Cost of Living Comparison Between Aleppo and Damascus Cost of Living Comparison Between Aleppo and Damascus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $708 in Aleppo versus $723 in Damascus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,121 in Aleppo versus $1,081 in Damascus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,534 in Aleppo versus $1,439 in Damascus.

Living in Aleppo costs roughly 2% less than in Damascus, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Aleppo 47% lower, Damascus 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 SYP 336
$6.07 SYP 670
-49.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.16 SYP 2,228
$27.25 SYP 3,011
-26.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.54 SYP 280
$5.45 SYP 602
-53.39%
Cappuccino
$1.18 SYP 131
$1.49 SYP 165
-20.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 SYP 149
$1.12 SYP 124
20.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 SYP 61.6
$0.72 SYP 80.0
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.43 SYP 931
$1.62 SYP 179
420.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 SYP 142
$2.46 SYP 272
-47.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 SYP 109
$0.98 SYP 108
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 SYP 97.8
$0.62 SYP 69.0
43.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 SYP 337
$1.70 SYP 188
79.41%
Eggs
$2.05 SYP 226
$1.88 SYP 208
9.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.70 SYP 520
$3.04 SYP 336
54.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.37 SYP 704
$7.67 SYP 847
-16.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.40 SYP 2,365
$11.26 SYP 1,244
90.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 SYP 265
$0.92 SYP 102
160.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 SYP 272
$1.79 SYP 198
37.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 SYP 253
$1.00 SYP 110
129.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 SYP 76.1
$0.87 SYP 96.6
-20.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 73.1
$0.66 SYP 72.7
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 SYP 115
$0.65 SYP 72.2
60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 SYP 31.81
$0.38 SYP 41.96
-23.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 SYP 81.9
$0.57 SYP 63.3
29.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 SYP 351
$3.03 SYP 335
4.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.01 SYP 553
$6.00 SYP 663
-16.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 SYP 219
$0.98 SYP 109
102.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 SYP 285
$1.82 SYP 201
41.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 SYP 17.27
$0.10 SYP 11.54
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.03 SYP 335
$17.18 SYP 1,899
-82.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 SYP 305
$0.98 SYP 109
181.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 SYP 225
$1.26 SYP 139
61.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 SYP 653
$6.39 SYP 706
-7.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 SYP 147
$3.59 SYP 397
-62.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K SYP 3.1M
$18.5K SYP 2.0M
52.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K SYP 4.3M
$21.2K SYP 2.3M
85.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.1 SYP 6,864
$103 SYP 11.4K
-39.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.18 SYP 3,997
$8.22 SYP 908
340.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.26 SYP 2,239
$54.6 SYP 6,036
-62.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.38 SYP 1,699
$15.20 SYP 1,679
1.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.76 SYP 1,410
$7.41 SYP 819
72.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 SYP 341
$3.07 SYP 339
0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$68.7 SYP 7,586
$43.11 SYP 4,763
59.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,198 SYP 353.4K
$1,799 SYP 198.8K
77.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.75 SYP 2,735
$29.40 SYP 3,248
-15.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 SYP 6,838
$26.02 SYP 2,876
137.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 SYP 12.6K
$45.85 SYP 5,067
147.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 SYP 13.1K
$56.4 SYP 6,230
110.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$90.2 SYP 9,971
$259 SYP 28.6K
-65.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.4 SYP 8,549
$169 SYP 18.6K
-54.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$195 SYP 21.5K
$522 SYP 57.7K
-62.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 SYP 17.2K
$290 SYP 32.1K
-46.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$802 SYP 88.6K
$1,694 SYP 187.2K
-52.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$298 SYP 32.9K
$598 SYP 66.1K
-50.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aleppo
Damascus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$62.4 SYP 6,893
$44.01 SYP 4,863
41.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.75
-

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

Last update for Aleppo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Damascus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $90.2 in Aleppo and $259 in Damascus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aleppo pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Aleppo vs $27.00 in Damascus. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $168, with Damascus cheaper for home cooking.

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
Aleppo vs Damascus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aleppo and Damascus?
Aleppo and Damascus differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($708 vs $723 including rent). Aleppo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Aleppo or Damascus?
Aleppo pays 42% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Aleppo and Damascus?
Rent for a central apartment: $90.2 in Aleppo versus $259 in Damascus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Aleppo or Damascus?
All in, you'll spend $708 per month in Aleppo versus $723 in Damascus – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Aleppo and Damascus?
A monthly transit pass in Aleppo runs roughly 467% less than in Damascus. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,200 go in Aleppo vs Damascus?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Aleppo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Aleppo and Damascus?
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.
Where should expats move: Aleppo or Damascus?
Expats usually find Aleppo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Aleppo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities