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.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Turkmenistan
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Turkmenistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,784 in the United States versus $3,362 in Turkmenistan.
United States $2,784
Turkmenistan $3,362
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,982 in the United States versus $5,034 in Turkmenistan.
United States $3,982
Turkmenistan $5,034
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,179 in the United States versus $6,706 in Turkmenistan.
United States $5,179
Turkmenistan $6,706
🌍
Living in the United States costs about 17% less than in Turkmenistan on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: the United States 108% above, Turkmenistan 151% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22$20.22
$28.71TMT 96.5
-29.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1$81.1
$86.4TMT 290
-6.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.12$12.12
$12.74TMT 42.79
-4.87%
Cappuccino
$5.36$5.36
$6.97TMT 23.41
-23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$2.65TMT 8.90
4.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.87TMT 2.93
140.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84$5.84
$5.36TMT 18.00
8.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92$7.92
$12.68TMT 42.59
-37.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$4.35TMT 14.60
-76.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.56$3.56
$1.96TMT 6.57
81.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.69$4.69
$5.61TMT 18.86
-16.40%
Eggs
$4.43$4.43
$5.99TMT 20.13
-26.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91$12.91
$33.44TMT 112
-61.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20$12.20
$18.33TMT 61.6
-33.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.00$17.00
$24.87TMT 83.6
-31.64%
Apples(1kg)
$5.31$5.31
$4.41TMT 14.82
20.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$8.61TMT 28.92
-80.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.49$4.49
$7.32TMT 24.59
-38.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.05$5.05
$3.81TMT 12.79
32.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$2.35TMT 7.91
20.43%
Onion(1kg)
$3.00$3.00
$1.44TMT 4.83
108.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28$2.28
$2.70TMT 9.07
-15.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$1.09TMT 3.66
108.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33$10.33
$26.12TMT 87.8
-60.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.72$14.72
$40.19TMT 135
-63.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$5.13TMT 17.25
-60.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66$3.66
$2.88TMT 9.68
27.08%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33$2.33
$0.13TMT 0.42
1692.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.1$65.1
$10.24TMT 34.40
535.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60$3.60
$2.93TMT 9.84
22.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90$1.90
$0.84TMT 2.81
126.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.81$29.81
$8.46TMT 28.43
252.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$0.42TMT 1.40
145.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K$35.1K
$44.4KTMT 149.2K
-20.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$56.6KTMT 190.3K
-53.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216$216
$576TMT 1,935
-62.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3$62.3
$53.9TMT 181
15.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6$74.6
$97.8TMT 329
-23.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.70$44.70
$194TMT 651
-76.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55$22.55
$44.44TMT 149
-49.26%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19$15.19
$8.64TMT 29.01
75.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,440$1,440
$22.66TMT 76.2
6255.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.2K$25.2K
$24.4KTMT 82.1K
3.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7$53.7
$56.6TMT 190
-5.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44$42.44
$112TMT 377
-62.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4$93.4
$362TMT 1,217
-74.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$195TMT 655
-41.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,622$1,622
$1,388TMT 4,665
16.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,357$1,357
$1,016TMT 3,414
33.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,681$2,681
$1,754TMT 5,893
52.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,170$2,170
$1,943TMT 6,530
11.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,294$3,294
$3,604TMT 12.1K
-8.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,674$2,674
$2,840TMT 9,542
-5.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Turkmenistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,242$4,242
$678TMT 2,278
525.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
9.5
-31.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Last update for Turkmenistan: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.4K 49.4%
Turkmenistan
$1K 30.2% ↓ 25.1%$340
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$411 15%
Turkmenistan
$644 19.2% ↑ 56.7%$233
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$353 12.9%
Turkmenistan
$728 21.7% ↑ 106%$375
🍽Eating Out
United States
$327 11.9%
Turkmenistan
$418 12.4% ↑ 27.7%$91
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
Turkmenistan
$327 9.7% ↑ 139%$190
🚌Getting Around
United States
$87 3.2%
Turkmenistan
$18 0.5% ↓ 79.6%$70
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75 2.7%
Turkmenistan
$211 6.3% ↑ 181%$136
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.3%
Turkmenistan
$1.9K 29% ↓ 10.4%$227
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$942 17.9%
Turkmenistan
$1.5K 21.8% ↑ 55.2%$520
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$415 7.9%
Turkmenistan
$782 11.7% ↑ 88.2%$366
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.3%
Turkmenistan
$1.3K 19.3% ↑ 21.4%$228
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$304 5.8%
Turkmenistan
$726 10.8% ↑ 139%$422
🚌Getting Around
United States
$180 3.4%
Turkmenistan
$36 0.5% ↓ 80%$144
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$173 3.3%
Turkmenistan
$466 7% ↑ 170%$294
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,605 in the United States, $234 in Turkmenistan. Capital cities: $2,726 in Washington, DC vs $1,402 in Ashgabat.
💰National salary averages: $4,534 in the United States, $472 in Turkmenistan. 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.
United States→Turkmenistan11,090 km≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
Turkmenistan
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
United States vs Turkmenistan: 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.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared