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The basic products needed during a baby’s first year are estimated to cost around €5,532 in Albania, equivalent to approximately 66% of the average annual salary.
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By this measure, Albania ranks second in Europe, behind Moldova, where the same expenses account for 88.8% of the average annual wage. The average across the 36 countries included in the affordability comparison is just 20.9%.
In nominal terms, Albania also ranks among the more expensive countries. Its estimated €5,532 cost places it ninth among 38 European countries analyzed.
Spain has the highest estimated cost at €6,294, followed by the Netherlands (€6,140), Finland (€6,066), Sweden (€6,025) and Switzerland (€6,018). The UK has the lowest cost at €2,813.
The Albanian figure is particularly significant because countries with higher nominal costs generally have much higher average salaries. In Switzerland, for example, basic baby products account for about 8% of the average annual wage, compared with 66% in Albania. In the Netherlands, the figure is 9.4%.
The Remitly calculation, based on prices from July 2026, covers 14 basic products across six categories: diapers and wipes, feeding bottles, infant formula, sleeping equipment, transportation such as a stroller and car seat, and clothing.
Across the 38 countries, clothing, infant formula and diapers represent the largest expenses, together accounting for around 81% of the total first-year cost.
The study also notes that affordability depends on factors beyond average wages, including whether both parents work, taxation and family benefits. The analysis does not include childcare costs, which can add significantly to the financial burden on families.
For Albanian families, however, the comparison highlights the gap between the cost of essential baby products and average earnings, making the first year of a child’s life a particularly significant financial expense.