Albania, a European coastal country still little known to many foreigners, is gaining attention as one of the most affordable destinations to spend retirement years, according to Travel + Leisure.

The cost of living in the U.S. has gone up an astonishing 25 percent since 2020. But even as everyday expenses have increased in many places around the globe, there are still countries where life can be more affordable.

In January, International Living released its list of the 14 best places to retire across the world for under $1,200 a month. The website notes that this amount covers everything from “rent, food, transportation, and even entertainment, while still leaving room for comfort and community.” And while the list features several places in Southeast Asia and Latin America, one European nation stands out: Albania, known for some of the most stunning beaches in the world.

Norm Bour, a global contributor for International Living who lives in the coastal Balkan country, explained that a couple can live on a $1,200 monthly budget as long as they live outside the capital, Tirana, which remains the most expensive city in Albania.

Bour noted that real estate values vary widely from one place to another, but retirees can still find affordable housing in smaller cities and towns dotting both the coast and the countryside. “If you’re willing to share a larger home with access to a kitchen and a private bath, you can do that for just a few hundred dollars a month,” Bour stated.

For those looking to live on their own, rent can still be affordable. A couple rented a one-bedroom apartment in the gorgeous beach town of Vlore for $350 a month. Their utilities, Bour added, “were about $75, and they generally spent about $20 a day on food, often eating out. Between rent and food, they stayed well under $1,200 a month.”

And they are not alone. International Living reported that other expats in the beach community of Saranda, along the Ionian sea, pay between $350 and $450 in monthly rent.

“You can live in Albania for $1,200 a month, but to increase your odds, you should follow a few guidelines: live like a local, eat like a local, and seek longer-term rentals,” Bour added.

Albania isn’t the only place where this lifestyle is still possible. International Living also shared that Bali, Indonesia, along with Bulgaria, Cambodia, Colombia, El Salvador, Latvia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, can all fit the bill.