Cost of Living in Turkmenistan - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Turkmenistan
Address: TM

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $972 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,495 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,017 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Living costs in Turkmenistan vary widely – from $14.00 in more affordable cities to $3,178 in major hubs, spanning a $3,164 range across 6 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$33.96 TMT 114

$14.15 TMT 47.55

$56.6 TMT 190

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.8 TMT 292

$60.8 TMT 204

$347 TMT 1,167

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.71 TMT 42.71

$9.88 TMT 33.21

$14.12 TMT 47.46

Cappuccino

$7.41 TMT 24.91

$1.46 TMT 4.90

$11.66 TMT 39.17

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

$3.26 TMT 10.96

$2.94 TMT 9.89

$13.24 TMT 44.47

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 TMT 2.45

$0.55 TMT 1.84

$1.37 TMT 4.61

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 TMT 17.56

$2.91 TMT 9.77

$14.53 TMT 48.81

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.36 TMT 48.26

$8.61 TMT 28.94

$17.23 TMT 57.9

Milk (1 liter)

$4.67 TMT 15.69

$3.16 TMT 10.62

$5.75 TMT 19.31

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 TMT 7.99

$1.42 TMT 4.78

$4.27 TMT 14.35

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 TMT 17.14

$2.84 TMT 9.54

$13.04 TMT 43.82

Eggs

$6.24 TMT 20.97

$3.97 TMT 13.34

$6.81 TMT 22.87

Local Cheese (1kg)

$39.52 TMT 133

$30.20 TMT 101

$42.34 TMT 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.08 TMT 54.0

$8.58 TMT 28.82

$28.59 TMT 96.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.81 TMT 63.2

$11.58 TMT 38.91

$43.42 TMT 146

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 TMT 14.82

$1.71 TMT 5.75

$8.67 TMT 29.14

Banana (1kg)

$8.13 TMT 27.33

$3.21 TMT 10.80

$11.66 TMT 39.19

Oranges (1kg)

$6.70 TMT 22.50

$2.62 TMT 8.80

$10.77 TMT 36.19

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 TMT 10.77

$1.98 TMT 6.67

$5.66 TMT 19.03

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 TMT 5.85

$1.08 TMT 3.62

$3.49 TMT 11.73

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 TMT 4.28

$0.68 TMT 2.29

$2.82 TMT 9.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 TMT 6.65

$1.42 TMT 4.76

$2.83 TMT 9.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 TMT 3.80

$0.87 TMT 2.92

$1.44 TMT 4.85

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$29.01 TMT 97.5

$26.11 TMT 87.7

$29.01 TMT 97.5

Wine (Bottle)

$40.55 TMT 136

$4.06 TMT 13.63

$86.9 TMT 292

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.77 TMT 16.04

$2.90 TMT 9.74

$5.79 TMT 19.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 TMT 9.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 TMT 0.42

$0.26 TMT 0.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.42 TMT 28.29

$11.23 TMT 37.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 TMT 9.45

$1.41 TMT 4.72

$4.22 TMT 14.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 TMT 2.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 TMT 28.63

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 TMT 1.40

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

$44.5K TMT 149.5K

$43.4K TMT 145.8K

$45.6K TMT 153.1K

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

$56.0K TMT 188.2K

$44.8K TMT 150.6K

$67.2K TMT 225.9K

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

$566 TMT 1,902

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

$58.3 TMT 196

$29.13 TMT 97.9

$67.0 TMT 225

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 TMT 621

$80.2 TMT 269

$429 TMT 1,443

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$170 TMT 571

$14.46 TMT 48.60

$289 TMT 972

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.64 TMT 150

$34.20 TMT 115

$44.64 TMT 150

Cinema Ticket

$15.46 TMT 52.0

$8.44 TMT 28.34

$19.69 TMT 66.2

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

$34.63 TMT 116

$23.09 TMT 77.6

$57.7 TMT 194

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K TMT 86.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 TMT 219

$25.47 TMT 85.6

$84.9 TMT 285

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$102 TMT 341

$58.0 TMT 195

$130 TMT 438

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$396 TMT 1,331

$159 TMT 536

$580 TMT 1,948

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$293 TMT 985

$173 TMT 581

$490 TMT 1,647

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 TMT 3,557

$723 TMT 2,429

$2,025 TMT 6,802

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 TMT 2,239

$290 TMT 973

$1,448 TMT 4,867

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,686 TMT 5,664

$872 TMT 2,929

$2,906 TMT 9,765

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 TMT 4,661

$566 TMT 1,902

$2,548 TMT 8,560

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,509 TMT 11.8K

$3,185 TMT 10.7K

$4,239 TMT 14.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,817 TMT 9,464

$2,508 TMT 8,428

$2,971 TMT 9,982

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 TMT 2,220

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $491. With average costs at $972, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $188 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $33.00 for two.

In Ashgabat (capital), expect about $3,178 per month, while Turkmenbasi offers the lowest costs at $14.00 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($972) is 27% below the global median of $1,340.

Average rent ($271) is 57% below the global median of $627.

Dining out ($33.00) is 31% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($3.00) is 91% below the global median of $33.00.

By City in Turkmenistan

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Abadan	-		$82.8	$82.5	$107	$123	37.05	92.37
2	Ashgabat	909000	159	$1,950	$3,178	$4,606	$6,405	127.21	92.37
3	Kaka	-		$87.9	$82.3	$121	$123	193.84	1.09
4	Mary	123000		$370	$378	$886	$768	19.17	68.93
5	Turkmenabat	830000		$1,878	$2,097	$3,959	$4,659	22.57	6.88
6	Turkmenbasi	-		$12.86	$14.17	$21.38	$22.96	29.34	9.15

Turkmenistan Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Turkmenistan - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

Turkmenistan covers a wide cost spectrum. As of 2026, monthly expenses run from about $14.00 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $3,178 in the priciest areas. The gap is big enough to meaningfully affect lifestyle for anyone on a fixed income.

As a lower-cost destination, Turkmenistan attracts expats, retirees, and long-term visitors on fixed budgets. Smaller cities are especially wallet-friendly, while bigger centers charge more but remain competitive globally.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in Turkmenistan drop fast. Turkmenbasi is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$1,200 a month goes far in Turkmenistan, especially outside the big cities. It's a realistic single-person budget that covers housing, food, transport, and leisure comfortably.

Living in Turkmenistan is cheap by global standards. Regional cities offer the best value, with the capital Ashgabat sitting higher. Low living costs are one of the country's main draws for expats, retirees, and anyone stretching a budget.