Is Baku expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Baku is cheaper than most European capitals: a budget day is about 75 AZN per person (roughly €38) and a mid-range day about 170 AZN. Taxis, the metro, tea and local food are inexpensive; hotels in the Old City and the big international towers, and imported drinks in western-style bars, are where prices approach European levels.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | AZN30 | AZN70 | AZN180 |
| Food & drink | AZN25 | AZN50 | AZN100 |
| Sights & tickets | AZN15 | AZN35 | AZN60 |
| Local transport | AZN5 | AZN15 | AZN40 |
| Per person, per day | AZN75 | AZN170 | AZN380 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Baku day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Metro or bus ride with a BakiKART | about 0.60 AZN (card deposit 2 AZN) |
| Aero Express bus from the airport | about 1.30 AZN |
| Bolt ride across the centre | about 4–8 AZN |
| Qutab from a bakery | about 1.5–4 AZN each |
| Plov in a traditional restaurant | about 12–25 AZN |
| Maiden Tower ticket | about 15 AZN |
| Dinner with wine, per person | about 30–60 AZN |
| Mid-range hotel in the Old City, double | about 100–200 AZN |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the largest cost: budget rooms around Sahil and Fountains Square run about 40–80 AZN, Old City and Nizami Street hotels 90–200 AZN, and the luxury towers 250–500 AZN. Food is good value if you eat qutab, kebabs and plov in local places; Old City caravanserai restaurants and bars around Fountains Square cost more. Museum tickets are mostly 10–20 AZN, and the main extra is a day tour to Gobustan, the mud volcanoes and Absheron (about 40–70 AZN in a group, 120–180 AZN for a private car).
When it is cheaper
Late autumn, winter and early spring are usually cheaper for hotels than late spring and September. Prices rise sharply during big events, especially the Formula 1 weekend, so check the calendar before booking.
How to spend less
- Use the metro and buses with a BakiKART instead of taxis for longer trips across the city.
- Order taxis through Bolt or Uber rather than taking unmetered cars outside hotels and restaurants.
- Eat qutab, dushbara and kebabs in neighbourhood places away from the Old City walls.
- Check whether a service charge of around 10% is already on the bill before tipping.
- Join a group tour for Gobustan, the mud volcanoes, Ateshgah and Yanar Dag instead of hiring a car alone.
- Avoid the Formula 1 dates and other big events, when hotel prices jump.
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Common questions
Is Baku expensive?
Less than most of Europe: about 75 AZN a day on a budget and about 170 AZN mid-range. Hotels and imported drinks are the main costs.
How much is a taxi in Baku?
Most Bolt or Uber rides in the centre cost about 4–8 AZN; from the airport about 20–30 AZN.
How much are tickets to the main sights?
Mostly 10–20 AZN: the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs about 15 AZN each, the Carpet Museum about 10 AZN, the Heydar Aliyev Center about 20 AZN.