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: $723 in Damascus versus $236 in 'afrin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Damascus versus $329 in 'afrin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,439 in Damascus versus $422 in 'afrin.

Living in Damascus is roughly 206% more expensive than 'afrin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 46% lower, 'afrin 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.07 SYP 670

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.25 SYP 3,011

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SYP 602

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 165

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

$1.12 SYP 124

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 SYP 80.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SYP 272

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 SYP 108

$0.48 SYP 53.2

104.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 69.0

$0.49 SYP 53.8

26.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.02 SYP 113

66.67%

Eggs

$1.88 SYP 208

$1.23 SYP 136

52.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 336

$2.92 SYP 323

4.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 SYP 847

$2.95 SYP 326

160.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 SYP 1,244

$7.01 SYP 775

60.63%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 SYP 102

$0.82 SYP 91.2

12.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 198

$1.02 SYP 113

75.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 SYP 110

$1.01 SYP 112

-0.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 SYP 96.6

$0.79 SYP 87.0

10.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.7

$0.51 SYP 56.9

29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 SYP 72.2

$0.49 SYP 53.9

32.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 41.96

$0.49 SYP 53.8

-22.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SYP 63.3

$0.20 SYP 21.66

185.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 SYP 335

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 SYP 663

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 109

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SYP 201

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)

$0.98 SYP 109

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 SYP 139

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 SYP 706

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.59 SYP 397

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

$18.5K SYP 2.0M

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

$21.2K SYP 2.3M

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

$103 SYP 11.4K

$100 SYP 11.1K

2.90%

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

$8.22 SYP 908

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 SYP 6,036

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.20 SYP 1,679

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.41 SYP 819

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 SYP 339

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

$43.11 SYP 4,763

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,799 SYP 198.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.40 SYP 3,248

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 SYP 2,876

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.85 SYP 5,067

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 SYP 6,230

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 SYP 28.6K

$50.1 SYP 5,534

417.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 18.6K

$50.6 SYP 5,596

232.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 SYP 57.7K

$149 SYP 16.5K

250.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SYP 32.1K

$102 SYP 11.2K

185.84%

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 Damascus: May 31, 2026

Last update for 'afrin: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Damascus and $50.1 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 206% 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 $1,084 in Damascus and $354 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: $259 in Damascus versus $50.1 in 'afrin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 90% higher in Damascus. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Damascus versus $236 in 'afrin – a 206% 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 206% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.