Money & Payments in Baku (2026)

Good to know

Good to Know

Cards issued in Russia are not accepted; use non-Russian Visa and Mastercard cards.
Pack USD or EUR cash and exchange at a licensed Baku exchange office on landing — rates are typically very tight (often 0.5–1.5% off interbank). A Wise card or similar for Baku transactions plus USD or EUR cash swapped at a licensed exchange office is a clean setup for most trips.
The Bolt ride-hailing app links to your card and is the easiest way to navigate Baku without needing manat for street taxis.
Notify your bank before travel to avoid card blocks.

Cash Needs

Markets and bazaars
Detail
Open-air bazaars, food stalls, and local shops are cash-based.
Street taxis
Detail
Taxis, marshrutkas (minibuses), and rural transport often require cash.
Guesthouses and smaller establishments
Detail
Card payment is possible almost everywhere, except in guesthouses and taxis where cash is expected.
Budget allowance
Detail
For a trip to Baku without regional excursions, 200–300 AZN in cash covers everyday expenses comfortably.

Card Acceptance

Overview: Visa and Mastercard cards from European, American, Turkish and other non-Russian banks work without restrictions in restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and at terminals across the country. The level of cashless infrastructure in Baku is fairly high — major establishments, shopping centres and hotels accept cards consistently.
Contactless: Contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay) works wherever foreign cards are accepted.
American Express: American Express can work on very few places like Marriott hotels like the Courtyard and the JW Marriott in Baku, but it's not reliable outside of major hotel chains.
Transaction Fees: Foreign card transactions may incur a 1–3% surcharge.

Card Types Accepted

Visa
Mastercard

Where Cards Not Needed

Street Food and Markets
Detail
Street food stalls and open-air markets are cash only. Yasil Bazar (Green Market) and the Teze Bazar are entirely cash economies for produce, spices, and dried fruits.
Taxis
Detail
Street taxis in Baku expect manat in cash.

ATM Info

Dcc Warning: Never accept currency conversion offered by the ATM. Refuse if prompted and let your own bank do the exchange at a much better rate.
Fee Warning: Many non-bank independent ATM operators do charge high ATM Fees and currency conversion charges for withdrawal with foreign cards. Be sure to find and use the fee-free bank ATMs only.
Availability: Bank ATMs cluster around central Baku (Fountains Square, Nizami Street, Port Baku Mall area) and at GYD (Heydar Aliyev International) airport arrivals.
Fee Structure: Most Bank ATMs in Azerbaijan do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. Some bank ATMs charge 1% to 3.5% of the transaction amount as ATM Access Fee while another bank ATM charges a fixed fee of AZN 6.
Recommended Banks: Kapital Bank, PASHA Bank, Xalq Bank, Bank Respublika, and Unibank all give the actual interbank rate with no markup. Most don't add their own operator fee for foreign cards.
Withdrawal Limits: Withdrawal limits run roughly AZN 500–1,000 per transaction.

Currency Info

Local Currency: AZN (Azerbaijani Manat)
Note: The Azerbaijani Manat (AZN) is the only legal tender for transactions in Azerbaijan; shops, cafés and public transport do not accept foreign currencies. All payments are made in Manats only, including in Baku.

Tipping Norms

Hotel Staff: Porters at the airport or in hotels may be tipped around 5 AZN, depending on the amount of luggage.
Restaurants: Service charges are sometimes included, and where they are not, 5–10% in restaurants is appreciated but not mandatory.
General Culture: Tipping is modest and not strictly required.
Taxis And Casual: For taxis and small cafés, rounding up is enough.
Service Charge Note: Many Baku establishments already include a 10% service charge in the bill.

Banking

ATM Access: ATMs dot the city of Baku and other major towns, readily accepting foreign-issued cards; most machines are inside banks, with others scattered through supermarkets and hotels.
Challenges: In recent months, it has become somewhat complicated to open bank accounts for foreigners, and in many cases, banks require foreigners to have residence permits in Azerbaijan and meet other similar requirements.
Account Types: Both companies and natural persons seeking to open bank accounts in Azerbaijan can set them up in various currencies, not only in Azerbaijani manat, the country's currency.
English Support: The process runs more smoothly at international banks where staff speak English, and accounts can typically be opened in multiple currencies.
Account Opening Overview: Foreigners can open bank accounts in Azerbaijan, but they need to meet specific requirements such as having a valid residence permit and providing additional documentation like a passport and proof of address.

Recommended Banks

Bank Respublika
Access Bank
Bank Standard
Demir Bank

Documentation Required

Passport, valid residence permit, and proof of address
Employment reference (if working)

AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Baku

Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in Baku

Good to know

Good to Know

Cash Needs

Markets and bazaars

Street taxis

Guesthouses and smaller establishments

Budget allowance