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: $379 in Mary versus $3,149 in Ashgabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $581 in Mary versus $4,892 in Ashgabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $783 in Mary versus $6,636 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 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 TMT 39.03

$34.40 TMT 116

-66.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 TMT 287

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 TMT 28.66

$14.22 TMT 47.77

-40.01%

Cappuccino

$8.59 TMT 28.87

$7.19 TMT 24.17

19.47%

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

$6.59 TMT 22.15

$3.17 TMT 10.67

107.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 TMT 4.93

$0.94 TMT 3.16

56.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.82 TMT 22.93

$5.28 TMT 17.74

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.35 TMT 38.13

$14.19 TMT 47.67

-20.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.82 TMT 9.46

$4.85 TMT 16.29

-41.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 TMT 8.18

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.15 TMT 24.02

Eggs

$6.79 TMT 22.81

$6.12 TMT 20.57

10.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$40.33 TMT 136

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.24 TMT 61.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.50 TMT 62.2

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 TMT 18.77

Banana (1kg)

$9.01 TMT 30.27

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 TMT 26.32

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 TMT 12.17

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 TMT 7.57

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 TMT 6.14

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 TMT 6.65

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 TMT 3.94

$1.14 TMT 3.82

2.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$26.11 TMT 87.7

Wine (Bottle)

$41.56 TMT 140

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.69 TMT 15.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 TMT 9.41

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 TMT 0.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 TMT 28.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 TMT 9.56

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 TMT 2.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 TMT 29.57

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 TMT 1.50

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

$44.8K TMT 150.5K

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

$57.2K TMT 192.1K

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

$569 TMT 1,911

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

$57.6 TMT 194

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 TMT 345

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$195 TMT 657

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.83 TMT 151

Cinema Ticket

$14.37 TMT 48.27

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

$22.96 TMT 77.2

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K TMT 84.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 TMT 223

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$121 TMT 407

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$304 TMT 1,021

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$187 TMT 627

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,109 TMT 3,726

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$739 TMT 2,482

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,797 TMT 6,038

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 TMT 5,301

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,489 TMT 11.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,850 TMT 9,575

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 TMT 717

$763 TMT 2,564

-72.03%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ashgabat: July 12, 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 731% in total monthly costs ($379 vs $3,149 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 864% higher in Ashgabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $379 per month in Mary versus $3,149 in Ashgabat – a 731% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $379 in Mary versus $3,149 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 731% less than in Ashgabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.