Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashgabat and Turkmenbasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashgabat and Turkmenbasi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,218 in Ashgabat versus $14.22 in Turkmenbasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,933 in Ashgabat versus $19.00 in Turkmenbasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,648 in Ashgabat versus $23.00 in Turkmenbasi.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 22532% more expensive than Turkmenbasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 140% above, Turkmenbasi is 99% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$35.11 TMT 123

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.5 TMT 296

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.26 TMT 49.93

Cappuccino

$7.09 TMT 24.82

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

$3.33 TMT 11.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 TMT 3.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 TMT 18.52

$2.90 TMT 10.15

82.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.51 TMT 50.8

Milk (1 liter)

$4.79 TMT 16.75

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 TMT 8.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.44 TMT 26.03

Eggs

$6.19 TMT 21.68

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

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

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 Turkmenbasi: April 26, 2026

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 Turkmenbasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashgabat and Turkmenbasi differ by about 22532% in total monthly costs ($3,218 vs $14.22 including rent). Turkmenbasi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,827 in Ashgabat and $21.33 in Turkmenbasi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $14.22 in Turkmenbasi versus $3,218 in Ashgabat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Turkmenbasi but tight or insufficient in Ashgabat. The gap between the two cities makes Turkmenbasi 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 Turkmenbasi 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 Turkmenbasi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22532% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.