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: $901 in Baku versus $366 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,440 in Baku versus $592 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,979 in Baku versus $819 in Zaqatala.

Living in Baku is roughly 146% more expensive than Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baku 33% lower, Zaqatala 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.84 ₼15.03

$5.43 ₼9.24

62.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.60 ₼58.8

$20.33 ₼34.55

70.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.73 ₼13.13

$6.96 ₼11.83

11.06%

Cappuccino

$3.66 ₼6.22

$2.28 ₼3.88

60.53%

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

$0.79 ₼1.34

$0.62 ₼1.05

27.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₼0.75

$0.52 ₼0.88

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₼3.04

$1.81 ₼3.07

-1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₼4.93

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₼2.33

$1.03 ₼1.74

33.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 ₼0.80

$0.40 ₼0.67

17.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 ₼4.03

$2.21 ₼3.76

7.24%

Eggs

$1.36 ₼2.30

$1.42 ₼2.41

-4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 ₼8.90

$3.59 ₼6.09

45.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 ₼8.26

$2.40 ₼4.09

102.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 ₼17.65

$8.18 ₼13.91

27.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₼2.20

$0.73 ₼1.23

78.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₼3.09

$1.15 ₼1.95

58.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 ₼2.48

$0.57 ₼0.97

156.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 ₼3.08

$0.74 ₼1.26

144.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ₼1.32

$0.28 ₼0.47

178.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ₼0.82

$0.41 ₼0.69

17.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ₼0.67

$0.97 ₼1.64

-59.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₼1.11

$0.62 ₼1.05

4.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ₼5.87

$1.81 ₼3.08

91.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 ₼15.27

$8.77 ₼14.91

2.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₼2.29

$1.16 ₼1.98

15.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₼4.79

$2.09 ₼3.55

34.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₼0.51

$0.20 ₼0.34

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.96 ₼30.53

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₼3.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₼1.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₼6.15

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₼1.28

$0.58 ₼0.99

29.31%

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

$20.6K ₼35.0K

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

$21.8K ₼37.0K

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

$60.6 ₼103

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

$11.97 ₼20.34

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.13 ₼25.72

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.50 ₼72.2

$34.42 ₼58.5

23.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.86 ₼37.15

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 ₼9.91

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

$246 ₼418

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,448 ₼11.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₼99.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 ₼92.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ₼207

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 ₼168

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$469 ₼797

$118 ₼201

296.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₼455

$83.7 ₼142

220.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ₼1,609

$232 ₼394

308.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₼775

$145 ₼246

214.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,302 ₼3,913

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,255 ₼2,133

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$563 ₼957

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $469 in Baku and $118 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Baku vs $20.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $133 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 146% in total monthly costs ($901 vs $366 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,351 in Baku and $548 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: $469 in Baku versus $118 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 $20.00 versus $35.00 in Baku. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $901 per month in Baku versus $366 in Zaqatala – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $366 in Zaqatala versus $901 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 146% less than in Baku. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.