Moving to Turkmenistan from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Turkmenistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Turkmenistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ashgabat averages 74°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Turkmenistan compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Turkmenistan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Turkmenistan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Turkmenistan leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Turkmenistan across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Ashgabat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 51°/34°F (11°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 86°/61°F (30°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 96°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 62°/40°F (17°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Ashgabat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Turkmenistan
Visa Required
Turkmenistan passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Turkmenistan?
From major Turkmenistan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Turkmenistan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Turkmenistan compared to Iowa?
Turkmenistan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Turkmenistan compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Ashgabat is 74°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Ashgabat receives around 8.9 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Turkmenistan?
The official languages in Turkmenistan are Russian and Turkmen. In Iowa, the official language is English.
