Baku, August 17, 2025. With the new academic year only days away, Baku’s rental housing market is under mounting pressure. Students arriving from the regions are facing one of the toughest years yet: finding an apartment near a university with decent living conditions at an affordable price has become nearly impossible.
Research shows most students are looking for apartments in the ₼300–₼500 monthly range. This year, however, the supply in that segment is almost nonexistent, and experts predict the situation will worsen in September.
Real estate analyst Ramil Osmanli, speaking to Modern.az, noted that the stock of affordable apartments shrinks each year:
“This process is linked to the demolition of old houses, which formed the backbone of the low-cost rental market. They are being replaced with new, expensive developments. As a result, demand for cheap housing remains high, while supply decreases—driving prices upward.”
According to him, construction companies are also contributing to the pressure by renting out apartments in new buildings, further fueling demand. Previously, the market would see a seasonal dip in prices during summer as students left for the holidays. Now, however, that cycle has disappeared—prices are climbing year-round.
As the school year begins, the influx of students into the capital will only intensify the squeeze. Most are seeking one- to two-bedroom apartments, often choosing to share flats to cut costs. The highest demand is concentrated in areas close to the metro, such as microdistricts, Azi Aslanov, and Ahmedli, while central Baku remains far more expensive.
