Forum
Analytics
Balkanabat, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲
#1848
,
Nomad Score:
40%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to global standards, but higher than some rural areas in Turkmenistan.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
68%
Weight: 80
Affordable housing options available, though limited variety and quality compared to larger cities.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer inexpensive fresh produce; imported goods are pricier and less common.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are inexpensive, but options are limited.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
42%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment venues; prices are moderate but choices are scarce.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
50%
Weight: 10
Few gyms available with moderate pricing; facilities may be basic.
💱 Currency Stability
35%
Weight: 30
Turkmen manat has experienced volatility and limited convertibility.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
38%
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 nonexistent.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
20%
Weight: 30
Few cafes offer WiFi, and connection quality is poor.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
12%
Weight: 30
Very limited options; cafes are not tailored to remote workers.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
5%
Weight: 100
Almost no digital nomad presence or community.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
70%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are available but require registration and paperwork.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
55%
Weight: 30
Traditional work culture with limited flexibility; lifestyle is slow-paced.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Generally dry and arid environment with low pollution but limited greenery.
🧼 Cleanliness
50%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is average; some areas suffer from litter and poor waste management.
🗨️ Language Barrier
25%
Weight: 30
Turkmen and Russian are dominant; English is rarely spoken.
💨 Air Quality
65%
Weight: 15
Air quality is generally good due to low industrial activity.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
50%
Weight: 25
Basic family amenities available but limited international schools or activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
30%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic and lack modern equipment.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are inexpensive but quality is low.
🏥 Healthcare
35%
Weight: 20
Limited access to quality healthcare; expatriates often travel abroad for serious treatment.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot, dry desert 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
20%
Weight: 10
Very limited parks and green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
40%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not widespread; many buildings lack modern cooling systems.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
30%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal changes; mostly hot and dry with short winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
65%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution due to small city size and limited traffic.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
55%
Weight: 20
Rich Turkmen cultural heritage but limited exposure to international influences.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options; few bars or clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
60%
Weight: 15
Surrounded by desert landscapes; opportunities for desert exploration but limited greenery.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
30%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; limited resources for learning local languages.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
45%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours available but infrastructure for tourists is minimal.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment 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 dedicated yoga studios or wellness centers.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
30%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available but limited variety of fitness options.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
40%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available but processed healthy foods are rare.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
UTC+5, moderately favorable for communication with Asia and Europe.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
15%
Weight: 25
Very limited professional networking events or communities.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
20%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is minimal; most jobs are traditional.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
10%
Weight: 20
No established freelance community or platforms locally.
🏢 Coworking Quality
5%
Weight: 30
No coworking spaces; no infrastructure for remote work.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
10%
Weight: 15
Very limited startup activity or support.
💳 Local Payment Services
30%
Weight: 10
Cash is dominant; digital payment options are limited and not widely accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
10%
Weight: 15
Minimal awareness or adoption of blockchain or cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
40%
Weight: 30
Small regional airport with limited international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
30%
Weight: 20
Limited bus services; no metro or tram systems.
🚶 Walkability
50%
Weight: 20
City is small and walkable but infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
10%
Weight: 15
No major ride-sharing apps operate here.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; desert climate not ideal for biking.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Some bus and train connections but infrequent and slow.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
5%
Weight: 10
No scooter or bike rental services available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
60%
Weight: 20
Mobile coverage is decent 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; infrastructure is aging.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is rare and unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
20%
Weight: 40
Strict visa policies; difficult for long-term stays.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Tax system is complex and not transparent for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
10%
Weight: 15
Highly restricted; government controls media and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
60%
Weight: 20
Stable government but authoritarian regime 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
30%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and slow process with many hurdles.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Very low friendliness towards digital nomads; infrastructure and community lacking.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
0%
Weight: 25
No known nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
10%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or support groups for nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates, but limited emergency services.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative society; women may face cultural restrictions.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Limited diversity; some xenophobia reported.