas Thanks so much for your reply. I understand if you don't want to do a whole video on it...I'm just thinking seriously about moving to Albania and want to give it all due consideraion. Thanks for all the great info and sights you provide on your channel!
Yes, perfect way to go trans Atlantic. No jet lag, and a lot of fun. We got the cheapest room , a indoor stateroom. Because your really never in your room much anyways.
You have been both a great source of information, as well as an inspiration. Another option to cross the Atlantic is on the Queen Mary 2, run by Cunard. It's an ocean liner, so it handles stormy seas better than a cruise ship. And they allow pets. You're right about taxes. Online information often isn't up-to-date with the latest laws, and different sources can contradict each other. I have probably spent 10-20 hours researching taxes online, and I paid for a consultation with an Albanian tax person, and I still don't feel like I have all the answers. Different kinds of income are treated differently, and where any foreign income comes from can be a factor. Plus, as with many countries, there can be differences between what you are legally required to do, vs. what many people end up doing. Engage an expert, or two, or three.
We use repositioning cruises all the time to travel overseas. The next 15 months, we have 6 repo cruises booked to essentially travel around the world. Our month in Albania is in the middle of all the cruising.
@@patrickoverseasthanks for all your videos. I honestly believe I wouldn’t have booked our time in Albania, if I hadn’t found your channel. You’ve also inspired me to begin a channel to record our upcoming travel. As someone who has been traveling full time for 3 years, I wish I’d started it back then, but better late than never 😊
@@Thrivingat65 Yes ! I encourage people to do so. Let me know when you do so i can subscribe ! Also if i can say. Have fun with it ! You can do it! I really dont know how to edit. It doesnt matter. Hope you do.
I hope you weren’t using me as an example! We are coming in April. It will be our first visit. If we love it, and I suspect we will, we have a couple of ideas for moving but those will be modified according to what we find. Thanks for another informative video. Since our plan is to visit as much of the country as possible I think we would need a car. I found some information about driving but it’s probably like all the other internet “information” that turns out to be different in the real world.
Hi blue ! No sir ! You are not a example. It was peeps from another youtuber Bombing him over and over with questions on email. Nobody from my channel. Ive never rented a car here. But i went to 2 rental places because peeps asked me too. i did a vidoe on it way back. Should be in my playlist.
Patrick I was off line for a while and did not know you were ill happy to see you have gotten over your illness and is doing better god is great. Hoping to come your side one day would love to meet y’all thanks to all the information that you are sharing to all of us. Y’all keep well
ok Dave! Its next to nothing now that i have no rent. But i will. My biggest cost now is $300 a month for us both in health insurance. Other then us spending on things for our place. New furniture, mattress topper, Painting soon. I know that stuff doesnt count as cost of living. Let me get a nother month of utility payments and i will. This month and next should be the highest for electricity. with our heater.
@@patrickoverseas Sorry to hear that. I've come off TRT only one time and it was not a fun time at all. I usually keep a few bottles stocked up in my medical kit just in case there is a shortage.
Hi Patrik, ineresting video. Now that you have been in Albania for a while and got to know about their liife, could you do a video about salaries? How much do Albanians earn? Lawers, elementary school teachers, doctors and nurses, waiters, construction workers? Once in Spain I said to a Spanish girl that prices were so cheap there and she really got angry because it was not cheap at all for them. I don' t want to insult an Albanian when I come there.
Doctors are top earners here then lawyers, nurses, construction workers waiters Doctors 1000 -5000 Euros per month Lawyers 1000-3000 euros per month Elementary school teachers 300-500 euros per month Construction workers 500-700 euros per month I hope this gives you an idea Generally the private sector pays more than state sector
As for each job...lawyers, teachers, ext. i couldn't tell you. But im told by Albanians they average $400- $600 a month. Thats why so many of the young adults have moved outside of Albania to move a living.
@@patrickoverseas this puzzels me. This is a country that has gone through a rough past not so long ago and they are someway patriotic. Their salaries are low acording to European standards, still they are able to provide healthcare, public transportation and keep the food prices afortable. And their cafe culture isn't directed by greed, almost everybody can afford a cup of traditional coffee and invite a friend. You Patrik are very humble and show respect to your new country. I just wish this country doesn't loose itself to western hard core capitalism where the weak ones are left behind.
