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: $1,020 in Baku versus $351 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,600 in Baku versus $588 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,181 in Baku versus $825 in Zaqatala.

Living in Baku is roughly 190% more expensive than in Zaqatala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baku 26% lower, Zaqatala 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.03 ₼15.35

$4.85 ₼8.24

86.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 ₼71.2

$20.97 ₼35.63

99.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 ₼12.97

$5.24 ₼8.91

45.61%

Cappuccino

$3.50 ₼5.95

$2.29 ₼3.89

52.84%

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

$1.09 ₼1.85

$0.58 ₼0.98

87.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₼1.03

$0.55 ₼0.93

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₼3.03

$1.74 ₼2.96

2.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₼4.39

$2.86 ₼4.86

-9.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ₼2.68

$1.02 ₼1.73

54.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₼0.84

$0.40 ₼0.67

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 ₼4.46

$2.28 ₼3.87

15.35%

Eggs

$2.01 ₼3.41

$1.42 ₼2.42

41.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.95 ₼8.41

$3.56 ₼6.05

39.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₼8.67

$2.29 ₼3.89

122.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.90 ₼20.23

$8.35 ₼14.19

42.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 ₼2.38

$0.75 ₼1.27

86.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₼3.12

$1.17 ₼1.99

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ₼2.63

$0.57 ₼0.97

171.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₼2.95

$0.69 ₼1.17

152.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₼1.34

$0.30 ₼0.52

163.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ₼1.05

$0.40 ₼0.68

55.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₼1.34

$0.99 ₼1.67

-20.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₼1.35

$0.58 ₼0.98

36.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ₼5.34

$1.74 ₼2.95

80.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.92 ₼15.15

$8.98 ₼15.27

-0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₼2.65

$1.21 ₼2.05

28.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₼5.03

$2.08 ₼3.53

42.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₼0.62

$0.17 ₼0.29

111.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.95 ₼35.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₼3.54

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₼0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 ₼6.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 ₼1.11

$0.62 ₼1.05

4.84%

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

$23.4K ₼39.7K

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

$21.1K ₼35.8K

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

$70.6 ₼120

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

$11.15 ₼18.95

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.12 ₼25.70

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.70 ₼81.1

$34.47 ₼58.6

38.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 ₼28.60

Cinema Ticket

$5.97 ₼10.14

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

$333 ₼566

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,682 ₼11.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 ₼118

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.6 ₼94.5

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₼222

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₼197

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₼916

$117 ₼200

359.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ₼552

$82.8 ₼141

292.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 ₼1,777

$232 ₼395

350.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₼903

$148 ₼251

258.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,256 ₼3,834

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,310 ₼2,227

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 ₼919

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.08

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

Last update for Baku: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $539 in Baku and $117 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Baku vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 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 190% in total monthly costs ($1,020 vs $351 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,529 in Baku and $527 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: $539 in Baku versus $117 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 $42.00 in Baku. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,020 per month in Baku versus $351 in Zaqatala – a 190% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $351 in Zaqatala versus $1,020 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 190% less than in Baku. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.