International City Cost Guide Baku, Azerbaijan USD

Accommodation

QTY Furnished 2 bedroom apartment in good area - monthly rent Milk 1ltr./2.11pints Cheese 500gr./1.10lbs. Eggs 12 (large) Bread Whole (wheat loaf)1 kg./2.20lbs. Rice (long grain) 1kg./2.20lbs. Cornflakes (packet) 375gr./13.23oz. Tea bags (pack 25) Coca Cola 1lt./2.11pints Onions 1kg./2.20lbs. Tomatoes 1kg./2.20lbs. Lettuce 1kg./2.20lbs. Oranges 1kg./2.20lbs. Apples 1kg./2.20lbs. Bananas 1kg./2.20lbs. Pears 1kg./2.20lbs. Grapes 1kg./2.20lbs. Fresh beef filet 1kg./2.20lbs. Fresh minced beef 1kg./2.20lbs. Sausages 1kg./2.20lbs. Chicken (fresh whole) 1kg./2.20lbs. Table salt 500gr./1.10lbs. Ice cream 1lt./2.11pints Biscuits (plain) 200gr./7.05oz. Laundry detergent 2.5kg./5.51lbs. Dishwashing liquid 500ml./1.58pints Insect killer spray 330gr./11.64oz. Shower gel 250ml./8.45oz. Toothpaste 120gr./4.24oz. Shampoo 200 ml./6.76oz. Deodorant 50ml./1.69oz. Razors/blades (5 pack) Face cream Men's shampoo & haircut 3 minute telephone call - mobile/cell phone Monthly energy costs apartment (100sq.m./1076sq.ft.) Fast-food meal Taxi rate per km./0.62 miles City centre bus fare (3km./1.86miles) Fitness club annual fee Private doctor GP (30 mins) City Cost Observations ### $1.41 $1.17 $1.41 $1.29 $2.35 $1.41 $1.17 $0.35 $0.35 $2.58 $2.35 $2.23 $2.58 $3.52 $3.52 $2.35 $4.69 $4.69 $7.04 $3.52 $0.70 $1.41 $1.29 $4.69 $1.29 $2.35 $1.41 $1.06 $1.64 $2.58 $3.52 $0.47 $5.87 $2.35 $29.33 $10.56 $0.94 $0.23 $797.65 $35.19 1 2 1 2 2 10 2 1 3 1 2 1 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 30 1 20 100 100 1 2

clothes are expensive here. there are lots of clothing stores but they charge a lot. you can get bargains if you know where to look. prices are not fixed and bargaining is expected especially in the markets. taxi's will try to rip you off but being firm and negotiating before hand always works. lately prices have gone up fourfold. its very difficult to find a good one bed flat for under $500! it is not a cheap place to live!

Baku does suffer from some of the worst inflation in the world. While it is usually reported at 17-18%, some experts claim for it to be closer to 30%. The cost of rent for western style apartments has increased drastically. Additionally, while a few years ago most landlords accepted US dollar as the preferred currency of payment of rent, more are switching to the Manat as the US dollar has decreased in value. Most apartments are furnished and if you are willing to do without some luxuries and live closer to the level of many of the local Azeris, you can get a much lower rent. If you are a foreigner, expect the initial price for anything that does not have the price marked to be as high as 200-300% more than what the actual price is. Always shop around and negotiate. Western-style markets are vastly more expensive than most of the Azeri shops. Fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts are very inexpensive in the local markets. If you want to find a gym avoid the ex-pat gyms located in many of the hotels which offer very little as far as equipment and weights. The local Azeri gyms while often cramped, a little dingy and offering older equipment are much more affordable (about 20-30 AZM per month). Be warned the idea of western gym etiquette does not apply at most of the local gyms. The Olympic Gym, close to the Azerbaijani Tibb University (Medical University) is 50AZM/month but does have state of the art equipment and is very rarely if ever crowded.

Updated: 12 April, 2008.

TOTAL ### $2.82 $1.17 $2.82 $2.58 $23.50 $2.82 $1.17 $1.05 $0.35 $5.16 $2.35 $8.92 $5.16 $7.04 $7.04 $4.70 $9.38 $9.38 $14.08 $7.04 $0.70 $1.41 $1.29 $4.69 $1.29 $2.35 $1.41 $1.06 $1.64 $2.58 $3.52 $0.47 $5.87 $70.50 $29.33 $211.20 $94.00 $23.00 $797.65 $70.38 3202.4