Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qardahah and Damascus Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qardahah and Damascus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $526 per month in Al-qardahah vs $734 in Damascus, rent included.

A couple spends around $819 per month in Al-qardahah vs $1,085 in Damascus, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,113 per month in Al-qardahah vs $1,437 in Damascus, rent included.

Al-qardahah is about 28% cheaper than Damascus, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al-qardahah and Damascus are more affordable than the global median – Al-qardahah 61% lower, Damascus 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.89 SYP 716

$5.93 SYP 720

-0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.02 SYP 3,284

$27.18 SYP 3,303

-0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 SYP 678

$5.65 SYP 686

-1.24%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 181

$1.49 SYP 182

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

$1.13 SYP 138

$1.12 SYP 136

0.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 SYP 87.0

$0.68 SYP 82.1

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 197

$1.58 SYP 193

2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 SYP 308

$2.48 SYP 302

2.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 SYP 117

$1.04 SYP 126

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 SYP 72.8

$0.59 SYP 71.7

1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 SYP 204

$1.67 SYP 203

0.60%

Eggs

$1.87 SYP 227

$1.92 SYP 233

-2.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 369

$3.02 SYP 367

0.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 SYP 904

$7.54 SYP 917

-1.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.45 SYP 1,391

$11.18 SYP 1,358

2.42%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 SYP 115

$0.88 SYP 107

6.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 SYP 218

$1.79 SYP 218

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.03 SYP 125

-0.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 SYP 109

$0.94 SYP 114

-5.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 80.4

$0.61 SYP 74.2

8.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 80.5

$0.66 SYP 79.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.21

$0.40 SYP 49.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SYP 69.9

$0.61 SYP 74.6

-4.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 SYP 370

$3.05 SYP 371

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.04 SYP 977

$8.20 SYP 996

-1.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 213

$1.75 SYP 212

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 SYP 11.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.85 SYP 2,048

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 SYP 120

$0.97 SYP 118

2.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 SYP 148

$1.21 SYP 147

0.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 SYP 787

$6.26 SYP 761

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.78 SYP 459

$3.61 SYP 439

4.71%

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

$18.3K SYP 2.2M

$18.6K SYP 2.3M

-1.33%

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

$20.7K SYP 2.5M

$20.9K SYP 2.5M

-0.97%

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

$101 SYP 12.3K

$102 SYP 12.3K

-0.17%

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

$8.20 SYP 996

$8.25 SYP 1,003

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 SYP 6,712

$54.4 SYP 6,611

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.48 SYP 1,881

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 SYP 897

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 SYP 374

$2.95 SYP 359

4.07%

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

$44.51 SYP 5,409

$43.49 SYP 5,285

2.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,843 SYP 224.0K

$1,804 SYP 219.2K

2.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.18 SYP 3,546

$29.75 SYP 3,615

-1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 SYP 3,162

$25.42 SYP 3,089

2.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.33 SYP 5,508

$45.65 SYP 5,548

-0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 SYP 6,720

$56.1 SYP 6,814

-1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 32.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 SYP 20.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 SYP 64.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SYP 34.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,714 SYP 208.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$596 SYP 72.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$59.5 SYP 7,235

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 Damascus: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Al-qardahah versus $27.00 in Damascus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $172 – making Al-qardahah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Damascus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Damascus is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Al-qardahah and $1,101 in Damascus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Al-qardahah and $27.00 in Damascus. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Damascus, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $526 in Al-qardahah and $734 in Damascus, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Al-qardahah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Al-qardahah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Damascus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.