Turkmenistan
Overall Score
48.8
Fair
Avg. Rent (1BR)
$1042.74
-39% vs US Avg
Safety Index
58.4
COL Index
24
Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution
Please check the latest official travel advisories for Turkmenistan before planning your trip.
Turkmenistan is not a retirement destination. It is not a remote work destination. It is one of the most closed, authoritarian states in the world, and the honest answer to "who should consider moving here" is essentially no one making a voluntary lifestyle choice. If you are reading this because you have a contract job with an energy company operating in the Karakum Desert, or you are a journalist or researcher with a specific professional reason to be there, then fine, this page has some utility. For everyone else, the Level 2 advisory undersells the actual situation. Freedom House consistently rates Turkmenistan among the least free countries on earth, alongside North Korea. The government controls movement, restricts foreign currency, and has jailed people for the contents of their phone.
The cost numbers in the data above deserve heavy skepticism. A city-center one-bedroom at roughly $1,040 per month and monthly costs of around $1,825 excluding rent would put you close to $3,000 a month total, which is not cheap for Central Asia, and those figures likely reflect housing tied to the oil and gas sector or diplomatic community rather than anything accessible to an independent expat. The Turkmen manat operates under strict currency controls, and the official exchange rate has historically diverged from the black market rate, meaning your actual purchasing power depends on how you move money in. Western goods are scarce. Supply chains are unreliable. You are not saving money compared to Georgia, Kazakhstan, or any of the other post-Soviet options that are actually livable.
The practical friction here is not bureaucracy in the normal sense, it is state control over daily life. Foreigners are required to register with authorities, movement outside Ashgabat requires permits in some cases, and internet access is among the most restricted in the world, with VPNs actively blocked. The healthcare index of 23.7 reflects a system that collapsed after the Soviet era and was further gutted under Niyazov's rule in the 2000s, when he closed most hospitals outside the capital. If you need real medical care, you are being evacuated. English proficiency is low, Turkmen and Russian are the working languages, and very few locals have consistent contact with Western foreigners. Citizenship is not a consideration, the timeline is unknown and the practical path does not exist for most people.
For US tax purposes, the standard rules apply. Americans are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live, and Turkmenistan has no tax treaty with the United States, which means no treaty provisions to reduce your US tax bill or clarify residency conflicts. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is available if you qualify under the bona fide residence or physical presence test, letting you exclude up to roughly $126,500 in earned income for 2024. The Foreign Tax Credit applies to any income taxes paid to Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan's personal income tax rate is a flat 10%, so the credit math is relatively straightforward. None of this changes the fundamental calculus. The tax position is manageable. Everything else about living here is not.
Recommended Destinations in Turkmenistan
Best for Retirees
Best for Geoarbitrage
Best for Remote Workers
- Capital
- Ashgabat
- Official Language
- Russian, Turkmen
- Time Zone
- UTC+05:00
- Region
- Asia
- Population
- 6,031,187
- Healthcare Index
- 23.7
- Internet Speed
- 5 Mbps
View on Interactive Map
Explore data visually
🏙️ Top Cities in Turkmenistan
Explore cost of living, walkability scores, and expat ratings for individual cities in Turkmenistan.
CoL Index: 31
Est. Total: ~$700/mo
CoL Index: 31
Est. Total: ~$730/mo
CoL Index: 55
Est. Total: ~$2,050/mo
CoL Index: 24
Est. Total: ~$2,868/mo
CoL Index: 24
Est. Total: ~$2,868/mo
How far does $2,500 go in Turkmenistan?
With a monthly budget of $2,500, you can live comfortably in Turkmenistan. After accounting for an average rent of $1042.74, you have approximately $1,457.26 remaining for daily expenses.
Calculate your FIRE timeline with these costs →💰 Cost of Living in Turkmenistan
Relative to New York City (NYC = 100). A lower number means it's cheaper.
Cost Comparison Notes:
Summary of cost of living in Turkmenistan: The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are $6,167.0 (21,646.0m), excluding rent. The estimated monthly costs for a single person are $1,824.8 (6,404.9m), excluding rent. Cost of living in Turkmenistan is, on average, 215.4% higher than in Brazil. Rent in Turkmenistan is, on average, 157.4% higher than in Brazil.
🛒 Grocery & Family Costs
Family Costs
⚕️ Healthcare System
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Flexible, subscription-based health cover for remote workers in Turkmenistan.
