How Many Months' Rent Should You Save Before Moving?

One of the most common questions we hear from new renters is: how much money should I have on hand before signing a lease? The short answer: more than you think. Let's break this down into concrete numbers for Tirana.

The golden rule: 3-4 months' rent

Real estate experts recommend that before you move, you should have saved the equivalent of 3 to 4 months' rent. This doesn't mean you'll spend it all at once, but you should be prepared for initial expenses and any unexpected costs.

If you're looking at an apartment with 400 € monthly rent, it means you should have at least 1,200-1,600 € saved. Let's see where this money goes.

First expenses: deposit and first month's rent

When signing a rental contract in Tirana, you'll typically pay:

• Deposit: 1 month's rent (400 € in our example) — returned at the end of the lease if there's no damage
• First month's rent: 400 € — paid in advance
• Zgjedhja Ime fee: 50% of the first month's rent (200 €) — one-time payment, no subscriptions

Total just to move into the home: 1,000 €. And this is just the beginning.

Moving and setup expenses

Many renters forget to budget for these costs, which can reach an additional 200-400 €:

• Furniture transport (if you have any): 50-150 €
• Deep cleaning of the new home: 30-50 €
• Electricity, water, internet — activation and deposits: 50-100 €
• Small missing items: curtains, cleaning supplies, extra keys: 50-100 €

If you're furnishing from scratch, add another 300-800 € for basic furniture (bed, table, chairs).

Emergency fund: the fourth month

Why keep an extra month's rent aside? Because life brings surprises:

• An appliance breaks and needs replacing
• First utility bills are higher than expected
• You need minor repairs not covered by the landlord
• Worst case: you lose your job and need time to recover

This fund isn't meant to be spent — it's your personal insurance. And if you don't need it, it becomes the start of savings for a bigger home in the future.

How to save faster

If the numbers seem high, here are some practical strategies:

• Start searching 3-4 months early: browse listings to understand prices in neighborhoods that interest you
• Reduce current expenses: save 100-150 € per month for 4-6 months
• Find a roommate: all expenses are split in half
• Choose more affordable neighbourhoods first: with us, Jordan Misja and Laprakë sit around a €225–230 list midpoint, against €300 for Astir

The biggest mistake: moving without reserve funds

Many renters use all their savings just to move in — and then live in stress every month. If an unexpected bill arrives, they have no solution.

Our advice: if you don't have 3 months' rent saved yet, wait a bit longer. It's better to stay an extra season with family or in your current home than to move and live with financial anxiety.

When you're ready to start searching, platforms like Zgjedhja Ime help you find the right home without hidden fees — you pay only once, when you move, not every month.

Moving into your first rental home is a big step. With proper financial planning, it can also be one of the most beautiful ones.