Azerbaijan.US
Even as official incomes rise, the real purchasing power of households for basic food products remains under pressure.
According to data from an international statistics portal, a person earning the average monthly salary in Azerbaijan can afford roughly 44 kilograms of beef per year. By this measure, the country ranks 46th globally.
For comparison, the same indicator reaches about 56 kilograms in Georgia and around 53 kilograms in Türkiye, while the figure is even higher in countries such as Kazakhstan and Russia.
Market participants say the issue is shaped not only by income levels but also by the steady increase in meat prices, which continues to weigh on household budgets. Some analysts warn that beef prices could rise by an additional 20–30 percent over the next five years if structural measures are not introduced.
Butchers in Baku are already seeing the impact.
Customers are buying smaller quantities of meat than in previous years.
Where monthly sales once reached 150-160 kilograms,
they can now fall to 50-70 kilograms,
and at times even around 30 kilograms.
Purchasing behavior has also shifted.
Shoppers who previously bought about 10 kilograms now more often take 5-7 kilograms, while those earning 500–600 manats per month may limit purchases to just 1-2 kilograms.
Average beef prices in the capital hover near 17 manats per kilogram, making the product a significant expense for lower-income households.
Industry representatives point to possible solutions, including reducing livestock feed costs and expanding domestic cattle farming, steps that could help stabilize prices and improve food affordability.
