Pokrovkaya Church, Mary, Turkmenistan
Turkmen Diesel locomotive
Bohrplattform "Iran Khazar" im Einsatz an einer Förderplattform…
Topographic map of Turkmenistan. Created with GMT from SRTM dat…
Original Description: Alternators made in Budapest, Hungary, in…
Turkmen man posing with camel loaded with sacks, probably of gr…

Turkmenistan

N/A
Climate
TMT
Currency
Moderate
Safety
High
Cost of Living
Russian
Language
Country Information Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Predominantly covered by the Karakum Desert, the nation features a harsh, arid landscape characterized by extreme temperatures an...

Cost of Living
vs EU Average117% more expensive
Rent
TMT4,750Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Meal
TMT125Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Groceries
TMT15.50Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Transport
TMT0.75One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide

Your Turkmenistan Roadmap

40+ page relocation analysis tailored to your profile.

  • Custom Tax & Cost Projection
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  • Vetted Local Partner Directory

With a safety index of 53/100, Turkmenistan offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.

Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Turkmenistan requires a visa for all international visitors, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, with no visa-free entry available for tourism.[9][5][6] Travelers must obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) certified by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, typically arranged through a licensed tour agency for tourist visas, before applying at an embassy/consulate or airport.[4][1][2] Visa on arrival is available at Ashgabat International Airport and select land borders (e.g., with Uzbekistan, Iran), but requires the original...

Visa-free entry: 20 days
Digital Nomad Visa available
Work permits available
Retirement visa options
Read full guide

Discover Cities in Turkmenistan

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Location Intelligence for Turkmenistan
Cost of Living101.8

117% above EU avg

Safety52.7

19% below EU avg

Quality of Life105.3

32% below EU avg

Purchasing Power19.1

73% below EU avg

Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.

Capital

Ashgabat

Timezone

UTC+05:00

Area

488,100 km²

Population

6,031,187

Turkmenistan shows a purchasing power index of 19/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.

Economic Overview in Turkmenistan

GDP

$64.24B

HDI

0.7

Quality of Life

46/100

+3 vs NYC

Purchasing Power

8/100

-34 vs NYC

Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Turkmenistan. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.

Comparison data legendCompare:
Turkmenistan
Continent Avg

Cost of Living Index

Low

Very expensive with CPI: 102.3 (NYC=100). Groceries index: 112.0, rent: 22.9, restaurant prices: 89.8.

Housing Market

Very Poor

Very expensive with property price to income ratio: 26.0 years. Rent index: 22.9 offers some affordability.

Average Income Levels

Very Poor

Low purchasing power index: 18.5. GDP per capita: ~$7919 USD in 2024.

Tax System

Poor

Personal income tax: 10% flat rate. VAT: 15%, corporate tax: 8-20%. Limited transparency and regional variations due to state control.

Business Environment

Very Poor

Highly challenging with heavy bureaucracy, state dominance in hydrocarbons, and strict exchange controls. No recent World Bank Doing Business rank; high regulatory burden.

Social Security

Poor

Basic state healthcare and pension systems exist, but quality is low with limited coverage. Unemployment benefits minimal amid poverty and shortages.

Work & Business in Turkmenistan
Business ClimateSee full guide for details
Work PermitsRequirements vary by nationality
Key IndustriesExplore opportunities
Read full guide
Education SystemInternational schools, universities & curricula
Explore Guide
Climate

Turkmenistan features a predominantly arid continental climate dominated by the vast Karakum Desert, classified primarily as cold semi-arid (BSk) and cold desert (BWk) under Köppen system. Summers are intensely hot with averages of 27-29°C and peaks near 50°C, while winters remain mild at 8-9°C with occasional frosts to -15°C or lower in northern areas.

Climate
Cold semi-arid, Cold desert
Summer
27–35°C
Winter
0–9°C
Sunshine
2400+ hrs/yr

4 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details

Read full guide
Demographics in Turkmenistan

Life Expectancy

67.8

Population

6,031,187

Religions

Islam
93%
Christianity
6.4%

Ethnic Composition

Turkmens
86.7%
Uzbeks
9.1%
Russians
1.6%
others
1.3%
Baloch
1.2%
What Expats Say About TurkmenistanBETA

Research in Progress

We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Turkmenistan. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!

We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.

Transportation & Infrastructure in Turkmenistan
Public TransitAvailable in major cities
AirportsInternational connectivity
InfrastructureRoad & rail networks
Read full guide
Social Integration in Turkmenistan
Expat CommunityActive communities available
Cultural IntegrationTips & resources
Language BarrierSee guide for details
Read full guide
Retirement & Benefits in Turkmenistan
Retirement VisaCheck eligibility
Healthcare AccessPublic & private options
Pension RecognitionSee guide for details
Read full guide
Political Landscape & Stability

Turkmenistan is governed as a presidential republic under authoritarian rule, with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow serving as both head of state and head of government since 2022. The country operates a unicameral legislature (Mejlis) with 125 seats, though real political power is concentrated in the presidency and the People's Council chaired by former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Turkmenistan is considered to have one of the world's most restrictive political systems, with limited press freedom and non-democratic electoral processes.

System
Presidential Republic under Authoritarian Presidential Rule
Legal System
Civil law system based on the 2016 Constitution
Read full guide
Environment & Sustainability in Turkmenistan
Air QualitySee detailed assessment
Green SpacesParks & nature areas
SustainabilityEnvironmental policies
Read full guide
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan at a Glance

Capital

Ashgabat

Languages

Russian, Turkmen

UN Member

Yes

Quick Facts for Turkmenistan

Population

6,031,187

Currency

TMT

Timezone

UTC+05:00

Calling Code

+993

Week starts on

Monday

Gini Coefficient

40.8 (1998)

Traffic side

right side

Location

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.