According to Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, Tirana ranks last (74th) among European capitals, surpassing only the Russian city of Novosibirsk in the overall list of 75 cities in Europe. The Albanian capital received an overall score of 98.5 points (the lower, the worse), indicating a low quality of life.
The most negative factor affecting the quality of life in Tirana is the high pollution, which is the second worst in Europe after Novosibirsk. Also, the high real estate prices in relation to incomes rank Tirana as the 13th most expensive city in Europe in this area. To buy an apartment in Tirana, someone has to work for 15.7 years, a number comparatively higher than many other European cities.
Healthcare in Tirana also ranks low, citing problems such as slow testing speeds and outdated equipment. In terms of traffic, the city ranks 11th among cities with the most time spent in traffic.
In terms of safety, Tirana is in the middle of the list, in 47th place, while the cost of living is relatively low, placing the city in the second cheapest after Odessa, Ukraine.
At the top of the quality of life list is The Hague, with high scores in areas such as climate, healthcare and safety. Other European cities that stand out for their quality of life include Luxembourg, Eindhoven, Zurich and Copenhagen.
Numbeo's results are based on several variables, including purchasing power, pollution levels, housing affordability, cost of living, safety, healthcare quality, travel time and climate conditions, as well as survey responses that capture the real-life experiences of those living in each city.
