Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and 'afrin Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and 'afrin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Damascus versus $241 in 'afrin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Damascus versus $328 in 'afrin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Damascus versus $416 in 'afrin.

Living in Damascus is roughly 205% more expensive than in 'afrin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 45% lower, 'afrin 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 SYP 720

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.18 SYP 3,303

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 SYP 686

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 182

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

$1.12 SYP 136

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 SYP 82.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 SYP 193

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SYP 302

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 SYP 126

$0.52 SYP 63.0

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 71.7

$0.48 SYP 58.7

22.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 SYP 203

$0.97 SYP 118

72.16%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 233

$1.22 SYP 149

57.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.02 SYP 367

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 SYP 917

$3.01 SYP 366

150.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.18 SYP 1,358

$6.98 SYP 848

60.17%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 107

$0.81 SYP 99.0

8.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 218

$0.98 SYP 119

82.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 125

$0.98 SYP 119

5.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 SYP 114

$0.83 SYP 101

13.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$0.52 SYP 63.7

17.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 79.8

$0.51 SYP 62.1

29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.06

$0.48 SYP 58.0

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.6

$0.20 SYP 23.73

205.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 SYP 371

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 SYP 996

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$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)

$0.97 SYP 118

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 SYP 147

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 SYP 761

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.61 SYP 439

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

$18.6K SYP 2.3M

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

$20.9K SYP 2.5M

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

$102 SYP 12.3K

$100 SYP 12.2K

1.20%

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

$8.25 SYP 1,003

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 SYP 6,611

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.48 SYP 1,881

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 SYP 897

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 SYP 359

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

$43.49 SYP 5,285

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,804 SYP 219.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.75 SYP 3,615

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.42 SYP 3,089

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 SYP 5,548

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 SYP 6,814

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 32.2K

$50.3 SYP 6,116

426.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 SYP 20.6K

$49.46 SYP 6,010

243.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 SYP 64.6K

$149 SYP 18.1K

257.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SYP 34.2K

$100 SYP 12.2K

180.12%

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 Damascus: July 13, 2026

Last update for 'afrin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Damascus and $50.3 in 'afrin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Damascus vs 'afrin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'afrin wins on cost – living expenses run 205% lower than in Damascus. 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 $1,101 in Damascus 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Damascus versus $50.3 in 'afrin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Damascus. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $734 per month in Damascus versus $241 in 'afrin – a 205% 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 205% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.