Moving to Turkmenistan from Bulgaria

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Bulgaria to Turkmenistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Bulgaria to Turkmenistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ashgabat averages 74°F vs 59°F in Sofia, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Turkmenistan compared to Bulgaria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BG
1.1
TM
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BG
8.4
TM
8.0

Bulgaria generally does better on safety, though Turkmenistan leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BG
$2,970
TM
$1,264
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BG
49.0
TM
21.4

Turkmenistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bulgaria leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BG
63.0
TM
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BG
5.3t
TM
10.9t

Bulgaria performs better than Turkmenistan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BG
35.2
TM
5.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BG
37.5%
TM
135.2%

Bulgaria performs better than Turkmenistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BG
4.3%
TM
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BG
$33,300
TM
$14,700

Turkmenistan generally does better on employment & economy, though Bulgaria leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BG
75.6 yrs
TM
71.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BG
8.0
TM
37.6

Bulgaria generally does better on family life, though Turkmenistan leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Sofia Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
59° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ashgabat Rain: 8.9 in/yr (227 mm)
74° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sofia Ashgabat
Jan–Mar 42°/28°F (6°/-2°C) 51°/34°F (11°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) 86°/61°F (30°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 96°/68°F (35°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) 62°/40°F (17°/5°C)
View all months
Month Sofia Ashgabat
Jan 36°/23°F (2.2°/-4.9°C) 45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C)
Feb 41°/27°F (4.9°/-2.9°C) 49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C)
Mar 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.3°C) 60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C)
Apr 60°/41°F (15.7°/4.8°C) 75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C)
May 69°/48°F (20.3°/9.0°C) 86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C)
Jun 74°/54°F (23.5°/12.1°C) 96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C)
Jul 79°/57°F (25.9°/13.8°C) 101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C)
Aug 79°/56°F (26.0°/13.4°C) 98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C)
Sep 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.4°C) 89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C)
Oct 62°/42°F (16.6°/5.7°C) 74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C)
Nov 49°/34°F (9.6°/1.2°C) 62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C)
Dec 39°/27°F (4.1°/-2.7°C) 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°C)

Data: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bulgaria and Turkmenistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Turkmenistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Turkmenistan's immigration authority.

Bulgaria passport

Bulgaria passport holder visiting Turkmenistan

Visa Required
Bulgaria passport holders need a visa to enter Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan passport

Turkmenistan passport holder visiting Bulgaria

Visa Required
Turkmenistan passport holders need a visa to enter Bulgaria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Turkmenistan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Turkmenistan: 5.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Turkmenistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Turkmenistan safe for expats?

Bulgaria generally does better on safety, though Turkmenistan leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Turkmenistan is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Bulgaria.

How is healthcare in Turkmenistan compared to Bulgaria?

Turkmenistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bulgaria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkmenistan, compared to 49.0 in Bulgaria. Turkmenistan scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bulgaria: 73).

What's the weather like in Turkmenistan compared to Bulgaria?

The average high temperature in Ashgabat is 74°F, compared to 59°F in Sofia. Ashgabat receives around 8.9 in of rainfall per year, while Sofia gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Turkmenistan?

The official languages in Turkmenistan are Russian and Turkmen. In Bulgaria, the official language is Bulgarian.

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At a Glance

BG TM
Population 6,873,253 5,636,011
Currency Bulgarian Lev (BGN) Turkmenistani Manat (TMT)
Languages Bulgarian Russian, Turkmen
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +359 +993
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112