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: $526 in Al-qardahah versus $241 in 'afrin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $819 in Al-qardahah versus $328 in 'afrin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,113 in Al-qardahah versus $416 in 'afrin.

Living in Al-qardahah is roughly 118% more expensive than in 'afrin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.89 SYP 716

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.02 SYP 3,284

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 SYP 678

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 181

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

$1.13 SYP 138

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 SYP 87.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 197

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 SYP 308

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 SYP 117

$0.52 SYP 63.0

86.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 SYP 72.8

$0.48 SYP 58.7

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 SYP 204

$0.97 SYP 118

73.20%

Eggs

$1.87 SYP 227

$1.22 SYP 149

53.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 369

$3.02 SYP 367

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 SYP 904

$3.01 SYP 366

147.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.45 SYP 1,391

$6.98 SYP 848

64.04%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 SYP 115

$0.81 SYP 99.0

16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 SYP 218

$0.98 SYP 119

83.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 124

$0.98 SYP 119

4.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 SYP 109

$0.83 SYP 101

7.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 80.4

$0.52 SYP 63.7

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 80.5

$0.51 SYP 62.1

29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.21

$0.48 SYP 58.0

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SYP 69.9

$0.20 SYP 23.73

190.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 SYP 370

Wine (Bottle)

$8.04 SYP 977

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 213

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SYP 120

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 SYP 148

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 SYP 787

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.78 SYP 459

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

$18.3K SYP 2.2M

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

$20.7K SYP 2.5M

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

$101 SYP 12.3K

$100 SYP 12.2K

1.03%

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

$8.20 SYP 996

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 SYP 6,712

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 SYP 374

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

$44.51 SYP 5,409

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,843 SYP 224.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.18 SYP 3,546

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 SYP 3,162

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.33 SYP 5,508

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 SYP 6,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$50.3 SYP 6,116

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.46 SYP 6,010

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 SYP 18.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 SYP 12.2K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for 'afrin: July 12, 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 118% 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 $789 in Al-qardahah and $361 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 93% higher in Al-qardahah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $526 per month in Al-qardahah versus $241 in 'afrin – a 118% 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 118% less than in Al-qardahah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.