@@ag5688 are you Albanian? I heard there is a lot of corruption and that is one reason why the road structure is like it is, not that much roads built since the fall of communism but so many people can afford their own car. That does not make sense to me.
@@pellesvansl yes, there is corruption but things have improved with the creation of SPAK modelling your FBI. In recent years they have began to prosecute corrupted individuals such as a former president and prime minister and various high profile ministers.. things have improved but there is a still long way to go corruption is world wide phenomenon each country has a different level of corruption problem.. There has been lots of roads build since communism actually just not to the standards that these companies were paid to build them.. these companies used cut corners in order to make profit but recently the government has implemented the Certification commission each public construction has to now be audited and certified to specification before the company gets paid but again long way to go. People love their cars in Albania, you have to understand that even though there are low wages, 90% of people own their houses outright in Albania and the mortgage phenomenon is only recently expanded and taxes are low and not enforced as strictly as in other more capitalist societies so if you have a good business you will have more flexibility in reporting tax.. so overall you make more money in the US at least on paper but once you pay all the tax and living expenses how munch will you be saving.. then is the quality of life question stress is much higher in the US because you will be left homeless if you can’t pay you mortgage in Albania there is less stress in this respect also considering that basic healthcare is free at the point of need But living in Albania you will have to compromise on certain qualities of services unfortunately there are pros and cons in every country so is down the individual to decide what’s acceptable to them
its because if im asked about it here from someone new ,or thru my email. i must explain why i dont. If someone asks again next week or next month i will say why i cant again. But if that bothers you i understand..take care. Have a good life. Bye !
Just two more days to go-or, as I used to tell my kids, two more sleeps, lol! I can't wait to be there and explore what Albania has to offer. I'm looking forward to meeting you, my friend. I'm glad you are feeling better, and as always, thank you for sharing your experience with us.
@anthony Where are you going to be staying? We have 10 days before we leave.
New years day. Great way to start the new years with a adventure!
@@HopeBeyondBorders Hi guys! I booked an apartment in Durres. I'm leaving on the 31st and will be staying through January or possibly longer. I'm just trying to figure out how to pack. It looks to be rather cold right now, and I'm sure that Durres will be cold since it is on the coast. I will connect with Patrick and some other friends who still live in Tirana at some point. Maybe we might meet also!
Thank you Patrick for your updates👍👏👏 Wish you happy 2025 🎉🎉
Hi Elizabeth ! Hope you are well. Happy new year !
Happy New Year! We love the repositioning cruises for getting back and forth from the US and Europe. Still hope to do some Pacific someday as well. We miss Tirana and you guys 😊.
Hi ! We miss you too. Safe travels, and happy new years !
My wife and I are coming for a scouting trip next week. Your videos have been very helpful
Excellent. Smart to check it out first !
Hello Patrick! I found your channel recently and I'm very glad I did. I've been looking for a country in the Balkans for some time to use as a place to stay "semi" long term if that makes sense.
After my 3 month visit to Ukraine, I will be coming to Tirana for 2 weeks from late June to early July to explore the area for a place to live for 3-4 months, and maybe longer. I'm taking your advice to come so I can hopefully meet you as well as other ex-pats "face to face" for advice. And based on your advice, I'll be getting a lawyer and real estate agent for help and advice.
I have spent the last three "summer/falls"(using most of my 90 visa)in Ukraine visiting a family I met on RUclips. It was during the pandemic when I was laid off and spent a lot of time on RUclips. I've stayed in the same studio apartment for 10-12 weeks on all three years. I'll be booking same apartment for the 4th time April-June 2025. The location in Kremenchuk is ideal.
I'll be looking for a place to rent month to month. I'm single and my needs/wants are pretty simple---studio or 1 bedroom, kitchen with range/oven, microwave, frig, shower(not bathtub). I don't necessarily need a "view" although it'd be nice. Walking distance to center city. And hopefully for Euro500 max per month. So that said, I'll wish you, your wife and all your friends here on the channel and expats in Albania a Happy New Year!
PS Should anyone want to ask about Ukraine, I'd be happy to offer my opinion if they want to visit.
Hello Pete. One of the beauties here in albania is a american can stay 1 year visa free. I think you will enjoy your time here.
I always smile when I see you have a new video. Re: Taxes. I wondered how the government got their money...consumption tax and tax on utilities make sense. I just told myself after you've been there a year you would let us know if you had to pay a yearly income or property tax. There is no pressing need for me to know...I'm just curious.
