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: $3,420 in Ashgabat versus $14.19 in Turkmenbasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,169 in Ashgabat versus $18.00 in Turkmenbasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,918 in Ashgabat versus $22.44 in Turkmenbasi.

Living in Ashgabat is roughly 24000% more expensive than in Turkmenbasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashgabat is 150% above, Turkmenbasi is 99% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.39 TMT 105

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.4 TMT 286

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 TMT 42.67

Cappuccino

$6.60 TMT 22.11

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

$1.55 TMT 5.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 TMT 2.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.55 TMT 18.59

$2.82 TMT 9.46

96.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.79 TMT 46.20

Milk (1 liter)

$4.48 TMT 14.99

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 TMT 6.67

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.88 TMT 19.69

Eggs

$6.15 TMT 20.59

Local Cheese (1kg)

$37.88 TMT 127

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.23 TMT 67.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.77 TMT 76.3

Apples (1kg)

$5.10 TMT 17.10

Banana (1kg)

$8.67 TMT 29.04

Oranges (1kg)

$7.42 TMT 24.87

Tomato (1kg)

$3.77 TMT 12.62

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 TMT 7.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 TMT 4.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 TMT 9.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 TMT 3.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.23 TMT 84.5

Wine (Bottle)

$40.72 TMT 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.22 TMT 17.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 TMT 9.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 TMT 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 TMT 33.92

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 TMT 9.33

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 TMT 2.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.42 TMT 28.22

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 TMT 1.49

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

$44.0K TMT 147.4K

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

$56.1K TMT 187.9K

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

$579 TMT 1,939

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

$56.9 TMT 191

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 TMT 347

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$194 TMT 649

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.93 TMT 151

Cinema Ticket

$8.31 TMT 27.83

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

$22.68 TMT 76.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K TMT 83.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 TMT 184

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$114 TMT 383

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$367 TMT 1,230

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$190 TMT 635

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,104 TMT 3,699

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$989 TMT 3,312

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,235 TMT 7,487

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 TMT 6,500

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,608 TMT 12.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,890 TMT 9,683

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 TMT 2,490

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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Turkmenbasi: August 17, 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 24000% in total monthly costs ($3,420 vs $14.19 including rent). Turkmenbasi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,130 in Ashgabat and $21.29 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 $14.19 in Turkmenbasi versus $3,420 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 24000% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.