Moving to Turkmenistan from Switzerland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Switzerland to Turkmenistan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Switzerland to Turkmenistan, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian and Turkmen. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ashgabat averages 74°F vs 55°F in Zurich, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Turkmenistan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CH
0.6
TM
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CH
2.4
TM
8.0

Switzerland performs better than Turkmenistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CH
$10,602
TM
$1,264
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.8
TM
19.3

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkmenistan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CH
10.0
TM
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CH
3.8t
TM
10.9t

Switzerland performs better than Turkmenistan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CH
47.0
TM
5.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CH
6.5%
TM
135.2%

Switzerland performs better than Turkmenistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CH
4.9%
TM
4.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$114,769
TM
$6,540

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CH
84.4 yrs
TM
70.2 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.4
TM
30.4

Switzerland performs better than Turkmenistan across all family life metrics.

Weather in Turkmenistan vs Switzerland

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Zurich Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Zurich Ashgabat
Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 51°/34°F (11°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 86°/61°F (30°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 96°/68°F (35°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 62°/40°F (17°/5°C)
View all months
Month Zurich Ashgabat
Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C)
Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C)
Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C)
Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C)
Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C)
Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C)
Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C)
Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°C)

Data: MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Can you move from Switzerland to Turkmenistan?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Turkmenistan

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

Turkmenistan passport holder visiting Switzerland

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Turkmenistan safe for expats?

Switzerland performs better than Turkmenistan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkmenistan is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Switzerland.

How is healthcare in Turkmenistan compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkmenistan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkmenistan, compared to 44.8 in Switzerland. Turkmenistan scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

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

The average high temperature in Ashgabat is 74°F, compared to 55°F in Zurich. Ashgabat receives around 8.9 in of rainfall per year, while Zurich gets 42.8 in.

What language do they speak in Turkmenistan?

The official languages in Turkmenistan are Russian and Turkmen. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

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At a Glance

CH TM
Population 9,092,436 7,618,847
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) Turkmenistani Manat (TMT)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German Russian, Turkmen
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +993
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 —