Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qardahah and 'afrin Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qardahah and 'afrin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $523 in Al-qardahah versus $236 in 'afrin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $819 in Al-qardahah versus $329 in 'afrin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,114 in Al-qardahah versus $422 in 'afrin.

Living in Al-qardahah is roughly 122% more expensive than 'afrin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-qardahah 61% lower, 'afrin 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 SYP 654

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.69 SYP 3,060

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 SYP 611

Cappuccino

$1.56 SYP 172

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 SYP 123

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 SYP 81.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 SYP 181

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 SYP 278

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 SYP 104

$0.48 SYP 53.2

95.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 SYP 70.3

$0.49 SYP 53.8

30.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 SYP 185

$1.02 SYP 113

64.71%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 212

$1.23 SYP 136

56.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 SYP 343

$2.92 SYP 323

6.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 SYP 849

$2.95 SYP 326

160.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 SYP 1,255

$7.01 SYP 775

61.91%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 SYP 96.6

$0.82 SYP 91.2

6.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 SYP 201

$1.02 SYP 113

78.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 114

$1.01 SYP 112

1.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 SYP 98.8

$0.79 SYP 87.0

12.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.6

$0.51 SYP 56.9

29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 73.1

$0.49 SYP 53.9

34.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SYP 45.24

$0.49 SYP 53.8

-16.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SYP 63.4

$0.20 SYP 21.66

185.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 SYP 340

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 SYP 658

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SYP 204

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SYP 113

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 SYP 142

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 SYP 721

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.76 SYP 416

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K SYP 2.0M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K SYP 2.4M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 SYP 11.3K

$100 SYP 11.1K

1.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.36 SYP 923

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 SYP 6,023

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 SYP 326

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.02 SYP 4,864

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,819 SYP 201.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.62 SYP 3,273

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.95 SYP 2,868

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.48 SYP 5,026

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 SYP 6,112

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$50.1 SYP 5,534

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.6 SYP 5,596

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 SYP 16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 SYP 11.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al-qardahah: May 31, 2026

Last update for 'afrin: June 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Al-qardahah vs 'afrin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'afrin wins on cost – living expenses run 122% lower than in Al-qardahah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making 'afrin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $785 in Al-qardahah and $354 in 'afrin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Al-qardahah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $523 per month in Al-qardahah versus $236 in 'afrin – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though 'afrin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find 'afrin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Al-qardahah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.