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: $3,146 in Ashgabat versus $384 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,862 in Ashgabat versus $581 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,579 in Ashgabat versus $777 in Mary.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 718% more expensive than Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 134% above, Mary is 71% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$35.27 TMT 118

$11.65 TMT 39.15

202.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 TMT 291

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.14 TMT 47.53

$8.35 TMT 28.04

69.34%

Cappuccino

$7.18 TMT 24.11

$8.62 TMT 28.97

-16.71%

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

$3.22 TMT 10.82

$6.39 TMT 21.46

-49.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 TMT 2.99

$1.40 TMT 4.70

-36.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 TMT 17.68

$6.55 TMT 22.02

-19.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.30 TMT 48.06

$11.33 TMT 38.08

26.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.81 TMT 16.17

$2.81 TMT 9.44

71.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 TMT 8.11

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.28 TMT 24.45

Eggs

$6.01 TMT 20.19

$7.01 TMT 23.56

-14.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$39.33 TMT 132

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.50 TMT 62.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.86 TMT 63.4

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 TMT 18.46

Banana (1kg)

$9.09 TMT 30.54

Oranges (1kg)

$7.79 TMT 26.18

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 TMT 12.19

Potato (1kg)

$2.33 TMT 7.83

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 TMT 6.13

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 TMT 6.90

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 TMT 3.76

$1.15 TMT 3.88

-2.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.97 TMT 87.3

Wine (Bottle)

$41.39 TMT 139

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.65 TMT 15.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 TMT 9.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 TMT 0.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 TMT 29.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 TMT 9.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 TMT 2.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.67 TMT 29.14

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 TMT 1.38

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

$43.3K TMT 145.5K

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

$56.3K TMT 189.3K

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

$569 TMT 1,913

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

$58.1 TMT 195

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 TMT 340

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$198 TMT 667

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.60 TMT 150

Cinema Ticket

$14.56 TMT 48.91

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

$22.76 TMT 76.5

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K TMT 86.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 TMT 223

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$121 TMT 407

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$305 TMT 1,025

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$186 TMT 626

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 TMT 3,839

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 TMT 2,509

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 TMT 6,021

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 TMT 5,317

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,528 TMT 11.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,850 TMT 9,575

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$761 TMT 2,557

$213 TMT 717

256.71%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mary: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ashgabat pays 257% 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 718% in total monthly costs ($3,146 vs $384 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Ashgabat pays 257% more on average, 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 854% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,146 per month in Ashgabat versus $384 in Mary – a 718% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $384 in Mary versus $3,146 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 718% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.