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: $3,109 in Ashgabat versus $379 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,786 in Ashgabat versus $578 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,463 in Ashgabat versus $777 in Mary.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 719% more expensive than in 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

$35.12 TMT 118

$11.22 TMT 37.70

213.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 TMT 282

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.34 TMT 48.19

$8.77 TMT 29.47

63.51%

Cappuccino

$7.20 TMT 24.19

$8.53 TMT 28.65

-15.59%

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

$3.28 TMT 11.01

$6.56 TMT 22.03

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 TMT 3.00

$1.46 TMT 4.90

-39.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 TMT 17.43

$6.76 TMT 22.71

-23.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.49 TMT 48.69

$11.47 TMT 38.53

26.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.96 TMT 16.67

$2.88 TMT 9.68

72.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 TMT 7.96

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.24 TMT 24.33

Eggs

$6.31 TMT 21.21

$6.74 TMT 22.65

-6.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$40.74 TMT 137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.78 TMT 63.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.75 TMT 63.0

Apples (1kg)

$5.48 TMT 18.40

Banana (1kg)

$8.78 TMT 29.51

Oranges (1kg)

$7.85 TMT 26.39

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 TMT 11.61

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 TMT 7.48

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 TMT 5.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 TMT 6.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 TMT 3.70

$1.13 TMT 3.79

-2.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.79 TMT 86.6

Wine (Bottle)

$41.98 TMT 141

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.63 TMT 15.57

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TMT 9.88

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 TMT 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.35 TMT 28.07

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 TMT 9.38

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 TMT 2.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 TMT 28.57

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 TMT 1.38

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

$43.2K TMT 145.3K

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

$57.2K TMT 192.2K

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

$578 TMT 1,943

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

$57.7 TMT 194

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 TMT 348

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$196 TMT 659

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.49 TMT 149

Cinema Ticket

$14.03 TMT 47.14

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

$23.12 TMT 77.7

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K TMT 85.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.7 TMT 224

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$121 TMT 405

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$305 TMT 1,024

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$184 TMT 619

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 TMT 3,786

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 TMT 2,494

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 TMT 6,107

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 TMT 5,486

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,513 TMT 11.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,877 TMT 9,667

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$742 TMT 2,494

$208 TMT 698

257.14%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mary: July 26, 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 719% in total monthly costs ($3,109 vs $379 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 257% 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 871% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,109 per month in Ashgabat versus $379 in Mary – a 719% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $379 in Mary versus $3,109 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 719% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.