Cost of Living Comparison Between Baku and Zaqatala Cost of Living Comparison Between Baku and Zaqatala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $904 in Baku versus $365 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Baku versus $599 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,946 in Baku versus $833 in Zaqatala.

Living in Baku is roughly 148% more expensive than in Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baku 32% lower, Zaqatala 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.84 ₼15.02

$5.33 ₼9.05

65.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.67 ₼58.9

$20.68 ₼35.15

67.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 ₼12.97

$6.97 ₼11.84

9.47%

Cappuccino

$3.70 ₼6.29

$2.37 ₼4.03

56.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₼1.41

$0.56 ₼0.96

48.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₼0.79

$0.55 ₼0.94

-14.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₼2.95

$1.80 ₼3.06

-3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ₼5.07

$2.88 ₼4.89

3.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₼2.34

$0.98 ₼1.66

40.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 ₼0.87

$0.39 ₼0.67

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 ₼3.84

$2.19 ₼3.72

3.20%

Eggs

$1.35 ₼2.29

$1.37 ₼2.33

-1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.28 ₼8.96

$3.49 ₼5.93

51.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₼8.28

$2.40 ₼4.07

102.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 ₼17.56

$7.99 ₼13.58

29.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 ₼2.25

$0.73 ₼1.24

82.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₼3.06

$1.15 ₼1.96

56.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ₼2.49

$0.61 ₼1.04

140.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₼3.20

$0.74 ₼1.27

154.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₼1.31

$0.30 ₼0.52

156.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₼0.87

$0.40 ₼0.68

27.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ₼0.67

$0.91 ₼1.54

-57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₼1.11

$0.56 ₼0.95

16.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 ₼6.06

$1.80 ₼3.06

98.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.65 ₼14.69

$8.94 ₼15.20

-3.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₼2.26

$1.16 ₼1.98

14.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ₼4.72

$2.09 ₼3.56

33.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₼0.51

$0.20 ₼0.34

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.38 ₼29.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 ₼3.42

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₼0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₼5.91

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₼1.26

$0.61 ₼1.03

21.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.0K ₼34.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K ₼38.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.6 ₼105

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.90 ₼20.23

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.40 ₼26.17

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.36 ₼73.7

$33.16 ₼56.4

30.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.51 ₼38.25

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ₼10.12

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$253 ₼431

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,443 ₼10.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 ₼97.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 ₼92.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 ₼209

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ₼167

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₼807

$119 ₼202

298.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₼455

$80.9 ₼137

231.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 ₼1,628

$239 ₼407

299.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₼764

$146 ₼248

208.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,262 ₼3,845

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,272 ₼2,163

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$556 ₼944

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.87

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baku: July 13, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Baku and $119 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Baku vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $131 per month, with Zaqatala cheaper across the board.

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 Zaqatala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baku and Zaqatala differ by about 148% in total monthly costs ($904 vs $365 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,355 in Baku and $547 in Zaqatala to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Baku versus $119 in Zaqatala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $35.00 in Baku. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $904 per month in Baku versus $365 in Zaqatala – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $365 in Zaqatala versus $904 in Baku, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zaqatala but tight or insufficient in Baku. The gap between the two cities makes Zaqatala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Baku and Zaqatala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Baku. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.