Forum
Analytics
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
#418
,
Nomad Score:
42%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western standards, though imported goods can be pricey.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but limited options for short-term furnished apartments.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer inexpensive fresh produce; imported food items are more costly.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport is cheap, but limited in coverage; taxis are affordable but not always reliable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
52%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment venues; prices are low but options are scarce.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
47%
Weight: 10
Gyms exist but are few and can be expensive relative to local income levels.
💱 Currency Stability
31%
Weight: 30
Turkmen manat is tightly controlled with limited convertibility and some inflation concerns.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
45%
Weight: 100
Internet is available but often slow and unreliable due to government restrictions and infrastructure.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
12%
Weight: 40
Very few coworking spaces; digital nomad infrastructure is almost non-existent.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
30%
Weight: 30
Some cafes offer WiFi but connectivity is often slow and censored.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
15%
Weight: 30
Very limited options catering specifically to digital nomads.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
5%
Weight: 100
Virtually no digital nomad community or presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
70%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are available but require registration and ID.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
50%
Weight: 30
Cultural norms emphasize work but lifestyle is generally slow-paced.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
City is clean but air pollution can be an issue due to industrial activity.
🧼 Cleanliness
75%
Weight: 10
Ashgabat is known for its cleanliness and well-maintained public spaces.
🗨️ Language Barrier
23%
Weight: 30
Turkmen and Russian are dominant; English is rarely spoken outside official or tourist contexts.
💨 Air Quality
42%
Weight: 15
Air quality fluctuates; dust and pollution from desert environment and industry affect it.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
50%
Weight: 25
Safe environment but limited family-oriented amenities and activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
38%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic; advanced medical care often requires travel abroad.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable but quality is limited.
🏥 Healthcare
35%
Weight: 20
Limited availability of modern healthcare and specialists.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Hot, dry desert climate with long sunny days and mild winters.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
80%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
50%
Weight: 10
Some parks and green areas exist but are limited due to desert surroundings.
❄️ Air Conditioning
78%
Weight: 15
Most modern buildings have air conditioning due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variation; mostly hot summers and mild winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
65%
Weight: 10
Generally quiet city with low noise pollution.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
65%
Weight: 20
Rich Turkmen cultural heritage with unique architecture and traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options; city is generally quiet after dark.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
40%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby but limited outdoor recreational infrastructure.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
30%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; limited resources for learning Turkmen or Russian.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
55%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours available but tourism infrastructure is underdeveloped.
🎳 Indoors Fun
38%
Weight: 10
Few cinemas, malls, or indoor entertainment venues.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
57%
Weight: 25
Traditional Turkmen cuisine is available; international options are scarce.
🧠 Yoga Studios
10%
Weight: 10
Yoga and wellness studios are virtually non-existent.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
35%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms and fitness centers, often basic in quality.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
50%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available but processed healthy options are limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
UTC+5, convenient for Asia and some European time overlaps.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
15%
Weight: 25
Minimal professional networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
20%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is very limited.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
10%
Weight: 20
Almost no local freelance ecosystem or support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
10%
Weight: 30
No established coworking spaces with quality amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
12%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent and heavily state-controlled.
💳 Local Payment Services
35%
Weight: 10
Limited digital payment options; cash remains dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
5%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption and restrictive regulations.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
40%
Weight: 30
Ashgabat International Airport has some international flights but limited connectivity.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Limited bus services; no metro system.
🚶 Walkability
50%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but distances and heat can be challenging.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
10%
Weight: 15
No major ride-sharing apps operate here.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and not common.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Limited train and bus connections to other cities and countries.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
5%
Weight: 10
No scooter or bike rental services available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
65%
Weight: 20
Good coverage in urban areas but limited 4G/5G speeds.
🔒 VPN Reliability
20%
Weight: 20
VPN use is restricted and often blocked by government censorship.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with occasional outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
25%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is rare and often slow or censored.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
10%
Weight: 40
Strict visa policies with difficult and lengthy application processes.
📊 Tax Friendliness
30%
Weight: 30
Complex tax system with limited transparency.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
5%
Weight: 15
Highly restricted freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
60%
Weight: 20
Stable authoritarian regime with little political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
20%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners due to strict documentation and regulations.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
25%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and slow process with many restrictions.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Overall environment is not supportive or welcoming to digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
5%
Weight: 25
No known digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
10%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or community for nomads in Ashgabat.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Low crime rates and generally safe for foreigners.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative society with limited gender equality and safety concerns for women.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but limited diversity and some xenophobia reported.