Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashgabat and Mary Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashgabat and Mary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,448 in Ashgabat versus $477 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,119 in Ashgabat versus $716 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,790 in Ashgabat versus $956 in Mary.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 623% more expensive than in Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 152% above, Mary is 65% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$32.00 TMT 107

$11.35 TMT 38.02

181.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.9 TMT 288

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.70 TMT 42.55

$8.68 TMT 29.07

46.31%

Cappuccino

$6.99 TMT 23.41

$8.65 TMT 28.96

-19.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 TMT 5.22

$12.92 TMT 43.27

-87.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 TMT 2.79

$1.47 TMT 4.92

-43.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 TMT 18.56

$14.37 TMT 48.13

-61.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.38 TMT 44.83

$11.31 TMT 37.90

18.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.40 TMT 14.73

$2.80 TMT 9.37

57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 TMT 6.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.99 TMT 20.06

Eggs

$5.90 TMT 19.78

$6.99 TMT 23.42

-15.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$38.28 TMT 128

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.69 TMT 66.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.82 TMT 76.5

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 TMT 17.23

$2.25 TMT 7.52

128.44%

Banana (1kg)

$8.64 TMT 28.94

Oranges (1kg)

$7.49 TMT 25.08

Tomato (1kg)

$3.79 TMT 12.70

$1.41 TMT 4.71

168.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 TMT 7.85

$2.03 TMT 6.79

15.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 TMT 4.83

$1.68 TMT 5.63

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 TMT 9.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 TMT 3.78

$1.16 TMT 3.89

-2.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.85 TMT 86.6

$17.33 TMT 58.1

49.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$41.91 TMT 140

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.06 TMT 16.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 TMT 9.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 TMT 0.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.13 TMT 33.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 TMT 9.51

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 TMT 2.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.54 TMT 28.62

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 TMT 1.38

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.7K TMT 146.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$56.1K TMT 187.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$578 TMT 1,937

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$56.6 TMT 190

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 TMT 339

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$192 TMT 643

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.06 TMT 151

Cinema Ticket

$8.32 TMT 27.89

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$22.71 TMT 76.1

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K TMT 81.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 TMT 185

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$115 TMT 385

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$358 TMT 1,200

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$196 TMT 657

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,140 TMT 3,817

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$992 TMT 3,322

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,256 TMT 7,557

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 TMT 6,506

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 TMT 12.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,838 TMT 9,506

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 TMT 2,488

$213 TMT 715

248.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ashgabat: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mary: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ashgabat pays 248% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Mary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashgabat and Mary differ by about 623% in total monthly costs ($3,448 vs $477 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 248% higher in Ashgabat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 587% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,448 per month in Ashgabat versus $477 in Mary – a 623% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $477 in Mary versus $3,448 in Ashgabat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mary but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Mary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ashgabat and Mary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 623% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.