Painting in the Spring makes sense. I hope you will do another walk-through of your place AFTER everything is done. I am also curious about the chair and couch you had built. but I would rather see them after all your changes. I hope you get to feeling better. Take care.
Thanks I will do a walk when done. Not trying to tease with this..I stay away from tax questions because i dont want to argue , because on line search is wrong. But i will give you this..When you sit down with your lawyer and ask about income or property tax...your jaw will hit the floor...in a good way. Thats as much i will get into that. Hope you are doing well my friend. Happy New years !
Good to see you are doing better Patrick. Stay healthy and Happy Sunday!
Hi Tony! yea im doing better. Good to hear from you buddy !
I do not blame him at all. He has to make a living. I’m glad you are feeling better. Thank you for the information. Happy New Year to you and April. 🥂
Happy new years!
Good morning Sir.
Good morning to you sir ! Hope you are well
Thanks for the info on repositioning cruise...never heard of it before...
yea they do it spring and fall. Was great way to get over to Europe. Beats flight in economy hands down.
Congratulations on your condo! Something I'd love to see you cover on your channel is what rights - if any - renters have in Albania. Even with the low cost of living there, I cannot afford to buy. I'd have to rent. But I worry that it would be easy for a landlord to just toss people out without cause and there would be no recourse (particularly as a non-citizen). If you have any information on rights & responsibilities of renters there, it would be great to know.
Tough one. In the contract You can have it written if either side wants to break the lease, You must give a 60 day notice. Some have 30 day, you can ask for 60 which is given no problem. Protects them aswell. Also, who ever breaks the lease gives up the deposit the renter paid at the beginning of lease. Which is normally equal to 1 months rent.
@@patrickoverseas Thanks so much for your reply. I understand if you don't want to do a whole video on it...I'm just thinking seriously about moving to Albania and want to give it all due consideraion. Thanks for all the great info and sights you provide on your channel!
Amazing.
Juju...I love that name ! Thank you for being here
Thanks for the info, I've never heard of repositioning cruises before!
Yes, perfect way to go trans Atlantic. No jet lag, and a lot of fun. We got the cheapest room , a indoor stateroom. Because your really never in your room much anyways.
You have been both a great source of information, as well as an inspiration.
Another option to cross the Atlantic is on the Queen Mary 2, run by Cunard. It's an ocean liner, so it handles stormy seas better than a cruise ship. And they allow pets.
You're right about taxes. Online information often isn't up-to-date with the latest laws, and different sources can contradict each other. I have probably spent 10-20 hours researching taxes online, and I paid for a consultation with an Albanian tax person, and I still don't feel like I have all the answers. Different kinds of income are treated differently, and where any foreign income comes from can be a factor. Plus, as with many countries, there can be differences between what you are legally required to do, vs. what many people end up doing. Engage an expert, or two, or three.
Hi Kevin. Very true sir.
We use repositioning cruises all the time to travel overseas. The next 15 months, we have 6 repo cruises booked to essentially travel around the world. Our month in Albania is in the middle of all the cruising.
Im jealous ! Your going to see the world ! Safe travels !
@@patrickoverseasthanks for all your videos. I honestly believe I wouldn’t have booked our time in Albania, if I hadn’t found your channel. You’ve also inspired me to begin a channel to record our upcoming travel. As someone who has been traveling full time for 3 years, I wish I’d started it back then, but better late than never 😊
@@Thrivingat65 Yes ! I encourage people to do so. Let me know when you do so i can subscribe ! Also if i can say. Have fun with it ! You can do it! I really dont know how to edit. It doesnt matter. Hope you do.
@@patrickoverseas I started the channel in Oct. I edit on my phone, and use the cap cut app.
@@Thrivingat65 good for you ! love it.
I hope you weren’t using me as an example! We are coming in April. It will be our first visit. If we love it, and I suspect we will, we have a couple of ideas for moving but those will be modified according to what we find. Thanks for another informative video. Since our plan is to visit as much of the country as possible I think we would need a car. I found some information about driving but it’s probably like all the other internet “information” that turns out to be different in the real world.
Hi blue ! No sir ! You are not a example. It was peeps from another youtuber Bombing him over and over with questions on email. Nobody from my channel. Ive never rented a car here. But i went to 2 rental places because peeps asked me too. i did a vidoe on it way back. Should be in my playlist.
