Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Ashgabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Ashgabat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $378 in Mary versus $3,178 in Ashgabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Mary versus $4,791 in Ashgabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $768 in Mary versus $6,405 in Ashgabat.

Living in Mary costs roughly 88% less than in Ashgabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mary is 72% below, Ashgabat is 137% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.27 TMT 37.88

$34.57 TMT 116

-67.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.5 TMT 284

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 TMT 28.70

$14.03 TMT 47.15

-39.13%

Cappuccino

$8.53 TMT 28.66

$6.85 TMT 23.02

24.53%

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

$6.49 TMT 21.80

$3.28 TMT 11.03

97.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 TMT 4.71

$0.94 TMT 3.17

48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.70 TMT 22.50

$5.17 TMT 17.38

29.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.49 TMT 38.61

$14.45 TMT 48.56

-20.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 TMT 9.65

$4.78 TMT 16.05

-39.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 TMT 8.25

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.14 TMT 23.99

Eggs

$6.66 TMT 22.38

$6.07 TMT 20.39

9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$40.72 TMT 137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.21 TMT 61.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.32 TMT 61.6

Apples (1kg)

$5.58 TMT 18.75

Banana (1kg)

$8.68 TMT 29.17

Oranges (1kg)

$7.52 TMT 25.26

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 TMT 11.98

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 TMT 7.52

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 TMT 6.10

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 TMT 6.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 TMT 3.75

$1.08 TMT 3.63

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.93 TMT 87.1

Wine (Bottle)

$41.52 TMT 140

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.62 TMT 15.51

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 TMT 9.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 TMT 0.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.58 TMT 28.84

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 TMT 9.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 TMT 2.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 TMT 29.57

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 TMT 1.40

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

$44.7K TMT 150.3K

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

$57.6K TMT 193.5K

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

$565 TMT 1,898

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

$56.7 TMT 191

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 TMT 347

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$192 TMT 645

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.56 TMT 150

Cinema Ticket

$14.24 TMT 47.86

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

$23.29 TMT 78.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.2K TMT 87.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.8 TMT 218

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 TMT 411

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$305 TMT 1,025

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$187 TMT 629

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 TMT 3,804

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 TMT 2,474

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 TMT 6,000

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 TMT 5,336

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,519 TMT 11.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,912 TMT 9,783

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 TMT 719

$742 TMT 2,494

-71.17%

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 Mary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ashgabat: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ashgabat pays 247% 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

Mary vs Ashgabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mary and Ashgabat differ by about 741% in total monthly costs ($378 vs $3,178 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ashgabat earns 247% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 866% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $378 per month in Mary versus $3,178 in Ashgabat – a 741% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $378 in Mary versus $3,178 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, Mary and Ashgabat 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 741% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.