🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,149 in Ashgabat versus $4,080 in Geneva.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,892 in Ashgabat versus $6,404 in Geneva.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,636 in Ashgabat versus $8,728 in Geneva.
🌍Living in Ashgabat costs roughly 23% less than in Geneva, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashgabat136% above, Geneva205% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.40TMT 116
$36.40CHF 29.49
-5.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.5TMT 287
$150CHF 121
-42.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.22TMT 47.77
$18.14CHF 14.69
-21.61%
Cappuccino
$7.19TMT 24.17
$5.76CHF 4.67
24.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17TMT 10.67
$5.48CHF 4.44
-42.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94TMT 3.16
$4.77CHF 3.87
-80.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.28TMT 17.74
$10.05CHF 8.14
-47.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$14.19TMT 47.67
$8.76CHF 7.10
61.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.85TMT 16.29
$2.19CHF 1.77
121.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43TMT 8.18
$3.91CHF 3.16
-37.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.15TMT 24.02
$4.45CHF 3.60
60.67%
Eggs
$6.12TMT 20.57
$7.55CHF 6.12
-18.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$40.33TMT 136
$26.83CHF 21.73
50.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.24TMT 61.3
$33.39CHF 27.04
-45.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.50TMT 62.2
$52.3CHF 42.32
-64.59%
Apples(1kg)
$5.59TMT 18.77
$3.53CHF 2.86
58.36%
Banana(1kg)
$9.01TMT 30.27
$2.50CHF 2.02
260.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.83TMT 26.32
$3.09CHF 2.51
153.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62TMT 12.17
$6.36CHF 5.15
-43.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25TMT 7.57
$2.64CHF 2.14
-14.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83TMT 6.14
$2.31CHF 1.87
-20.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98TMT 6.65
$2.57CHF 2.08
-22.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14TMT 3.82
$1.33CHF 1.07
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.11TMT 87.7
$10.89CHF 8.82
139.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.56TMT 140
$12.08CHF 9.78
244.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69TMT 15.75
$3.25CHF 2.63
44.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80TMT 9.41
$3.75CHF 3.04
-25.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16TMT 0.53
$3.73CHF 3.02
-95.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37TMT 28.12
$85.7CHF 69.4
-90.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84TMT 9.56
$7.40CHF 5.99
-61.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83TMT 2.78
$3.54CHF 2.87
-76.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80TMT 29.57
$65.0CHF 52.6
-86.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.45TMT 1.50
$2.19CHF 1.77
-79.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8KTMT 150.5K
$39.8KCHF 32.2K
12.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.2KTMT 192.1K
$50.2KCHF 40.7K
13.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$569TMT 1,911
$261CHF 211
117.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.6TMT 194
$48.55CHF 39.32
18.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103TMT 345
$64.3CHF 52.1
59.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$195TMT 657
$80.0CHF 64.8
144.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.83TMT 151
$37.29CHF 30.21
20.22%
Cinema Ticket
$14.37TMT 48.27
$24.25CHF 19.64
-40.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$22.96TMT 77.2
$3,487CHF 2,824
-99.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.2KTMT 84.8K
$33.3KCHF 27.0K
-24.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5TMT 223
$140CHF 113
-52.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$121TMT 407
$80.9CHF 65.5
49.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$304TMT 1,021
$165CHF 134
83.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187TMT 627
$215CHF 174
-13.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,109TMT 3,726
$2,358CHF 1,910
-52.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739TMT 2,482
$2,048CHF 1,659
-63.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,797TMT 6,038
$4,672CHF 3,785
-61.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,578TMT 5,301
$3,893CHF 3,153
-59.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,489TMT 11.7K
$22.1KCHF 17.9K
-84.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,850TMT 9,575
$16.3KCHF 13.2K
-82.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$763TMT 2,564
$7,277CHF 5,894
-89.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
2.46
286.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashgabat: July 12, 2026
Last update for Geneva: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,109 in Ashgabat and $2,358 in Geneva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Geneva pays 854% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Ashgabat vs $150 in Geneva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $669 vs $676 per month, with Ashgabat cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ashgabat vs Geneva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ashgabat and in Geneva?
Ashgabat and Geneva differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($3,149 vs $4,080 including rent). Ashgabat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 854% lower in Geneva. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ashgabat and in Geneva?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,109 in Ashgabat versus $2,358 in Geneva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ashgabat and Geneva?
Childcare runs $22.96 in Ashgabat versus $3,487 in Geneva. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Geneva. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ashgabat is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Ashgabat and Geneva?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ashgabat or Geneva safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ashgabat and Geneva are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ashgabat or Geneva?
Expats usually find Ashgabat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Geneva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.