Balkanabat, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
#1848
,
Nomad Score:
41%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
81%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to global standards, with affordable local goods and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Housing is inexpensive but options are limited and quality varies.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer affordable fresh produce; imported goods are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
87%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is cheap, though limited in coverage.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
62%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment venues; costs are low but options are scarce.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
54%
Weight: 10
Few gyms available; memberships are moderately priced but facilities are basic.
💱 Currency Stability
31%
Weight: 30
Turkmen manat is subject to inflation and currency controls, leading to instability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
27%
Weight: 100
Internet is slow and unreliable with frequent outages; limited broadband infrastructure.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
5%
Weight: 40
No formal coworking spaces; digital nomad infrastructure is virtually nonexistent.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
12%
Weight: 30
Few cafes offer WiFi, and when available, connection quality is poor.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
8%
Weight: 30
Very limited options catering to remote workers.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
3%
Weight: 100
Almost no digital nomad presence or community.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
50%
Weight: 30
Work culture is traditional; limited flexibility but low stress due to slower pace of life.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Generally dry and arid environment with low pollution but limited greenery.
🧼 Cleanliness
65%
Weight: 10
City is moderately clean but infrastructure maintenance is inconsistent.
🗨️ Language Barrier
20%
Weight: 30
Turkmen and Russian are dominant; English is rarely spoken, posing challenges.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Air quality is average; dust and occasional industrial pollution affect conditions.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
30%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic and lack modern equipment.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are inexpensive but quality is low.
🏥 Healthcare
32%
Weight: 20
Limited access to quality care; expatriates often travel abroad for serious treatment.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot, dry summers and mild winters; mostly sunny but can be very hot in summer.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
34%
Weight: 10
Few parks or green areas due to arid climate and urban planning.
❄️ Air Conditioning
40%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not widespread; many buildings lack adequate cooling.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
42%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons but limited variation; mostly dry and hot summers, mild winters.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
68%
Weight: 20
Rich Turkmen cultural heritage but limited exposure to international influences.
🌃 Nightlife
21%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options; few bars or clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby but limited recreational outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
30%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; limited opportunities to learn Turkmen or Russian.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
55%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours available but tourism infrastructure is underdeveloped.
🎳 Indoors Fun
38%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options such as cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
60%
Weight: 25
Traditional Turkmen cuisine is available; international options are scarce.
🧠 Yoga Studios
7%
Weight: 10
Yoga and wellness studios are virtually nonexistent.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
45%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available but limited variety and quality.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
55%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available but processed healthy options are rare.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
UTC+5, moderately convenient for Asia and Europe but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
10%
Weight: 25
Almost no professional networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
20%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is minimal; most opportunities come from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
15%
Weight: 20
Freelance infrastructure and community are very limited.
🏢 Coworking Quality
3%
Weight: 30
No established coworking spaces; poor facilities for remote work.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
10%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is almost nonexistent.
💳 Local Payment Services
35%
Weight: 10
Limited digital payment options; cash remains dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
10%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption and regulatory uncertainty.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
32%
Weight: 30
Balkanabat Airport has limited domestic and regional flights.
🚇 Public Transit
30%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; mostly buses with infrequent schedules.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
5%
Weight: 15
No international ride-sharing apps; local taxi services only.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Few cycling lanes or infrastructure; not a common mode of transport.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Limited train and bus services connecting to other cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No scooter or bike rental services available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
65%
Weight: 20
Mobile coverage is generally good in urban areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
20%
Weight: 20
VPN use is restricted and often unreliable due to government controls.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
50%
Weight: 15
Occasional power outages occur, but generally stable.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
10%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is rare and unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
25%
Weight: 40
Strict visa policies; difficult for long-term stays.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Tax system is opaque; no special provisions for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
10%
Weight: 15
Highly restricted; government controls media and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
60%
Weight: 20
Stable authoritarian regime with low risk of unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
20%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners due to strict regulations and documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
30%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and slow process for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
5%
Weight: 50
Overall environment is not supportive or welcoming to digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
0%
Weight: 25
No known digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
5%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or community for nomads in Balkanabat.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Low crime rates; generally safe for foreigners.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative society; women may face cultural restrictions.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Limited diversity; tolerance varies but generally low exposure to foreigners.