How Much Does It Cost to Live In Baku?
Baku is the largest city in Azerbaijan and thus very attractive to tourists and foreigners who want to settle there.
Being the center of commerce and culture, it is considered expensive, but once you get there, you find out that its citizens are not so wealthy and the prices are based on their salaries, thus not so high, especially for the standard of people coming from developed countries.
If you are ready to live in Baku, you should get familiar with the expenses that you will need to pay there.
Azerbaijan : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
When the prices of a good menu in a restaurant are in question, they vary greatly from restaurant to restaurant, due to the type of restaurant you choose.
However, the decent meal in an inexpensive restaurant can cost you only $6 per person.
Beer is also very affordable in Baku which is not the case in other countries.
MARKETS
Food is quite affordable in Baku, and there are local markets where you can find cheaper products.
Your monthly spending on food can be even lower if you buy groceries at discounted prices.
Baku has very low prices of milk and bread.
TRANSPORTATION
As in whole Azerbaijan, the price of gasoline is low in Baku either, so whether you drive your own vehicle or use the public transport system, you will find it very affordable.
If you want to use a taxi, the price will depend on the length of your drive and they are reasonable, too.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
If you want to get a decent heat and water supply, you will need to pay for the utilities .
All together they can cost you up to $60 and that is really a bargain compared to the prices in other countries.
But, the local factory workers would find it a bargain at all.
SPORTS & LEISURE
In relation to some other countries, all related to entertainment and sports has pretty affordable prices, especially cinema tickets that are less than $5
However, the gym lovers might not be too satisfied to separate more than $30 for it, especially if they get $60 for their monthly work.
CLOTHING & SHOES
It is advisable to pay attention to the prices when buying clothes in Baku.
Clothing items vary too much in prices and quality and they are not inexpensive according to the standard of living.
You will need more than $80 for a pair of running shoes.
RENT PER MONTH
The apartment rent is one of the most important expenses that awaits you even before the exact coming to Baku.
You will need to come well prepared and with the accommodation settled.
How much you will pay depends on the size of the apartment, whether you want a furnished or unfurnished one and its location.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Baku
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $6.46 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $0.88 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.22 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.88 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.29 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.23 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.18 |
| Monthly Pass | $8.81 |
| Gasoline | $0.54 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $40.41 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.04 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $14.08 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $33.09 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $11.99 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.11 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $40.29 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $41.75 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $83.15 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $297.21 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $159.40 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $624.08 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Baku?
Foreigners moving to Baku should remember that the most of their spending would be on food.
Another very expensive thing in Baku is definitely the rent, especially in the city center.
Taking into consideration the fact that Baku has a wide public transportation network which is more than affordable, not much money is spent on buses, trams and metro.
People from Baku like to dine out, so more then 16% of the monthly salary is spent in their famous restaurants.
The least money is given for utilities and clothes.
Average Costs Breakdown
Baku: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Baku is an extremely interesting and attractive city, due to the numerous historical buildings can be found there.
Its cultural history attracts people to come there, but its low standard of living is even more attractive to foreigners who earn their salaries abroad.
Minimum wage is so low that it dictated many of the prices in the city.
However, there are things that people who earn $60 per month cannot imagine to afford.
Even the average monthly net salary is not enough to cover all the expenses.
Baku Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Baku Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
