😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,448 in Ashgabat versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,119 in Ashgabat versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,790 in Ashgabat versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Ashgabat is roughly 50% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashgabat152% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.00TMT 107
$17.59€15.33
81.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9TMT 288
$62.9€54.8
36.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.70TMT 42.55
$11.58€10.10
9.67%
Cappuccino
$6.99TMT 23.41
$3.10€2.70
125.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56TMT 5.22
$2.49€2.17
-37.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83TMT 2.79
$1.74€1.52
-52.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54TMT 18.56
$3.48€3.03
59.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.38TMT 44.83
$3.44€3.00
288.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.40TMT 14.73
$1.15€1.00
282.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08TMT 6.97
$1.91€1.66
8.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.99TMT 20.06
$1.50€1.31
299.33%
Eggs
$5.90TMT 19.78
$3.98€3.47
48.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$38.28TMT 128
$13.29€11.59
188.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.69TMT 66.0
$8.01€6.98
145.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.82TMT 76.5
$18.04€15.73
26.50%
Apples(1kg)
$5.14TMT 17.23
$2.35€2.05
118.72%
Banana(1kg)
$8.64TMT 28.94
$1.75€1.53
393.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.49TMT 25.08
$1.85€1.62
304.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.79TMT 12.70
$2.55€2.22
48.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34TMT 7.85
$1.84€1.61
27.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44TMT 4.83
$2.10€1.83
-31.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75TMT 9.21
$1.49€1.30
84.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13TMT 3.78
$0.82€0.71
37.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.85TMT 86.6
$7.10€6.19
264.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.91TMT 140
$5.91€5.15
609.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.06TMT 16.96
$1.31€1.15
286.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89TMT 9.69
$2.13€1.86
35.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14TMT 0.46
$2.36€2.05
-94.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.13TMT 33.94
$46.62€40.63
-78.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84TMT 9.51
$4.08€3.55
-30.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89TMT 2.99
$1.14€0.99
-21.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.54TMT 28.62
$17.09€14.90
-50.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.41TMT 1.38
$2.31€2.01
-82.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7KTMT 146.3K
$34.1K€29.7K
28.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.1KTMT 187.9K
$41.4K€36.1K
35.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$578TMT 1,937
$169€147
243.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.6TMT 190
$19.33€16.85
192.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101TMT 339
$33.51€29.21
201.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$192TMT 643
$48.84€42.57
292.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.06TMT 151
$19.43€16.94
131.91%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32TMT 27.89
$9.57€8.34
-13.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$22.71TMT 76.1
$696€607
-96.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.4KTMT 81.8K
$17.4K€15.1K
40.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1TMT 185
$105€91.8
-47.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$115TMT 385
$47.75€41.62
140.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$358TMT 1,200
$101€87.6
256.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196TMT 657
$124€108
57.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,140TMT 3,817
$1,662€1,449
-31.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$992TMT 3,322
$1,246€1,086
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,256TMT 7,557
$2,965€2,584
-23.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942TMT 6,506
$2,049€1,786
-5.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617TMT 12.1K
$7,834€6,829
-53.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,838TMT 9,506
$4,464€3,892
-36.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$743TMT 2,488
$1,632€1,422
-54.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
3.78
151.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashgabat: September 15, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,140 in Ashgabat and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 120% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Ashgabat vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $670 vs $277 per month, with Lisbon 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ashgabat and in Lisbon?
Ashgabat and Lisbon differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($3,448 vs $2,296 including rent). Lisbon 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 120% lower in Lisbon. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,140 in Ashgabat versus $1,662 in Lisbon. 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 Lisbon?
Childcare runs $22.71 in Ashgabat versus $696 in Lisbon. 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 142% higher in Ashgabat. 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. Lisbon 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 Lisbon?
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 Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ashgabat and Lisbon 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 Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.