🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,395 in Ashgabat versus $4,202 in Geneva.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,090 in Ashgabat versus $6,374 in Geneva.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,786 in Ashgabat versus $8,546 in Geneva.
🌍Living in Ashgabat costs roughly 19% less than in Geneva, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashgabat146% above, Geneva205% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.85TMT 107
$30.87CHF 25.19
3.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.7TMT 291
$136CHF 111
-36.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.67TMT 42.58
$18.85CHF 15.38
-32.79%
Cappuccino
$6.98TMT 23.46
$6.65CHF 5.43
4.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55TMT 5.21
$5.00CHF 4.08
-69.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89TMT 2.99
$4.17CHF 3.41
-78.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63TMT 18.91
$10.02CHF 8.18
-43.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.49TMT 45.33
$9.77CHF 7.97
38.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.53TMT 15.21
$2.38CHF 1.94
90.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05TMT 6.90
$3.49CHF 2.85
-41.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.81TMT 19.51
$3.26CHF 2.66
78.22%
Eggs
$5.92TMT 19.88
$8.25CHF 6.74
-28.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$37.28TMT 125
$25.28CHF 20.63
47.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$20.11TMT 67.6
$30.09CHF 24.56
-33.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.55TMT 79.1
$43.71CHF 35.67
-46.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.94TMT 16.60
$3.59CHF 2.93
37.60%
Banana(1kg)
$8.67TMT 29.14
$1.68CHF 1.37
416.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.46TMT 25.07
$2.73CHF 2.23
173.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73TMT 12.54
$4.81CHF 3.93
-22.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.35TMT 7.89
$1.59CHF 1.29
47.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40TMT 4.69
$2.13CHF 1.74
-34.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.72TMT 9.14
$2.10CHF 1.71
29.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08TMT 3.62
$1.70CHF 1.39
-36.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.77TMT 86.6
$11.27CHF 9.20
128.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.10TMT 138
$12.19CHF 9.95
237.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.34TMT 17.93
$3.27CHF 2.67
63.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88TMT 9.69
$3.58CHF 2.92
-19.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14TMT 0.47
$3.69CHF 3.01
-96.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.96TMT 33.48
$90.8CHF 74.1
-89.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78TMT 9.35
$7.83CHF 6.39
-64.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82TMT 2.77
$3.91CHF 3.19
-79.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.35TMT 28.05
$65.7CHF 53.6
-87.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.41TMT 1.38
$2.38CHF 1.95
-82.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.2KTMT 145.2K
$39.1KCHF 31.9K
10.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.8KTMT 190.7K
$40.1KCHF 32.8K
41.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$569TMT 1,910
$287CHF 234
98.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3TMT 192
$39.09CHF 31.91
46.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102TMT 342
$58.1CHF 47.39
75.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$194TMT 653
$76.3CHF 62.2
154.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.42TMT 149
$46.89CHF 38.26
-5.27%
Cinema Ticket
$8.59TMT 28.87
$24.65CHF 20.12
-65.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$22.78TMT 76.5
$2,449CHF 1,999
-99.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.8KTMT 83.3K
$36.8KCHF 30.0K
-32.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3TMT 186
$136CHF 111
-59.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$113TMT 379
$81.8CHF 66.7
37.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$360TMT 1,211
$169CHF 138
113.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$193TMT 650
$189CHF 154
2.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,135TMT 3,814
$2,843CHF 2,320
-60.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$991TMT 3,329
$2,143CHF 1,749
-53.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,294TMT 7,708
$4,690CHF 3,827
-51.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,932TMT 6,492
$3,651CHF 2,979
-47.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,521TMT 11.8K
$22.5KCHF 18.3K
-84.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,847TMT 9,567
$16.0KCHF 13.0K
-82.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Geneva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$765TMT 2,570
$7,229CHF 5,900
-89.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
1.98
379.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashgabat: September 7, 2026
Last update for Geneva: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,135 in Ashgabat and $2,843 in Geneva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Geneva pays 845% 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: $87.0 in Ashgabat vs $136 in Geneva. Groceries flip the comparison at $669 vs $611, with Geneva cheaper for home cooking.
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 24% in total monthly costs ($3,395 vs $4,202 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 845% 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: $1,135 in Ashgabat versus $2,843 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 $22.78 in Ashgabat versus $2,449 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?
Shoppers in Geneva pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
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 24% less than in Geneva. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.