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: $3,146 in Ashgabat versus $14.03 in Turkmenbasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,862 in Ashgabat versus $19.00 in Turkmenbasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,579 in Ashgabat versus $22.97 in Turkmenbasi.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 22326% more expensive than Turkmenbasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 134% above, Turkmenbasi is 99% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$35.27 TMT 118

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 TMT 291

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.14 TMT 47.53

Cappuccino

$7.18 TMT 24.11

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

$3.22 TMT 10.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 TMT 2.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 TMT 17.68

$2.80 TMT 9.40

87.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.30 TMT 48.06

Milk (1 liter)

$4.81 TMT 16.17

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 TMT 8.11

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.28 TMT 24.45

Eggs

$6.01 TMT 20.19

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

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

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 Turkmenbasi: June 7, 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 22326% in total monthly costs ($3,146 vs $14.03 including rent). Turkmenbasi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,720 in Ashgabat and $21.04 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 $14.03 in Turkmenbasi versus $3,146 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 22326% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.