Maymana vs Gardez: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Maymana costs roughly 15% less than Gardez. Gardez scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Gardez is approximately 8% less expensive than Maymana based on cost of living including rent. This makes Gardez a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Gardez has a FIRE Score of 75/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 35, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Gardez is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Maymana
Maymana is dirt cheap, with a 1-bedroom in the centre at $130/mo and a single person spending just $280/mo excluding rent, which explains the 18/100 cost of living index and a FIRE score of 78/100. But the safety index of 25/100 and crime index of 75/100 are genuinely alarming, healthcare is poor, and English proficiency is limited, so this is not a soft landing for most foreigners. A retiree score of 46/100 and digital nomad score of 48/100 tell you the cheapness comes with real trade-offs, and 10 Mbps internet will test your patience.
About Afghanistan
Afghanistan is not suitable for any expat profile due to a US Travel Advisory Level 4 and nonexistent digital nomad or retirement visas. Its strongest advantage is extreme low cost: a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averages just $104.82/month, roughly 95% less than a typical US city. However, the key trade-off is severe political instability (score -2.21), a safety index of just 11.4 out of 100, and limited English-speaking doctors, making it unsafe and impractical for long-term residence.
$2,635/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Gardez
Gardez is cheap, full stop: a city-centre one-bedroom runs $120/mo and a single adult can scrape by on $440/mo, with a cost of living index of 20/100. But that price buys you a safety index of 35, a crime index of 65, poor healthcare, limited English, no expat community, and 3 Mbps internet at 2300 m elevation. The FIRE score of 75 flatters a place where the retiree and digital nomad scores both sit at 36. Come for the arithmetic, not the life.
About Afghanistan
Afghanistan is not suitable for any expat profile due to a US Travel Advisory Level 4 and nonexistent digital nomad or retirement visas. Its strongest advantage is extreme low cost: a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averages just $104.82/month, roughly 95% less than a typical US city. However, the key trade-off is severe political instability (score -2.21), a safety index of just 11.4 out of 100, and limited English-speaking doctors, making it unsafe and impractical for long-term residence.
$2,350/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Maymana | Gardez |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $130 | $120 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | N/A | $80 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $240 | $250 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | N/A | $170 |
| Safety Index | 25 | 35 |
| Internet Speed | 10Mbps | 3Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
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Maymana vs Gardez -- Frequently Asked Questions
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