Patrick I was off line for a while and did not know you were ill happy to see you have gotten over your illness and is doing better god is great. Hoping to come your side one day would love to meet y’all thanks to all the information that you are sharing to all of us. Y’all keep well
Hi and thank you. Still got a cough. But doing better.
Hello from Tyler Texas! Albania is on the short list. How's the steak out there? Any good BBQ?
Beef is expensive to come by in comparison to other food. Ive had a tough time finding a steak house. I have found a few. Your gonna pay for it,
Can you do another 30 day cost of living in you current location? Its interesting how far you have come in just a year.
ok Dave! Its next to nothing now that i have no rent. But i will. My biggest cost now is $300 a month for us both in health insurance. Other then us spending on things for our place. New furniture, mattress topper, Painting soon. I know that stuff doesnt count as cost of living. Let me get a nother month of utility payments and i will. This month and next should be the highest for electricity. with our heater.
Did you eventually find a source for TRT there?
No sir. Im hoping to ask a doctor once i do my physical in February. I feel ya, believe me.
@@patrickoverseas Sorry to hear that. I've come off TRT only one time and it was not a fun time at all. I usually keep a few bottles stocked up in my medical kit just in case there is a shortage.
Yea. I have to wait for physical. Ive been so busy but i will in Feb. I will say in a video about the checkup and trt
Hi Patrik, ineresting video. Now that you have been in Albania for a while and got to know about their liife, could you do a video about salaries? How much do Albanians earn? Lawers, elementary school teachers, doctors and nurses, waiters, construction workers? Once in Spain I said to a Spanish girl that prices were so cheap there and she really got angry because it was not cheap at all for them. I don' t want to insult an Albanian when I come there.
Doctors are top earners here then lawyers, nurses, construction workers waiters
Doctors 1000 -5000 Euros per month
Lawyers 1000-3000 euros per month
Elementary school teachers 300-500 euros per month
Construction workers 500-700 euros per month
I hope this gives you an idea
Generally the private sector pays more than state sector
As for each job...lawyers, teachers, ext. i couldn't tell you. But im told by Albanians they average $400- $600 a month. Thats why so many of the young adults have moved outside of Albania to move a living.
@@patrickoverseas this puzzels me. This is a country that has gone through a rough past not so long ago and they are someway patriotic. Their salaries are low acording to European standards, still they are able to provide healthcare, public transportation and keep the food prices afortable. And their cafe culture isn't directed by greed, almost everybody can afford a cup of traditional coffee and invite a friend. You Patrik are very humble and show respect to your new country. I just wish this country doesn't loose itself to western hard core capitalism where the weak ones are left behind.
@@ag5688 are you Albanian? I heard there is a lot of corruption and that is one reason why the road structure is like it is, not that much roads built since the fall of communism but so many people can afford their own car. That does not make sense to me.
@@pellesvansl yes, there is corruption but things have improved with the creation of SPAK modelling your FBI. In recent years they have began to prosecute corrupted individuals such as a former president and prime minister and various high profile ministers.. things have improved but there is a still long way to go corruption is world wide phenomenon each country has a different level of corruption problem..
There has been lots of roads build since communism actually just not to the standards that these companies were paid to build them.. these companies used cut corners in order to make profit but recently the government has implemented the Certification commission each public construction has to now be audited and certified to specification before the company gets paid but again long way to go.
People love their cars in Albania, you have to understand that even though there are low wages, 90% of people own their houses outright in Albania and the mortgage phenomenon is only recently expanded and taxes are low and not enforced as strictly as in other more capitalist societies so if you have a good business you will have more flexibility in reporting tax.. so overall you make more money in the US at least on paper but once you pay all the tax and living expenses how munch will you be saving.. then is the quality of life question stress is much higher in the US because you will be left homeless if you can’t pay you mortgage in Albania there is less stress in this respect also considering that basic healthcare is free at the point of need
But living in Albania you will have to compromise on certain qualities of services unfortunately there are pros and cons in every country so is down the individual to decide what’s acceptable to them
If you are not going to explain something, don't bring it up. Tired of that, bye.
its because if im asked about it here from someone new ,or thru my email. i must explain why i dont. If someone asks again next week or next month i will say why i cant again. But if that bothers you i understand..take care. Have a good life. Bye !