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: $464 in Mary versus $3,334 in Ashgabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $712 in Mary versus $5,091 in Ashgabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $960 in Mary versus $6,848 in Ashgabat.

Living in Mary costs roughly 86% less than in Ashgabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mary is 66% below, Ashgabat is 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.48 TMT 38.46

$31.57 TMT 106

-63.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 TMT 285

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 TMT 28.76

$12.85 TMT 43.06

-33.15%

Cappuccino

$8.66 TMT 29.02

$6.88 TMT 23.05

25.87%

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

$12.98 TMT 43.49

$1.59 TMT 5.34

716.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 TMT 4.67

$0.82 TMT 2.75

69.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.30 TMT 47.90

$5.80 TMT 19.44

146.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.25 TMT 37.68

$13.72 TMT 45.96

-18.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 TMT 9.36

$4.41 TMT 14.77

-36.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 TMT 6.99

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.01 TMT 20.14

Eggs

$6.67 TMT 22.33

$6.10 TMT 20.44

9.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$37.39 TMT 125

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.96 TMT 66.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.41 TMT 78.4

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 TMT 7.43

$4.96 TMT 16.61

-55.24%

Banana (1kg)

$8.53 TMT 28.59

Oranges (1kg)

$7.59 TMT 25.42

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 TMT 4.83

$3.60 TMT 12.05

-60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 TMT 6.56

$2.32 TMT 7.78

-15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 TMT 5.60

$1.40 TMT 4.69

19.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 TMT 8.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 TMT 3.87

$1.09 TMT 3.64

6.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.06 TMT 57.2

$25.76 TMT 86.3

-33.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$40.58 TMT 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.11 TMT 17.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TMT 9.65

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 TMT 0.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.09 TMT 33.80

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TMT 9.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 TMT 2.75

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.75 TMT 29.31

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.44 TMT 1.49

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

$43.6K TMT 146.1K

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

$58.1K TMT 194.6K

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

$577 TMT 1,934

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

$56.5 TMT 189

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 TMT 344

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$196 TMT 657

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.21 TMT 148

Cinema Ticket

$8.70 TMT 29.14

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

$23.24 TMT 77.8

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K TMT 82.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 TMT 184

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$113 TMT 378

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$362 TMT 1,212

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$193 TMT 645

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 TMT 3,793

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$996 TMT 3,337

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 TMT 7,636

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 TMT 6,532

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,565 TMT 11.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,854 TMT 9,559

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$206 TMT 690

$737 TMT 2,470

-72.05%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ashgabat: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ashgabat pays 258% 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 619% in total monthly costs ($464 vs $3,334 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 258% lower in Ashgabat. 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 593% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $464 per month in Mary versus $3,334 in Ashgabat – a 619% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $464 in Mary versus $3,334 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 619% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.