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 $965 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,513 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,061 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Living costs in Turkmenistan vary widely – from $14.00 in more affordable cities to $3,149 in major hubs, spanning a $3,135 range across 6 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.43 TMT 115

$14.35 TMT 48.07

$57.4 TMT 192

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.8 TMT 291

$60.8 TMT 204

$347 TMT 1,163

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.73 TMT 42.64

$9.90 TMT 33.16

$14.14 TMT 47.38

Cappuccino

$7.17 TMT 24.04

$1.41 TMT 4.73

$11.28 TMT 37.79

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

$3.21 TMT 10.75

$2.90 TMT 9.70

$13.02 TMT 43.62

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 TMT 2.43

$0.54 TMT 1.82

$1.36 TMT 4.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 TMT 16.85

$2.80 TMT 9.38

$13.99 TMT 46.86

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.30 TMT 47.91

$8.58 TMT 28.73

$17.16 TMT 57.5

Milk (1 liter)

$4.52 TMT 15.14

$3.06 TMT 10.25

$5.56 TMT 18.63

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 TMT 8.21

$1.47 TMT 4.91

$4.40 TMT 14.73

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.26 TMT 17.63

$2.93 TMT 9.81

$13.45 TMT 45.07

Eggs

$6.43 TMT 21.54

$4.09 TMT 13.70

$7.01 TMT 23.49

Local Cheese (1kg)

$39.68 TMT 133

$30.32 TMT 102

$42.52 TMT 142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.00 TMT 53.6

$8.54 TMT 28.59

$28.45 TMT 95.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.68 TMT 62.6

$11.50 TMT 38.52

$43.12 TMT 144

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 TMT 14.68

$1.70 TMT 5.69

$8.61 TMT 28.86

Banana (1kg)

$7.86 TMT 26.33

$3.11 TMT 10.41

$11.27 TMT 37.77

Oranges (1kg)

$6.62 TMT 22.16

$2.59 TMT 8.67

$10.64 TMT 35.65

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 TMT 10.51

$1.94 TMT 6.51

$5.55 TMT 18.58

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 TMT 5.65

$1.05 TMT 3.50

$3.38 TMT 11.33

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 TMT 4.27

$0.68 TMT 2.29

$2.83 TMT 9.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 TMT 6.51

$1.39 TMT 4.66

$2.78 TMT 9.31

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 TMT 3.65

$0.84 TMT 2.81

$1.39 TMT 4.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$28.43 TMT 95.2

$25.58 TMT 85.7

$28.43 TMT 95.2

Wine (Bottle)

$40.42 TMT 135

$4.04 TMT 13.54

$86.6 TMT 290

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 TMT 15.62

$2.83 TMT 9.48

$5.65 TMT 18.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 TMT 9.81

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 TMT 0.52

$0.32 TMT 1.08

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.31 TMT 27.85

$11.09 TMT 37.14

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 TMT 9.32

$1.39 TMT 4.66

$4.17 TMT 13.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 TMT 2.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.58 TMT 28.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.44 TMT 1.49

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

$44.4K TMT 148.6K

$43.3K TMT 145.0K

$45.5K TMT 152.3K

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

$57.3K TMT 192.0K

$45.8K TMT 153.6K

$68.8K TMT 230.4K

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

$563 TMT 1,887

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

$56.6 TMT 190

$28.31 TMT 94.8

$65.1 TMT 218

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$186 TMT 622

$80.6 TMT 270

$432 TMT 1,446

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$166 TMT 557

$14.15 TMT 47.41

$283 TMT 948

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.91 TMT 150

$34.40 TMT 115

$44.91 TMT 150

Cinema Ticket

$15.59 TMT 52.2

$8.50 TMT 28.49

$19.85 TMT 66.5

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

$34.18 TMT 115

$22.79 TMT 76.3

$57.0 TMT 191

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K TMT 84.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 TMT 220

$25.73 TMT 86.2

$85.8 TMT 287

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$100 TMT 336

$57.3 TMT 192

$129 TMT 432

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$388 TMT 1,300

$156 TMT 523

$568 TMT 1,902

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$287 TMT 961

$169 TMT 567

$479 TMT 1,606

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 TMT 3,543

$722 TMT 2,420

$2,023 TMT 6,776

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 TMT 2,177

$283 TMT 947

$1,413 TMT 4,733

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,665 TMT 5,579

$861 TMT 2,886

$2,871 TMT 9,619

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,382 TMT 4,631

$564 TMT 1,890

$2,539 TMT 8,506

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,590 TMT 12.0K

$3,258 TMT 10.9K

$4,336 TMT 14.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,898 TMT 9,709

$2,581 TMT 8,647

$3,057 TMT 10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 TMT 2,197

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $499. With average costs at $965, 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 $34.00 for two.

In Ashgabat (capital), expect about $3,149 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 ($965) is 28% below the global median of $1,336.

Average rent ($265) is 58% below the global median of $631.

Dining out ($34.00) is 29% 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	-		$77.0	$82.4	$128	$126	37.05	92.37
2	Ashgabat	909000	159	$1,780	$3,149	$4,218	$6,636	127.21	92.37
3	Kaka	-		$94.2	$82.4	$140	$126	193.84	1.09
4	Mary	123000		$351	$379	$840	$783	19.17	68.93
5	Turkmenabat	830000		$1,789	$2,081	$4,662	$4,671	22.57	6.88
6	Turkmenbasi	-		$12.56	$14.28	$20.07	$23.18	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 $3,149 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.