Baku, Azerbaijan

What do I need to know before moving to Baku?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Baku, they said:

"Check out traffic patterns before you lease during rush hour -- it can take 2 hours to drive 5 kilometers at rush hour on a Friday evening when the wedding palaces are having their parties -- it isn't even possible to park and walk home because the traffic is so dysfunctional," added another expat in Baku.

What should I bring when moving to Baku?

People living in Baku were asked what three things they wish they had brought and three they wish they had left behind. They wrote:

"Leave bicycles at home. Bring patio furniture, more clothing and shoes, dog food, cat food, and cat litter," explained one expat living in Baku, Azerbaijan.

What do expats in Baku appreciate most about the local culture?

"The people are friendly and really excited when you try to learn their language. The food is delicious and if you eat like a local, it's crazy cheap to live here. There is a lot to see if you leave Baku and go to the regions, but you have to be adventurous," added another expat in Baku.

"Not much really. Baku has a delightful old city but again in there, you are leered at constantly," remarked another expat who made the move to Baku.

"People enjoying the many parks and fountains--makes you forget that the place is bascially a desert. People are very kind and helpful when asked. Those who have studied English are bold about using it--which is unlike other places and can be very helpful. Public transportation is quite good, and inexpensive," explained one expat living in Baku, Azerbaijan.

What do expats find most challenging?

"The language is difficult and not many people outside of the tourist places on the Bulvar speak much English. Finding American food and specialty items is difficult. They also don't run clothes in large sizes, so I have to shop online," remarked another expat who made the move to Baku.

"Racism, superiority complex coupled with ignorance, a very disturbed religious zealotry that defies belief, constant yelling and arguments everywhere, corruption, unprofessional work environment. My first landlord broke into our apartment at 11PM because she felt she had the right to walk in whenever she wanted. Our next landlord wanted a full inspection every month. My current landlord calls my being here "letting me live at his house". There are no binding contracts even through an agent, and no concept of personal space or private property. Other than the main areas of the city which are kept immaculate, the "real" city is the world's largest trash can with no clean-up crew. I have never seen people tear up their own apartment building and neighborhoods like this, not even in the poorest countries of Africa or South America," explained one expat living in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"The language barrier and the prices. Baku has to be one of the most expensive places to live. And what is ironic is most of the people live on the poverty line. There is much poverty here and yet the prices are astronomical," said another expat in Baku.

"Of not the culture but the place: the wind is overpowering and dries the skin terrbily; the food, especially for a vegetarian, offers little choice/variety. Bureacracy is cumbersome and mysterious--you need to know someone to get the proper paperwork to get things done," added another expat who made the move to Baku.