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An estimation of the overall quality of the health care system. Higher is better.
Quality & Affordability:
Turkmenistan's healthcare system is organized nationally, with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry responsible for operations. Despite investments in modern facilities, challenges include shortages of medical equipment, trained personnel, and reports of bribery and corruption.
Insurance Insights:
Public funds mainly finance healthcare, but informal payments are widespread, leading to additional expenses for individuals.
🛂 Visa & Residency Pathways
🛂 Visa Services
Ready to apply for a Turkmenistan visa?
Get help with your application — tourist, long-stay, and residency visas processed online.
General Overview
Process & Requirements:
Turkmenistan has one of the most closed and 'difficult' immigration systems in the world. All foreign citizens must have a visa to enter, and the process requires an official letter of invitation from a sponsoring entity (e.g., a state-owned company) that has been approved by the State Migration Service. Independent travel is heavily restricted, and long-term residency is nearly impossible without being employed by a government-approved project or international organization. There are no independent, long-term visa categories like retirement, passive income, or digital nomad visas.
The entire system is designed for maximum state control, and there is very little public information available on official websites regarding long-term residency. The process is opaque and entirely dependent on the sponsoring organization's ability to navigate the state bureaucracy.
Residency & Citizenship Notes:
There is no pathway to permanent residency for foreign nationals. The concept does not exist within the Turkmen immigration framework. The pathway to citizenship is equally 'difficult' and practically non-existent for foreigners. While a law on citizenship exists, naturalization is exceedingly rare and usually reserved for individuals by presidential decree. Turkmenistan requires the renunciation of foreign citizenship upon naturalization. The closed nature of the state makes both permanent residency and citizenship impossible goals for expats.
Detailed Visa Options
🛡️ Safety & Stability
An estimation of overall safety level. Higher is better.
Reflects perceptions of political stability. Higher is better.
Safety Notes:
Crime Rate: Very Low. Turkmenistan’s strict laws deter most crime.
Types of Crime: Rare petty theft or bribery attempts.
Kidnapping Risk: Negligible; no documented cases.
🏦 Taxation & Finance
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SoFi →🏦 Tax Snapshot
{"ftc_utility":"medium","fbar_trigger_notes":"US expats working in Turkmenistan are typically paid through employer accounts or offshore. Local bank accounts in Turkmenistan manat (TMT) are common for local expenses. If aggregate balance exceeds $10,000 USD equivalent at any point in the year, FBAR filing is required. Banking infrastructure is state-dominated and account transparency is limited.","ftc_utility_reason":"Turkmenistan taxes resident individuals on worldwide income at 10%. US expats paying 10% Turkmenistan income tax on earned income can claim a Foreign Tax Credit against US tax liability on the same income, reducing double taxation. However, the 10% rate is below the US marginal rates for most expats, so the FTC may not fully offset US liability. FEIE is often more advantageous for earned income.","presence_day_count_notes":"Turkmenistan is a heavily controlled, closed-access country. Tourist and business visas are difficult to obtain and short-term. Long-term legal residency typically requires employer sponsorship or government affiliation. Visa restrictions may complicate accumulating 330 qualifying days in a 12-month period, particularly if travel is restricted or visa extensions are not reliably granted.","typical_qualifying_method":"either","housing_exclusion_available":true,"physical_presence_test_applies":true,"estimated_housing_exclusion_usd":12000,"local_tax_rate_on_earned_income":0.1,"bona_fide_residence_test_applies":true}
{"pension_income":{"notes":"Foreign pension income received by tax residents is included in taxable income and subject to the flat 10% rate. Domestic state pensions are generally exempt from income tax under Turkmenistan law.","tax_rate":0.1,"locally_taxed":true},"social_security":{"notes":"No totalization agreement or tax treaty exists between the US and Turkmenistan. US Social Security benefits received by a Turkmenistan resident are technically subject to the 10% flat income tax. In practice, foreign pension and social insurance income is rarely pursued by Turkmenistan tax authorities.","locally_taxed":true,"treaty_protection":false},"roth_distributions":{"notes":"No treaty exists to protect Roth distributions. Qualified Roth distributions that are tax-free under US law could still be subject to 10% Turkmenistan income tax if the recipient is a local tax resident. Practical enforcement of foreign-source income tax is weak.","locally_taxed":true},"us_401k_ira_distributions":{"notes":"There is no US-Turkmenistan income tax treaty. Distributions from US 401(k) or IRA accounts received by a Turkmenistan tax resident would in principle be subject to the flat 10% personal income tax. Enforcement on foreign-source income depends on residency status and reporting compliance, which is limited in practice.","tax_rate":0.1,"locally_taxed":true,"treaty_protection":false}}
