Queenstown vs Durrës District Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Queenstown leads on CPI (20.6 vs 21.7, NYC=100), Queenstown leads on rent index, and Queenstown leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Queenstown
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Internet (563% gap, Queenstown ahead); Utilities (479% gap, Queenstown ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $40 lower in Queenstown than in Durrës District (~18% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $40 (favoring Queenstown).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Queenstown | CPI 20.6 vs 21.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Queenstown | Rent index 5.5 vs 6.4 (lower is better) |
| Food | Queenstown | Groceries index 25 vs 27.4 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Queenstown | One-way ticket 6.81 vs 32.28 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Queenstown | Utilities (85m²) 203.5 vs 1177.6 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Queenstown | Internet 376.85 vs 2498.72 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Durrës District | Restaurant index 16.8 vs 18 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Durrës District | Avg net salary 126058.4 vs 30739.6 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Queenstown | PP index 26.8 vs 22.1 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Internet: Queenstown leads with a 563% gap.
Internet 376.85 vs 2498.72 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Queenstown — Lower housing / rent index (16% gap).
- Families: Queenstown — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Queenstown; purchasing power favors Queenstown.
- Remote Workers: Queenstown — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Queenstown (~5% gap).
- Budget Living: Queenstown — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Queenstown is the overall cost winner on CPI (~5% lower everyday-cost index than Durrës District).
- Housing: Queenstown leads on rent index (16% gap).
- Food / groceries: Queenstown is lower (10% gap).
- Purchasing power: Queenstown scores higher (18% gap).
- Largest category gap: Internet (563%), favoring Queenstown.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$40 cheaper in Queenstown.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 20.6/21.7, rent 5.5/6.4, purchasing power 26.8/22.1. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-23
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.