For one person, living is cheaper in Quba: $559 a month against $996 in Baku, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baku and in Quba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Baku versus $559 in Quba.
Baku $996
Quba $559
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Baku versus $891 in Quba.
Baku $1,551
Quba $891
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,107 in Baku versus $1,223 in Quba.
Baku $2,107
Quba $1,223
🌍
Living in Baku is roughly 78% more expensive than in Quba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Baku26% lower, Quba59% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Baku
Quba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.84₼15.02
$8.30₼14.10
6.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.43₼67.0
$28.88₼49.08
36.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.26₼14.04
$5.81₼9.88
42.17%
Cappuccino
$3.50₼5.95
$1.19₼2.02
194.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12₼1.91
$0.49₼0.83
128.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₼0.97
$0.30₼0.51
90.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72₼2.93
$1.22₼2.06
40.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98₼5.06
$2.32₼3.94
28.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baku
Quba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49₼2.54
$1.35₼2.30
10.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49₼0.84
$0.35₼0.60
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48₼4.21
$1.20₼2.04
106.67%
Eggs
$1.99₼3.38
$1.12₼1.91
77.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.16₼8.77
$1.78₼3.02
189.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.17₼8.79
$2.87₼4.88
80.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.85₼20.15
$8.85₼15.03
33.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34₼2.28
$0.67₼1.15
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90₼3.22
$1.27₼2.16
49.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58₼2.68
$1.38₼2.34
14.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84₼3.13
$1.02₼1.73
80.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74₼1.25
$0.65₼1.11
13.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61₼1.03
$0.49₼0.83
24.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73₼1.24
$0.46₼0.78
58.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₼1.32
$0.58₼0.99
34.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₼5.05
$3.48₼5.91
-14.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.59₼14.59
$5.33₼9.06
61.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53₼2.60
$0.86₼1.46
77.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82₼4.79
$1.93₼3.28
46.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Baku
Quba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₼0.62
$0.25₼0.42
44.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.86₼35.44
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12₼3.60
$1.17₼1.98
81.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58₼0.99
$0.28₼0.47
107.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.64₼6.18
$2.90₼4.93
25.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64₼1.09
$0.67₼1.14
-4.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K₼39.6K
$26.9K₼45.7K
-13.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K₼37.5K
$26.5K₼45.0K
-16.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baku
Quba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.7₼115
$33.69₼57.3
100.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.11₼18.88
$12.50₼21.24
-11.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.09₼25.65
$14.93₼25.38
1.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baku
Quba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.83₼81.3
$38.26₼65.0
25.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.66₼28.32
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.74₼9.76
$4.07₼6.92
41.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baku
Quba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334₼568
$276₼470
20.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,829₼11.6K
$16.6K₼28.2K
-58.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baku
Quba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7₼112
$17.81₼30.26
268.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2₼93.7
$29.16₼49.56
89.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124₼211
$126₼214
-1.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115₼195
$35.39₼60.2
224.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baku
Quba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547₼930
$175₼297
213.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301₼511
$117₼199
156.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$974₼1,655
$269₼457
261.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$488₼830
$176₼300
176.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,177₼3,699
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,315₼2,235
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baku
Quba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$548₼932
$205₼348
167.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
20
-52.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baku: October 19, 2026
Last update for Quba: October 17, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Baku
$301 30.2%
Quba
$117 21% ↓ 61%$183
🛒Groceries & Markets
Baku
$194 19.5%
Quba
$125 22.3% ↓ 35.8%$70
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Baku
$162 16.2%
Quba
$94 16.8% ↓ 42.1%$68
🍽Eating Out
Baku
$159 16%
Quba
$112 20% ↓ 29.5%$47
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baku
$94 9.4%
Quba
$61 10.9% ↓ 34.9%$33
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Baku
$59 6%
Quba
$46 8.3% ↓ 21.8%$13
🚌Getting Around
Baku
$27 2.7%
Quba
$3.6 * 0.6% ↓ 87%$24
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Baku
$488 23.2%
Quba
$176 14.4% ↓ 63.9%$312
🛒Groceries & Markets
Baku
$446 21.2%
Quba
$289 23.7% ↓ 35.1%$157
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Baku
$359 17.1%
Quba
$208 17% ↓ 42.1%$151
🍽Eating Out
Baku
$517 24.6%
Quba
$375 30.7% ↓ 27.5%$142
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baku
$105 5%
Quba
$74 6% ↓ 29.9%$31
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Baku
$135 6.4%
Quba
$93 * 7.6% ↓ 31.4%$42
🚌Getting Around
Baku
$55 2.6%
Quba
$7.6 * 0.6% ↓ 86.3%$48
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Baku and $175 in Quba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baku pays 168% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Baku vs $29.00 in Quba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $125 per month, with Quba cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Baku vs Quba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Baku and in Quba?
Baku and Quba differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($996 vs $559 including rent). Quba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Baku or Quba?
Average pay runs 168% higher in Baku, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Baku and in Quba?
Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Baku versus $175 in Quba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Baku. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Baku or Quba?
All in, you'll spend $996 per month in Baku versus $559 in Quba – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $559 in Quba versus $996 in Baku, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quba but tight or insufficient in Baku. The gap between the two cities makes Quba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Baku and Quba?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Baku or Quba safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Baku and Quba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Baku or Quba?
Expats usually find Quba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Baku. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.