Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashgabat and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashgabat and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Ashgabat 152% above, Lisbon 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.00 TMT 107
$17.59 €15.33
81.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9 TMT 288
$62.9 €54.8
36.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.70 TMT 42.55
$11.58 €10.10
9.67%
Cappuccino
$6.99 TMT 23.41
$3.10 €2.70
125.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 TMT 5.22
$2.49 €2.17
-37.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 TMT 2.79
$1.74 €1.52
-52.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 TMT 18.56
$3.48 €3.03
59.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.38 TMT 44.83
$3.44 €3.00
288.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.40 TMT 14.73
$1.15 €1.00
282.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 TMT 6.97
$1.91 €1.66
8.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.99 TMT 20.06
$1.50 €1.31
299.33%
Eggs
$5.90 TMT 19.78
$3.98 €3.47
48.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$38.28 TMT 128
$13.29 €11.59
188.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.69 TMT 66.0
$8.01 €6.98
145.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.82 TMT 76.5
$18.04 €15.73
26.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.14 TMT 17.23
$2.35 €2.05
118.72%
Banana (1kg)
$8.64 TMT 28.94
$1.75 €1.53
393.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.49 TMT 25.08
$1.85 €1.62
304.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.79 TMT 12.70
$2.55 €2.22
48.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 TMT 7.85
$1.84 €1.61
27.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 TMT 4.83
$2.10 €1.83
-31.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 TMT 9.21
$1.49 €1.30
84.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 TMT 3.78
$0.82 €0.71
37.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.85 TMT 86.6
$7.10 €6.19
264.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$41.91 TMT 140
$5.91 €5.15
609.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.06 TMT 16.96
$1.31 €1.15
286.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 TMT 9.69
$2.13 €1.86
35.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 TMT 0.46
$2.36 €2.05
-94.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.13 TMT 33.94
$46.62 €40.63
-78.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 TMT 9.51
$4.08 €3.55
-30.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 TMT 2.99
$1.14 €0.99
-21.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.54 TMT 28.62
$17.09 €14.90
-50.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.41 TMT 1.38
$2.31 €2.01
-82.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7K TMT 146.3K
$34.1K €29.7K
28.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.1K TMT 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)
$578 TMT 1,937
$169 €147
243.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.6 TMT 190
$19.33 €16.85
192.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 TMT 339
$33.51 €29.21
201.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$192 TMT 643
$48.84 €42.57
292.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.06 TMT 151
$19.43 €16.94
131.91%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 TMT 27.89
$9.57 €8.34
-13.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$22.71 TMT 76.1
$696 €607
-96.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K TMT 81.8K
$17.4K €15.1K
40.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 TMT 185
$105 €91.8
-47.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$115 TMT 385
$47.75 €41.62
140.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$358 TMT 1,200
$101 €87.6
256.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196 TMT 657
$124 €108
57.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,140 TMT 3,817
$1,662 €1,449
-31.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$992 TMT 3,322
$1,246 €1,086
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,256 TMT 7,557
$2,965 €2,584
-23.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 TMT 6,506
$2,049 €1,786
-5.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 TMT 12.1K
$7,834 €6,829
-53.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,838 TMT 9,506
$4,464 €3,892
-36.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashgabat
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$743 TMT 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.

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