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Life in Kosovo
Kosovo is an exciting location for teachers to relocate and take on a new opportunity due to its extremely cheap cost of living, picturesque surroundings, and friendly people. The school is based in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo.
Kosovo is a small democratic, multi-ethnic and secular state, located in Southeast Europe. The country is continuously rebuilding itself so as to become one of Europe's contributors in the near future.
Kosovo welcomes with open arms expatriates who are looking forward to work or study here.
The People
If you google ‘Kosovo’ every single site will mention how welcoming everyone is there. This is one of the most attractive characteristics of the country. People often say it is the place they’ve felt most welcomed in the world. The locals are known for their kindness and helpfulness. People greet each other respectfully and ask how you are doing.
Most people living in Kosovo have a religious background. 88% of them are Muslim, with the next highest percentage (5%) being Catholic. Although this is a high figure, the majority practice their faith in a mild form and the different religions mix well. Again, this is down to the relaxed and positive nature of the people that live there.
The Landscape
Kosovo’s borders are surrounded by beautiful mountains and extremely picturesque high terrains with waterfalls, which you can climb and explore. Two major plains lie in the East and West of the country, with forests covering 39% of the region. The climate can be described as continental with warm summers and cold winters, allowing you to truly experience the benefits of each season.
Travel Opportunities
If you’re looking for a country with cheap travel opportunities in all directions, then Kosovo is your destination. The benefits of it being a landlocked country means incredible locations such as Greece, Croatia, Romania, Albania and Montenegro are within driving distance. Other locations with only a little longer travelling include Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Italy.
Getting around Kosovo itself is amazingly easy with many reliable and trustworthy taxi companies located throughout the country and not just in the capital. Taxi prices are extremely cheap compared to other European cities. You can go anywhere in Pristina, the capital for as little as 3 euros.
Driving in the country yourself is very easy and safe. Similar to their personalities, drivers in Kosovo are very flexible. Kosovars drive with no complaints or honking and treat other drivers with respect. It is also extremely easy and safe to walk around Kosovo with some commutes just being a 5 minute walk to work.
In terms of tourism, Kosovo has many nature parks, statues, religious heritage, and traditional centres.
Food
Another huge characteristic Kosovo is known for, is its cheap but delicious cuisine, and you can find good food across the country. Pristina, the capital, can offer a mixture of both local and international cuisine, to suit all tastebuds.
For cooking at home, Kosovo is home to high quality butchers and green markets where you can get fresh produce. Locals recommend going to each of these separately to buy your produce rather than a local supermarket as the quality is exceptional for the same price. It is said 20 euros would be enough to feed a couple for a week.
The best bit about restaurants in Kosovo is that you can have a very good meal for as little as 8 euros, and you probably won’t ever spend more than 20 euros on a full meal with drinks.
Lifestyle
Kosovo has the youngest population in the whole of Europe, which means there is plenty cafes and bars to socialise, especially in the city. 70% of its population is under 35, which allows Kosovo to be a dynamic, fashionable and entrepreneurial culture of businesses, bars, cafes and trendy restaurants. Night life doesn’t just mean traditional clubs, Kosovo also offers sophisticated lounge bars, jazz studios and rock bars. A fun night out is said to cost no more than 15-20 euros.
https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/kosovo/
Visa
The following PDF contains the preliminary information on requirements to obtain a visa in Kosovo.
“Natural persons, who are not citizens of Kosovo, when willing to work in Kosovo for a timeframe of more than three (3) months, shall be granted a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.”
PDF on Visa information: https://www.pwc.com/ks/en/publications/assets/coming-to-work.pdf
Shops and Pricing
You can save a large amount of money living in Kosovo. The cost of living is extremely low (Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is ranked 517th cheapest out of 571 cities in the world), offering you the opportunity to save despite the inevitable modest salary that employers can pay. A single person monthly cost is £288 on average (without rent). The cost of living index for Pristina is 28.70, 59.42% lower than in Bristol in UK, and the rent is 74.62% cheaper than in Bristol, on average.
For more information on the cost of living in Pristina: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Pristina
Here is a selection of cost examples for various items in Kosovo from https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/kosovo.
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