Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Turkmenistan and the United States

For one person, living is cheaper in the United States: $2,785 a month against $3,362 in Turkmenistan, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. The total is higher in Turkmenistan despite lower rent and utilities.

🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
$3,362
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Turkmenistan and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Turkmenistan and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,362 in Turkmenistan versus $2,784 in the United States.

  • Turkmenistan $3,362
  • United States $2,784

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,034 in Turkmenistan versus $3,982 in the United States.

  • Turkmenistan $5,034
  • United States $3,982

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,706 in Turkmenistan versus $5,179 in the United States.

  • Turkmenistan $6,706
  • United States $5,179

Living in Turkmenistan is roughly 21% more expensive than in the United States on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Turkmenistan 151% above, the United States 108% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.71 TMT 96.5
$20.22 $20.22
41.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.4 TMT 290
$81.1 $81.1
6.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.74 TMT 42.79
$12.12 $12.12
5.12%
Cappuccino
$6.97 TMT 23.41
$5.36 $5.36
30.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 TMT 8.90
$2.77 $2.77
-4.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 TMT 2.93
$2.09 $2.09
-58.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.36 TMT 18.00
$5.84 $5.84
-8.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.68 TMT 42.59
$7.92 $7.92
60.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.35 TMT 14.60
$1.04 $1.04
318.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 TMT 6.57
$3.56 $3.56
-44.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.61 TMT 18.86
$4.69 $4.69
19.62%
Eggs
$5.99 TMT 20.13
$4.43 $4.43
35.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$33.44 TMT 112
$12.91 $12.91
159.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.33 TMT 61.6
$12.20 $12.20
50.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.87 TMT 83.6
$17.00 $17.00
46.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.41 TMT 14.82
$5.31 $5.31
-16.95%
Banana (1kg)
$8.61 TMT 28.92
$1.67 $1.67
415.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.32 TMT 24.59
$4.49 $4.49
63.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.81 TMT 12.79
$5.05 $5.05
-24.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.35 TMT 7.91
$2.83 $2.83
-16.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 TMT 4.83
$3.00 $3.00
-52.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 TMT 9.07
$2.28 $2.28
18.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 TMT 3.66
$2.27 $2.27
-51.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.12 TMT 87.8
$10.33 $10.33
152.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$40.19 TMT 135
$14.72 $14.72
173.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.13 TMT 17.25
$2.05 $2.05
150.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 TMT 9.68
$3.66 $3.66
-21.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 TMT 0.42
$2.33 $2.33
-94.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TMT 34.40
$65.1 $65.1
-84.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 TMT 9.84
$3.60 $3.60
-18.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 TMT 2.81
$1.90 $1.90
-55.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.46 TMT 28.43
$29.81 $29.81
-71.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.42 TMT 1.40
$1.03 $1.03
-59.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.4K TMT 149.2K
$35.1K $35.1K
26.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.6K TMT 190.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
115.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$576 TMT 1,935
$216 $216
166.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 TMT 181
$62.3 $62.3
-13.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.8 TMT 329
$74.6 $74.6
31.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$194 TMT 651
$44.70 $44.70
333.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.44 TMT 149
$22.55 $22.55
97.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.64 TMT 29.01
$15.19 $15.19
-43.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$22.66 TMT 76.2
$1,440 $1,440
-98.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K TMT 82.1K
$25.2K $25.2K
-3.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6 TMT 190
$53.7 $53.7
5.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$112 TMT 377
$42.44 $42.44
164.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$362 TMT 1,217
$93.4 $93.4
288.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$195 TMT 655
$115 $115
69.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,388 TMT 4,665
$1,622 $1,622
-14.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 TMT 3,414
$1,357 $1,357
-25.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,754 TMT 5,893
$2,681 $2,681
-34.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,943 TMT 6,530
$2,170 $2,170
-10.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,604 TMT 12.1K
$3,294 $3,294
9.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,840 TMT 9,542
$2,674 $2,674
6.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turkmenistan
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 TMT 2,278
$4,242 $4,242
-84.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.5
6.55
45.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Turkmenistan: October 4, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Turkmenistan
$1K
United States
$1.4K 33.5% $340
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turkmenistan
$728
United States
$353 51.5% $375
Groceries & Markets
Turkmenistan
$644
United States
$411 36.2% $233
Eating Out
Turkmenistan
$418
United States
$327 21.7% $91
Clothing & Footwear
Turkmenistan
$327
United States
$137 58.1% $190
Sport & Entertainment
Turkmenistan
$211
United States
$75 64.4% $136
Getting Around
Turkmenistan
$18
United States
$87 390% $70

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $234 in Turkmenistan, $1,605 in the United States. Capital cities: $1,402 in Ashgabat vs $2,726 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $472 in Turkmenistan, $4,534 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 586% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 74% more in the United States.

Public transport is 1250% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 861% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
10:58 10:58 AM
01:58 1:58 AM
9 h behind Turkmenistan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,117,933
340,110,988
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TMT – Turkmenistani Manat Converter

Turkmenistani Manat exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.36 TMT (1 TMT = 0.298 USD). 1 EUR = 3.77 TMT (1 TMT = 0.265 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Turkmenistan United States 11,090 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Turkmenistan
  • United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Turkmenistan vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Turkmenistan or the United States?
At $3,362 per month in Turkmenistan and $2,784 in the United States, there's a 21% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Does the cost gap hold in every spending category?
Overall, the United States is the cheaper option, but not in every category: rent, groceries, transport, and eating out each follow their own pattern. Check the categories you spend the most on before deciding.
How far does $4,000 go in Turkmenistan compared to the United States?
In the United States, $4,000 covers most cities easily; in Turkmenistan it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Turkmenistan and in the United States?
It depends on what you're after: the United States wins on affordability; Turkmenistan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Turkmenistan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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