districts

Bangladesh in Yerevan: where it is, why it has that name and what housing costs

WSE.AM editorial team, editor Mark Muzyka22 October 20266 min read

Bangladesh in Yerevan is the informal name of the western part of the Malatia-Sebastia administrative district. There is no such district on maps or in documents: an address will say "Malatia-Sebastia", while "Bangladesh" is what people say in everyday speech, in taxis and in listings. Housing here is among the most affordable in the city: according to listings in the WSE.AM catalog on 22 October 2026, the median purchase price in Malatia-Sebastia is $1,919 per square metre (only Shengavit is cheaper), and a two-room apartment rents for about $968 a month.

In short:

Bangladesh is the everyday name for the western edge of the Malatia-Sebastia district; it has no official boundary.
The housing is mixed: Soviet panel blocks of nine and fourteen floors, low-rise stone houses and new monolithic towers of 12-18 floors.
The district's median purchase price is $1,919 per square metre (21 listings); a two-room apartment rents for about $968 a month, a three-room for about $1,107.
There is no metro, but Admiral Isakov Avenue, the road to Zvartnots airport, is nearby.
It suits people for whom price and floor space matter, and does not suit those who want to walk to the centre.

Why is the district called Bangladesh?

There is no single version. The anthropologist Lilit Mirzoyan, who studied Yerevan's unofficial place names, links it to 1971: the nickname appeared around the time Bangladesh gained independence and was often in the news. A second version, often repeated by Yerevan residents themselves, is that the area seemed very far from the centre, "as far as Bangladesh". The word sometimes sounds ironic, but residents have long used it calmly, as an ordinary landmark.

The district's official name has its own history. Malatia was founded in 1925 by Armenian survivors of the genocide from the city of Malatya, and Sebastia in 1927 by people from Sebastia (Sivas). In 1996 they were merged into one administrative district, Malatia-Sebastia. According to the 2022 census, about 141,000 people live there, making it one of the most populous districts of Yerevan.

Where is Bangladesh?

In the west of Yerevan, beyond the Hrazdan river, in the western part of Malatia-Sebastia. When people say "Bangladesh", they most often mean the blocks around Raffi, Zoravar Andranik, Arno Babajanyan and Gusan Sheram streets. To the south the area is bounded by Admiral Isakov Avenue, the main road towards Zvartnots airport and Etchmiadzin.

Recognizable landmarks include the Holy Trinity Church (Surb Errordutyun) with its round silhouette, built in 2003, and the large markets where sellers come from villages all over Armenia.

What are the buildings like?

Listings in our catalog show three types of housing:

Soviet panel buildings of 9-14 floors: Zoravar Andranik Street, Arno Babajanyan Street, Isakov Avenue. Large apartments at a low price, but look carefully at the lifts and entrances.
Stone buildings of 3-6 floors: Sebastia, Gusan Sheram and Kurginyan streets. Quieter, and more often with a courtyard.
New monolithic buildings of 12-18 floors: Kirk Kerkorian Street and Monte Melkonyan Avenue. The district's most expensive apartments, often renovated and with underground parking.

How to tell panel from monolith and what to look at in a building: types of buildings in Yerevan.

How much does housing in Bangladesh cost?

There are no separate statistics for Bangladesh, so we rely on figures for the whole Malatia-Sebastia district. Data from active listings in the WSE.AM catalog on 22 October 2026:

Purchase: a median of $1,919 per square metre across 21 listings. For comparison: $3,667 in Kentron, $2,845 in Arabkir, $1,833 in Shengavit.
Rent: a two-room apartment costs about $968 a month on average, a three-room $1,107; there are few one-room apartments, with a median of $498 across a small number of listings.
The spread is wide: a three-room apartment in a panel building rents from $550-700, while in a new monolith on Monte Melkonyan Avenue it reaches $1,500-2,600.

Compare the district with others on the Yerevan apartment prices page, and see current offers: apartments for rent in Malatia-Sebastia and apartments for sale in Malatia-Sebastia.

How do you get to the centre?

There are no metro stations in Malatia-Sebastia. People travel to the centre by bus, minibus or taxi, and at rush hour the trip takes noticeably longer. The upside is that the district is closer than others to Zvartnots airport and the highway to Etchmiadzin and Armavir: Isakov Avenue takes you out of the city without the traffic of the centre.

Who does Bangladesh suit?

It suits you if:

price matters: here you can buy or rent more square metres for the same money than in Arabkir or Kentron;
you fly often or travel towards Etchmiadzin;
you need a large family apartment rather than a studio in the centre;
you are ready to travel by car or taxi.

It does not suit you if:

you want to live within walking distance of the centre, cafes and offices;
the metro matters to you;
you are looking for a quiet, green, low-rise area; in that case look at Nork-Marash or Arabkir.

A detailed overview of the whole district is in Malatia-Sebastia: pros and cons, and all districts are compared in the districts of Yerevan.

How to look for an apartment in Bangladesh

Search by the official district name, Malatia-Sebastia, and check the street. For budget options, use affordable apartments for rent and two-room apartments for rent. If you do not want to figure out the streets yourself, send a request through apartment search: an agent will ask about your budget and needs and send options, including in the district's new buildings.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bangladesh a separate district of Yerevan?
No. It is the informal name of the western part of the Malatia-Sebastia administrative district. Documents, contracts and maps will say "Malatia-Sebastia".

Why is a district of Yerevan called Bangladesh?
According to the anthropologist Lilit Mirzoyan, the nickname appeared around 1971, when Bangladesh gained independence. Another popular version is that the area seemed very far from the centre.

How much does an apartment in Bangladesh cost in 2026?
For the Malatia-Sebastia district, the median purchase price is $1,919 per square metre, a two-room apartment rents for about $968 a month and a three-room for $1,107. Data from WSE.AM catalog listings on 22 October 2026.

Is there a metro in Bangladesh?
No, there are no metro stations in Malatia-Sebastia. People travel to the centre by bus, minibus or taxi.

Is Bangladesh a safe place to live?
It is an ordinary residential area with families, schools and markets. We do not keep separate statistics for it; when choosing an apartment, we recommend visiting in the evening and looking at the courtyard, the entrance and the street lighting.