Balkanabat, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
#1848
,
Nomad Score:
40%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to global standards, especially outside major cities.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
68%
Weight: 80
Affordable housing options, though quality and availability can be limited.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer inexpensive fresh produce; imported goods are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are inexpensive, but options are limited.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
52%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment venues; prices are low but choices are scarce.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
43%
Weight: 10
Few gyms available; membership costs are moderate but facilities are basic.
💱 Currency Stability
37%
Weight: 30
Turkmen manat has experienced volatility and limited convertibility.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
31%
Weight: 100
Internet is slow and unreliable with frequent outages; limited broadband infrastructure.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
10%
Weight: 40
No formal coworking spaces; digital nomad infrastructure is virtually non-existent.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
25%
Weight: 30
Few cafes offer WiFi; connectivity is often poor or unstable.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
10%
Weight: 30
Almost no cafes cater specifically to digital nomads.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
5%
Weight: 100
Extremely low presence of digital nomads due to restrictive environment.
📱 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
Traditional work culture with limited flexibility; lifestyle is quiet.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Generally dry and arid with low pollution but limited green spaces.
🧼 Cleanliness
62%
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 pollution from industry affect it.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
50%
Weight: 25
Basic family amenities exist but limited international schools or activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
30%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic with limited modern equipment.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low but quality is also limited.
🏥 Healthcare
35%
Weight: 20
Limited access to specialized care; expatriates often travel abroad for treatment.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot, dry climate with long sunny periods; winters are mild but short.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
30%
Weight: 10
Very limited parks and green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
60%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is available but not widespread in all buildings.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
40%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons but mostly dry and hot summers with mild winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
65%
Weight: 10
Generally quiet city with low noise pollution.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
55%
Weight: 20
Rich Turkmen culture with traditional crafts and festivals, but limited international cultural events.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options; mostly quiet evenings.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby; limited outdoor recreational infrastructure.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
25%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; limited resources for learning Turkmen or Russian.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
40%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours available but tourism infrastructure is underdeveloped.
🎳 Indoors Fun
30%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
50%
Weight: 25
Traditional Turkmen cuisine dominates; few international dining options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
10%
Weight: 10
No known yoga studios or wellness centers.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
35%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms exist but lack modern equipment and variety.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
40%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available but limited organic or health-focused stores.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
UTC+5, suitable for working with Asia and parts of Europe but less ideal for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
15%
Weight: 25
Very limited professional networking events or communities.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
20%
Weight: 20
Local economy is not geared toward remote work; few opportunities.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
10%
Weight: 20
Freelance market is almost non-existent locally.
🏢 Coworking Quality
5%
Weight: 30
No coworking spaces; no infrastructure for digital nomads.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
10%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup activity; restrictive business environment.
💳 Local Payment Services
30%
Weight: 10
Limited digital payment options; cash remains dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
10%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption; regulatory environment is restrictive.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
35%
Weight: 30
Balkanabat Airport has limited domestic and regional flights.
🚇 Public Transit
30%
Weight: 20
Limited public transport options; no metro or extensive bus network.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
City is small and somewhat walkable but infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
10%
Weight: 15
No major ride-sharing apps operate here.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Few cycling lanes; hot climate limits cycling comfort.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Limited train and bus services connecting to other cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
5%
Weight: 10
No known scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
60%
Weight: 20
Mobile coverage is generally good but data speeds are slow.
🔒 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; infrastructure is aging.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited public WiFi hotspots.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
20%
Weight: 40
Strict visa policies; difficult for long-term stays.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates but complex bureaucracy.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
10%
Weight: 15
Highly restricted freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
60%
Weight: 20
Stable authoritarian regime but with limited political freedoms.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
20%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners due to strict regulations and documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
25%
Weight: 10
Cumbersome process with bureaucratic hurdles.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs available.
🌍 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
10%
Weight: 20
Very limited online presence or community for nomads in the city.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Relatively safe with low crime rates, but surveillance is high.
♀️ 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 exposure to foreigners.