Pristina cheapest city in Europe, Switzerland most expensive state

However, Albania's capital is no longer free in the region. Pristina “has kidnapped” first place as Europe's freest city.

While among the post-Pristina regional countries ranks Skopje, in 168th place, while Tirana is third.

By a narrow margin from each other are Sarajevo (148) and Belgrade (147), while Podgorica is the most expensive capital of the six Western Balkan countries, according to Numbeos, ranking 143th.

To determine the cost of living, Numbeo is based on 5 other indexes, such as the rent index, the living cost index plus rent, the base basket index, the restaurant index, the locals' purchasing power index.

As for the lease index, Tirana is more expensive than Sarajevo, which in the overall ranking is more expensive than Albania's capital.

But Tirana ranks with the lowest index in the region in terms of local purchasing powers. Although Tirana is free for foreigners coming to live in Albania, it is very expensive for locals. The locals' purchasing power index is 33.8 in Tirana, about 38.01 in Belgrade, 40 in Skopje, 48 in Podgorica and 65.9 in Pristina, writes the Monitor.

The purchase power index 33 in Tirana means locals can buy about 70% less than average-paid New Yorkers. In this Numbeo ranking for living costs has been taken as reference to the costs of living in New York (100) and indicators compared to this city, albinfo.ch conveys.

Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe. Six European cities dominate Numbeo's list of life costs index 2019. Then countries of northern Europe, such as Norway and Iceland, rank. France's capital ranks 14th, while London ranks 16th.