{"rate":0.1,"notes":"Turkmenistan does not have a separate capital gains tax. Gains are treated as ordinary income and subject to the flat 10% personal income tax rate.","details":{"tax_type":"Capital Gains Tax","country_name":"Turkmenistan","country_iso_code":"TKM","source_references":["Turkmenistan Tax Code","KPMG Central Asia tax guides","EY Worldwide Personal Tax Guide"],"last_verified_date":"2026-06-03","general_description":"No standalone capital gains tax exists in Turkmenistan. Capital gains are folded into ordinary income and taxed at the flat 10% rate applicable to individuals.","corporate_capital_gains":{"rate":0.08,"tax_treatment":"Gains are included in corporate taxable income and taxed at the standard corporate income tax rate of 8% for most domestic enterprises."},"individual_capital_gains":{"rate":0.1,"tax_treatment":"Gains taxed as ordinary income at the flat 10% personal income tax rate. No preferential rate or holding-period reduction applies."}}}
{"notes":"Dividends paid to resident individuals are subject to a 15% withholding tax at source. Dividends paid to non-resident individuals or foreign entities are also subject to 15% withholding unless a tax treaty provides a reduced rate. Turkmenistan has a limited tax treaty network, so treaty relief is uncommon for most US expats.","rates":[{"rate":0.15,"type":"withholding","notes":"Standard rate for both resident and non-resident individuals; withheld at source by the paying entity."}]}
Tax Treaties Notes:
No US-Turkmenistan tax treaty. Strict government control limits data availability.
Retiree Tax Benefits:
Visa restrictions make retirement impractical for foreigners.
Cost Savings vs. U.S.:
Nominal costs low, but access to goods/services is limited.
☀️ Climate & Environment
Our proprietary index measuring annual average PM2.5 concentration. Lower is better (0-5 is good).
Our proprietary index for drinking water quality and sanitation. Higher is better.
Seasonal Variations:
Turkmenistan has an arid continental climate with hot, dry summers and mild to cold winters. Rainfall is scarce and occurs mainly in the spring and autumn.
😊 Quality of Life
Cultural Amenities:
Museums & Cultural Institutions
Turkmenistan is home to several museums, including the Turkmen Carpet Museum in Ashgabat, which showcases the country's rich carpet-weaving tradition.
The National Museum of Fine Arts offers exhibits on Turkmen art and culture.
Performing Arts
Turkmenistan has a rich tradition of music and dance, with genres like traditional folk music and dance playing significant roles.
The Turkmen National Theatre hosts various performances, including plays and musical shows.
Cultural Festivals
The Turkmen Carpet Day, celebrated in May, honors the country's carpet-weaving heritage with exhibitions and performances.
The Independence Day on October 27th is celebrated with various cultural events and performances.
Culinary Culture
Turkmen cuisine includes dishes like plov (rice pilaf), shashlik (grilled meat skewers), and manti (steamed dumplings).
The country's food reflects its Central Asian heritage and regional influences.
🌐 Infrastructure & Connectivity
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Internet Reliability:
Turkmenistan offers very limited internet infrastructure with restricted access, not suitable for international remote work.
Speed & Quality: Fixed broadband averages 15-20 Mbps with very limited coverage and heavy government restrictions.
Availability: Limited to major cities with poor quality and restricted international access.
Cost: Varies widely due to government controls, often expensive relative to quality.
Reliability for Remote Work: Not suitable for remote work due to severe government restrictions on internet access, blocked international services, and unreliable infrastructure. Tourism and business visas are restrictive.
Transportation Network:
Turkmenistan has a centralized transportation system with government-controlled infrastructure and limited public access.
Roads: Decent highway network connecting major cities, but rural areas are less well-served.
Rail: State-owned railway system connects major cities and extends to neighboring countries for freight transport.
Domestic Travel: Domestic flights available but heavily regulated; most citizens rely on buses and shared transportation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Turkmenistan
Click any question to expand the answer.