Cost of Living in Turkmenistan - Updated Prices & Insights

128.83
Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,973 (excluding rent), and $3,184 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $4,481 (excluding rent), and $6,525 including rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.42 TMT 115
$14.34 TMT 48.05
$57.4 TMT 192
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 TMT 283
$59.2 TMT 198
$338 TMT 1,133
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.09 TMT 43.86
$10.18 TMT 34.1
$14.55 TMT 48.74
Cappuccino
$7.33 TMT 24.57
$1.44 TMT 4.83
$11.53 TMT 38.62
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 TMT 10.91
$2.94 TMT 9.84
$13.21 TMT 44.26
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 TMT 2.62
$0.59 TMT 1.96
$1.47 TMT 4.92
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.18 TMT 17.35
$2.88 TMT 9.66
$14.4 TMT 48.24
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$14.4 TMT 48.25
$8.64 TMT 28.94
$17.28 TMT 57.9
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$4.77 TMT 15.99
$3.23 TMT 10.82
$5.87 TMT 19.67
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 TMT 7.96
$1.42 TMT 4.76
$4.26 TMT 14.28
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.21 TMT 17.46
$2.9 TMT 9.71
$13.32 TMT 44.63
Eggs
$6.47 TMT 21.67
$4.11 TMT 13.78
$7.06 TMT 23.64
Local Cheese (1kg)
$40.54 TMT 136
$30.98 TMT 104
$43.44 TMT 146
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.32 TMT 54.7
$8.7 TMT 29.15
$29.01 TMT 97.2
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.34 TMT 61.4
$11.29 TMT 37.81
$42.32 TMT 142
Apples (1kg)
$4.24 TMT 14.19
$1.64 TMT 5.5
$8.33 TMT 27.9
Banana (1kg)
$8.2 TMT 27.46
$3.24 TMT 10.85
$11.76 TMT 39.39
Oranges (1kg)
$6.49 TMT 21.73
$2.54 TMT 8.5
$10.44 TMT 34.96
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 TMT 10.56
$1.95 TMT 6.54
$5.57 TMT 18.68
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 TMT 5.87
$1.09 TMT 3.64
$3.52 TMT 11.78
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 TMT 4.29
$0.68 TMT 2.29
$2.84 TMT 9.5
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 TMT 6.79
$1.45 TMT 4.85
$2.9 TMT 9.71
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 TMT 3.71
$0.85 TMT 2.85
$1.41 TMT 4.74
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$28.03 TMT 93.9
$25.23 TMT 84.5
$28.03 TMT 93.9
Wine (Bottle)
$42.05 TMT 141
$3.92 TMT 13.15
$84.1 TMT 282
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.64 TMT 15.54
$2.82 TMT 9.44
$5.62 TMT 18.84
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 TMT 9.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 TMT 0.5
$0.15 TMT 0.5
$0.31 TMT 1.04
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.7 TMT 29.15
$8.7 TMT 29.15
$11.61 TMT 38.88
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 TMT 9.4
$1.4 TMT 4.7
$4.21 TMT 14.11
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 TMT 2.8
$0.84 TMT 2.8
$0.84 TMT 2.8
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.79 TMT 29.45
$8.79 TMT 29.45
$8.79 TMT 29.45
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.44 TMT 1.48
$0.44 TMT 1.48
$0.44 TMT 1.48
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.4K TMT 145.3K
$42.3K TMT 141.8K
$44.4K TMT 148.8K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.3K TMT 191.9K
$45.8K TMT 153.5K
$68.7K TMT 230.3K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$571 TMT 1,912
$571 TMT 1,912
$571 TMT 1,912
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.7 TMT 190
$28.36 TMT 95
$65.2 TMT 219
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$182 TMT 608
$78.8 TMT 264
$422 TMT 1,414
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$165 TMT 554
$14.08 TMT 47.18
$282 TMT 943
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.62 TMT 153
$34.95 TMT 117
$45.62 TMT 153
Cinema Ticket
$15.98 TMT 53.5
$8.72 TMT 29.2
$20.34 TMT 68.2
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$33.65 TMT 113
$22.43 TMT 75.2
$56.1 TMT 188
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K TMT 87.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.3 TMT 219
$25.55 TMT 85.6
$85.2 TMT 285
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$100 TMT 337
$57.4 TMT 192
$129 TMT 433
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$394 TMT 1,320
$159 TMT 531
$577 TMT 1,932
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$285 TMT 956
$168 TMT 564
$477 TMT 1,598
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,040 TMT 3,485
$711 TMT 2,380
$1,989 TMT 6,665
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 TMT 2,209
$287 TMT 960
$1,433 TMT 4,802
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 TMT 5,623
$868 TMT 2,908
$2,894 TMT 9,695
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,423 TMT 4,766
$581 TMT 1,945
$2,613 TMT 8,754
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,667 TMT 15.6K
$2,800 TMT 9,381
$7,001 TMT 23.5K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,013 TMT 10.1K
$2,439 TMT 8,172
$3,444 TMT 11.5K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$675 TMT 2,261
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
5
12
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Cost of Living in Turkmenistan - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Turkmenistan stack up on affordability for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, and who tends to get the best value there?
Turkmenistan generally offers moderate affordability for travelers and longer stays, especially outside major cities. Cost of Living in Turkmenistan varies by area, with local markets and street food keeping daily meals economical, while imported items can push up costs. Housing is often affordable in smaller towns if you’re open to local arrangements, though choices may be tighter in the capital. Public transit and shared taxis provide inexpensive options, and walking or cycling around town keeps expenses down. For longer stays, negotiate a fair longer-term rate in housing and be mindful of service charges in formal accommodations. Tip: map out expat-friendly neighborhoods and set a flexible budget that accounts for occasional price spikes.
What does daily life look like in Turkmenistan in terms of housing, food, transport, and errands for someone staying a few months?
Daily life centers on balancing housing, food, transport, and errands across neighborhoods that fit your pace. You’ll find a range of housing – from modest apartments to satellite towns – often with negotiable terms for longer stays. Turkmenistan living cost tends to be lower outside the capital, though you may see higher prices for imported goods or services tied to the expat scene in Ashgabat. To keep costs predictable, cook at home with local produce, use public transit or shared taxis, and shop at markets for fresh staples. For work and errands, seek up-to-date listings and ask locals for reliable, affordable options. Tip: build a simple monthly budget and track it weekly.
How can you judge quality of life and create a budgeting framework to save money while staying in Turkmenistan?
Quality of life comes from reliable services, access to healthcare, internet, and a pace that suits you. When choosing a neighborhood, look for proximity to markets, cafes, and quiet streets. A simple budgeting framework helps: categorize housing, food, transport, and personal expenses; assign a monthly cap for each; and review it weekly to accommodate seasonal shifts – for example hotter months may increase cooling costs and outdoor activity opportunities. Stay flexible and tap into local networks for deals on coworking spaces or gym memberships. Tip: keep a small contingency fund and rotate weekend outings to balance savings with new experiences.
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