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 $523 per month in Al-qardahah vs $723 in Damascus, rent included.

A couple spends around $819 per month in Al-qardahah vs $1,081 in Damascus, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,114 per month in Al-qardahah vs $1,439 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 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 SYP 654

$6.07 SYP 670

-2.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.69 SYP 3,060

$27.25 SYP 3,011

1.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 SYP 611

$5.45 SYP 602

1.47%

Cappuccino

$1.56 SYP 172

$1.49 SYP 165

4.70%

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

$1.12 SYP 123

$1.12 SYP 124

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 SYP 81.2

$0.72 SYP 80.0

1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 SYP 181

$1.62 SYP 179

1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 SYP 278

$2.46 SYP 272

2.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 SYP 104

$0.98 SYP 108

-4.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 SYP 70.3

$0.62 SYP 69.0

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 SYP 185

$1.70 SYP 188

-1.18%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 212

$1.88 SYP 208

2.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 SYP 343

$3.04 SYP 336

1.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 SYP 849

$7.67 SYP 847

0.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 SYP 1,255

$11.26 SYP 1,244

0.80%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 SYP 96.6

$0.92 SYP 102

-5.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 SYP 201

$1.79 SYP 198

1.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 114

$1.00 SYP 110

3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 SYP 98.8

$0.87 SYP 96.6

2.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.6

$0.66 SYP 72.7

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 73.1

$0.65 SYP 72.2

1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SYP 45.24

$0.38 SYP 41.96

7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SYP 63.4

$0.57 SYP 63.3

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 SYP 340

$3.03 SYP 335

1.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 SYP 658

$6.00 SYP 663

-0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 113

$0.98 SYP 109

4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SYP 204

$1.82 SYP 201

1.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 SYP 11.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.18 SYP 1,899

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SYP 113

$0.98 SYP 109

4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 SYP 142

$1.26 SYP 139

2.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 SYP 721

$6.39 SYP 706

2.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.76 SYP 416

$3.59 SYP 397

4.74%

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

$18.1K SYP 2.0M

$18.5K SYP 2.0M

-2.14%

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

$21.3K SYP 2.4M

$21.2K SYP 2.3M

0.42%

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

$102 SYP 11.3K

$103 SYP 11.4K

-0.97%

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

$8.36 SYP 923

$8.22 SYP 908

1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 SYP 6,023

$54.6 SYP 6,036

-0.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.20 SYP 1,679

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.41 SYP 819

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 SYP 326

$3.07 SYP 339

-3.91%

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

$44.02 SYP 4,864

$43.11 SYP 4,763

2.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,819 SYP 201.0K

$1,799 SYP 198.8K

1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.62 SYP 3,273

$29.40 SYP 3,248

0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.95 SYP 2,868

$26.02 SYP 2,876

-0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.48 SYP 5,026

$45.85 SYP 5,067

-0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.3 SYP 6,112

$56.4 SYP 6,230

-1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 SYP 28.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 18.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 SYP 57.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SYP 32.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,694 SYP 187.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$598 SYP 66.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$44.01 SYP 4,863

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 Damascus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Al-qardahah versus $27.00 in Damascus. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Al-qardahah vs $168 in Damascus – so Al-qardahah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 38%, 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 $785 per month in Al-qardahah and $1,084 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 $28.00 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Damascus – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $523 in Al-qardahah and $723 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.