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 $968 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,506 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,043 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Living costs in Turkmenistan vary widely – from $14 in more affordable cities to $3,120 in major hubs, spanning a $3,106 range across 6 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.47 TMT 121

$14.36 TMT 50.3

$57.4 TMT 201

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 TMT 295

$59.1 TMT 207

$338 TMT 1,182

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.76 TMT 44.66

$9.92 TMT 34.73

$14.18 TMT 49.62

Cappuccino

$7.23 TMT 25.31

$1.42 TMT 4.98

$11.37 TMT 39.80

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

$3.14 TMT 11.00

$2.84 TMT 9.93

$12.75 TMT 44.63

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 TMT 2.59

$0.55 TMT 1.94

$1.39 TMT 4.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.17 TMT 18.09

$2.88 TMT 10.07

$14.37 TMT 50.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.37 TMT 50.3

$8.62 TMT 30.16

$17.23 TMT 60.3

Milk (1 liter)

$4.70 TMT 16.46

$3.18 TMT 11.14

$5.79 TMT 20.25

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 TMT 8.15

$1.39 TMT 4.88

$4.18 TMT 14.64

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.06 TMT 17.69

$2.81 TMT 9.84

$12.92 TMT 45.23

Eggs

$6.36 TMT 22.27

$4.05 TMT 14.16

$6.94 TMT 24.29

Local Cheese (1kg)

$39.26 TMT 137

$30.01 TMT 105

$42.07 TMT 147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.05 TMT 56.2

$8.56 TMT 29.96

$28.54 TMT 99.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.36 TMT 64.3

$11.30 TMT 39.55

$42.37 TMT 148

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 TMT 14.83

$1.64 TMT 5.75

$8.33 TMT 29.15

Banana (1kg)

$8.06 TMT 28.21

$3.19 TMT 11.15

$11.56 TMT 40.46

Oranges (1kg)

$6.55 TMT 22.91

$2.56 TMT 8.96

$10.53 TMT 36.86

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 TMT 11.36

$2.01 TMT 7.03

$5.74 TMT 20.08

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 TMT 6.04

$1.07 TMT 3.74

$3.46 TMT 12.11

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 TMT 4.41

$0.67 TMT 2.36

$2.79 TMT 9.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 TMT 6.86

$1.40 TMT 4.90

$2.80 TMT 9.80

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TMT 4.00

$0.88 TMT 3.07

$1.46 TMT 5.10

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$28.77 TMT 101

$25.89 TMT 90.6

$28.77 TMT 101

Wine (Bottle)

$41.40 TMT 145

$3.99 TMT 13.97

$85.7 TMT 300

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.73 TMT 16.56

$2.87 TMT 10.05

$5.73 TMT 20.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TMT 10.30

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 TMT 0.49

$0.29 TMT 1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.60 TMT 30.11

$11.47 TMT 40.16

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 TMT 9.91

$1.42 TMT 4.95

$4.25 TMT 14.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 TMT 3.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.49 TMT 29.72

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 TMT 1.45

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

$44.3K TMT 154.9K

$43.2K TMT 151.2K

$45.3K TMT 158.7K

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

$56.2K TMT 196.8K

$45.0K TMT 157.5K

$67.5K TMT 236.2K

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

$573 TMT 2,005

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

$57.3 TMT 200

$28.64 TMT 100

$65.9 TMT 231

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$184 TMT 644

$79.9 TMT 280

$428 TMT 1,498

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$167 TMT 585

$14.22 TMT 49.78

$284 TMT 995

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.09 TMT 154

$33.77 TMT 118

$44.09 TMT 154

Cinema Ticket

$15.93 TMT 55.8

$8.69 TMT 30.42

$20.28 TMT 71.0

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

$34.68 TMT 121

$23.12 TMT 80.9

$57.8 TMT 202

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K TMT 90.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 TMT 232

$25.89 TMT 90.6

$86.3 TMT 302

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$99.7 TMT 349

$57.0 TMT 199

$128 TMT 449

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$395 TMT 1,383

$159 TMT 556

$578 TMT 2,024

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$288 TMT 1,008

$170 TMT 595

$481 TMT 1,685

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 TMT 3,642

$711 TMT 2,488

$1,990 TMT 6,966

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 TMT 2,294

$285 TMT 997

$1,425 TMT 4,987

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 TMT 5,808

$858 TMT 3,004

$2,861 TMT 10.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 TMT 4,898

$571 TMT 1,999

$2,570 TMT 8,997

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,495 TMT 12.2K

$3,173 TMT 11.1K

$4,217 TMT 14.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,899 TMT 10.1K

$2,582 TMT 9,035

$3,057 TMT 10.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 TMT 2,120

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $271 across Turkmenistan. For reference, capital rent is $1,130 in Ashgabat, and $0 in Turkmenbasi.

National average salary: $487. With average costs at $968, 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 for two.

In Ashgabat (capital), expect about $3,120 per month, while Turkmenbasi offers the lowest costs at $14 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($968) is 28% below the global median of $1,347.

Average rent ($271) is 57% below the global median of $629.

Dining out ($33) is 31% below the global median of $48.

Public transport ($3) is 91% below the global median of $33.

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	-		$75.5	$83.8	$111	$124	37.05	92.37
2	Ashgabat	909000	159	$1,838	$3,120	$4,390	$6,497	127.21	92.37
3	Kaka	-		$81.9	$82.5	$140	$127	193.84	1.09
4	Mary	123000		$324	$384	$870	$779	19.17	68.93
5	Turkmenabat	830000		$2,067	$2,123	$4,558	$4,708	22.57	6.88
6	Turkmenbasi	-		$12.76	$14.43	$21.92	$22.91	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 $3,120 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.

$2,000 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.