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 $978 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,502 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,026 including rent across Turkmenistan.

Living costs in Turkmenistan vary widely – from $14.00 in more affordable cities to $3,211 in major hubs, spanning a $3,197 range across 6 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$33.63 TMT 113

$14.02 TMT 46.96

$56.1 TMT 188

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.0 TMT 291

$60.9 TMT 204

$348 TMT 1,166

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.64 TMT 42.36

$9.83 TMT 32.94

$14.05 TMT 47.07

Cappuccino

$7.40 TMT 24.78

$1.45 TMT 4.87

$11.63 TMT 38.95

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

$3.11 TMT 10.41

$2.80 TMT 9.39

$12.60 TMT 42.21

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 TMT 2.51

$0.56 TMT 1.88

$1.41 TMT 4.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 TMT 17.12

$2.84 TMT 9.53

$14.21 TMT 47.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.09 TMT 47.19

$8.45 TMT 28.30

$16.90 TMT 56.6

Milk (1 liter)

$4.54 TMT 15.20

$3.07 TMT 10.29

$5.58 TMT 18.70

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 TMT 8.19

$1.46 TMT 4.90

$4.39 TMT 14.70

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.23 TMT 17.53

$2.91 TMT 9.76

$13.38 TMT 44.82

Eggs

$6.25 TMT 20.93

$3.97 TMT 13.31

$6.81 TMT 22.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$40.18 TMT 135

$30.70 TMT 103

$43.05 TMT 144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.78 TMT 52.9

$8.41 TMT 28.19

$28.05 TMT 94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 TMT 62.7

$11.52 TMT 38.58

$43.18 TMT 145

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 TMT 14.93

$1.73 TMT 5.79

$8.76 TMT 29.36

Banana (1kg)

$7.85 TMT 26.31

$3.10 TMT 10.40

$11.26 TMT 37.73

Oranges (1kg)

$6.60 TMT 22.11

$2.58 TMT 8.65

$10.62 TMT 35.57

Tomato (1kg)

$3.21 TMT 10.77

$1.99 TMT 6.67

$5.68 TMT 19.04

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 TMT 5.89

$1.09 TMT 3.65

$3.53 TMT 11.82

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 TMT 4.40

$0.70 TMT 2.35

$2.91 TMT 9.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 TMT 6.54

$1.40 TMT 4.68

$2.79 TMT 9.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 TMT 3.85

$0.88 TMT 2.96

$1.47 TMT 4.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$28.35 TMT 95.0

$25.51 TMT 85.5

$28.35 TMT 95.0

Wine (Bottle)

$39.37 TMT 132

$3.94 TMT 13.19

$84.4 TMT 283

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.69 TMT 15.71

$2.85 TMT 9.54

$5.69 TMT 19.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 TMT 9.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 TMT 0.43

$0.27 TMT 0.89

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.75 TMT 29.31

$11.67 TMT 39.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 TMT 9.33

$1.39 TMT 4.67

$4.18 TMT 14.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 TMT 2.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.68 TMT 29.08

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 TMT 1.40

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

$43.2K TMT 144.7K

$42.1K TMT 141.2K

$44.2K TMT 148.2K

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

$56.7K TMT 190.0K

$45.4K TMT 152.0K

$68.1K TMT 228.0K

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

$561 TMT 1,880

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

$57.4 TMT 192

$28.69 TMT 96.1

$66.0 TMT 221

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$181 TMT 607

$78.6 TMT 263

$421 TMT 1,411

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$171 TMT 574

$14.57 TMT 48.82

$291 TMT 976

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.64 TMT 150

$34.20 TMT 115

$44.64 TMT 150

Cinema Ticket

$15.87 TMT 53.2

$8.66 TMT 29.00

$20.20 TMT 67.7

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

$33.78 TMT 113

$22.52 TMT 75.4

$56.3 TMT 189

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.5K TMT 85.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 TMT 224

$26.18 TMT 87.7

$87.3 TMT 292

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$98.5 TMT 330

$56.3 TMT 188

$127 TMT 424

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$387 TMT 1,295

$156 TMT 521

$566 TMT 1,895

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$287 TMT 960

$169 TMT 566

$479 TMT 1,605

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,035 TMT 3,466

$707 TMT 2,368

$1,979 TMT 6,629

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 TMT 2,229

$289 TMT 969

$1,446 TMT 4,845

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,639 TMT 5,490

$848 TMT 2,839

$2,825 TMT 9,465

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 TMT 4,772

$581 TMT 1,948

$2,616 TMT 8,765

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,496 TMT 11.7K

$3,174 TMT 10.6K

$4,213 TMT 14.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,924 TMT 9,795

$2,604 TMT 8,723

$3,084 TMT 10.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 TMT 2,216

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 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National average salary: $491. With average costs at $978, 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 $3,211 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 ($978) is 27% below the global median of $1,333.

Average rent ($269) is 57% below the global median of $624.

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	-		$71.0	$82.1	$128	$122	37.05	92.37
2	Ashgabat	909000	159	$1,666	$3,211	$4,032	$6,479	127.21	92.37
3	Kaka	-		$76.9	$83.5	$125	$125	193.84	1.09
4	Mary	123000		$386	$372	$830	$789	19.17	68.93
5	Turkmenabat	830000		$1,809	$2,107	$4,079	$4,619	22.57	6.88
6	Turkmenbasi	-		$12.58	$14.04	$25.43	$23.05	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 $3,211 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.