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: $3,218 in Ashgabat versus $371 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,933 in Ashgabat versus $569 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,648 in Ashgabat versus $767 in Mary.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 768% more expensive than Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 140% above, Mary is 72% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$35.11 TMT 123

$11.21 TMT 39.25

213.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.5 TMT 296

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.26 TMT 49.93

$8.32 TMT 29.13

71.39%

Cappuccino

$7.09 TMT 24.82

$8.50 TMT 29.76

-16.59%

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

$3.33 TMT 11.64

$6.41 TMT 22.43

-48.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 TMT 3.09

$1.40 TMT 4.91

-37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 TMT 18.52

$6.43 TMT 22.52

-17.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.51 TMT 50.8

$11.60 TMT 40.60

25.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.79 TMT 16.75

$2.77 TMT 9.71

72.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 TMT 8.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.44 TMT 26.03

Eggs

$6.19 TMT 21.68

$6.69 TMT 23.43

-7.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$40.14 TMT 141

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.59 TMT 65.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.74 TMT 65.6

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 TMT 18.69

Banana (1kg)

$8.86 TMT 31.01

Oranges (1kg)

$7.48 TMT 26.18

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 TMT 12.69

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 TMT 8.05

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 TMT 6.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 TMT 6.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 TMT 3.81

$1.15 TMT 4.03

-5.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.64 TMT 89.7

Wine (Bottle)

$41.19 TMT 144

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.74 TMT 16.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TMT 10.28

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 TMT 0.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.42 TMT 29.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 TMT 10.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 TMT 2.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 TMT 30.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 TMT 1.47

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

$43.4K TMT 151.8K

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

$56.6K TMT 198.2K

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

$574 TMT 2,007

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

$57.2 TMT 200

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 TMT 355

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$197 TMT 689

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.92 TMT 154

Cinema Ticket

$14.21 TMT 49.72

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

$22.41 TMT 78.4

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K TMT 90.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 TMT 228

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$121 TMT 422

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$295 TMT 1,033

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$184 TMT 644

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 TMT 3,963

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 TMT 2,599

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 TMT 6,159

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 TMT 5,657

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,496 TMT 12.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,865 TMT 10.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 TMT 2,629

$208 TMT 728

260.97%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mary: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ashgabat pays 261% 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 768% in total monthly costs ($3,218 vs $371 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Ashgabat pays 261% 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 877% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,218 per month in Ashgabat versus $371 in Mary – a 768% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $371 in Mary versus $3,218 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 768% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.