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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $723 per month in Damascus vs $523 in Al-qardahah, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $1,439 per month in Damascus vs $1,114 in Al-qardahah, rent included.

Damascus costs about 38% more than Al-qardahah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Damascus and Al-qardahah are more affordable than the global median – Damascus 46% lower, Al-qardahah 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.07 SYP 670

$5.92 SYP 654

2.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.25 SYP 3,011

$27.69 SYP 3,060

-1.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SYP 602

$5.53 SYP 611

-1.45%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 165

$1.56 SYP 172

-4.49%

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

$1.12 SYP 124

$1.12 SYP 123

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 SYP 80.0

$0.73 SYP 81.2

-1.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

$1.64 SYP 181

-1.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SYP 272

$2.51 SYP 278

-1.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 SYP 108

$0.94 SYP 104

4.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 69.0

$0.64 SYP 70.3

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.68 SYP 185

1.19%

Eggs

$1.88 SYP 208

$1.92 SYP 212

-2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 336

$3.10 SYP 343

-1.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 SYP 847

$7.69 SYP 849

-0.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 SYP 1,244

$11.35 SYP 1,255

-0.79%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 SYP 102

$0.87 SYP 96.6

5.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 198

$1.82 SYP 201

-1.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 SYP 110

$1.03 SYP 114

-2.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 SYP 96.6

$0.89 SYP 98.8

-2.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.7

$0.66 SYP 72.6

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 SYP 72.2

$0.66 SYP 73.1

-1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 41.96

$0.41 SYP 45.24

-7.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SYP 63.3

$0.57 SYP 63.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 SYP 335

$3.08 SYP 340

-1.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 SYP 663

$5.96 SYP 658

0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 109

$1.02 SYP 113

-3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SYP 201

$1.85 SYP 204

-1.62%

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

$1.02 SYP 113

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 SYP 139

$1.29 SYP 142

-2.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 SYP 706

$6.52 SYP 721

-1.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.59 SYP 397

$3.76 SYP 416

-4.52%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.0M

$18.1K SYP 2.0M

2.19%

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

$21.2K SYP 2.3M

$21.3K SYP 2.4M

-0.42%

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

$103 SYP 11.4K

$102 SYP 11.3K

0.98%

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

$8.22 SYP 908

$8.36 SYP 923

-1.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 SYP 6,036

$54.5 SYP 6,023

0.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.20 SYP 1,679

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.41 SYP 819

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 SYP 339

$2.95 SYP 326

4.07%

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

$43.11 SYP 4,763

$44.02 SYP 4,864

-2.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,799 SYP 198.8K

$1,819 SYP 201.0K

-1.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.40 SYP 3,248

$29.62 SYP 3,273

-0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 SYP 2,876

$25.95 SYP 2,868

0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.85 SYP 5,067

$45.48 SYP 5,026

0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 SYP 6,230

$55.3 SYP 6,112

1.93%

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 Damascus: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-qardahah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Damascus versus $28.00 in Al-qardahah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $168 – making Damascus 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

Damascus vs Al-qardahah: 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 $1,084 per month in Damascus and $785 in Al-qardahah. 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 Damascus and $28.00 in Al-qardahah. 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 $723 in Damascus and $523 in Al-qardahah, 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.