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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Damascus versus $519 in Al-Qusayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Damascus versus $808 in Al-Qusayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,453 in Damascus versus $1,097 in Al-Qusayr.

Living in Damascus is roughly 38% more expensive than Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 47% lower, Al-Qusayr 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.86 SYP 647

$6.07 SYP 671

-3.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.63 SYP 3,054

$27.52 SYP 3,041

0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 SYP 623

$5.44 SYP 601

3.68%

Cappuccino

$1.56 SYP 172

$1.49 SYP 165

4.70%

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

$1.12 SYP 124

$0.99 SYP 109

13.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 SYP 79.0

$0.72 SYP 79.2

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 SYP 173

$1.57 SYP 174

-0.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SYP 268

$2.57 SYP 284

-5.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 SYP 114

$1.04 SYP 114

-0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 64.9

$0.58 SYP 64.4

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.69 SYP 187

0.59%

Eggs

$1.91 SYP 212

$1.86 SYP 206

2.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.13 SYP 346

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 SYP 867

$7.54 SYP 834

4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.48 SYP 1,268

$11.25 SYP 1,243

2.04%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 97.0

$0.86 SYP 95.5

2.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 198

$1.74 SYP 192

2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 113

$1.03 SYP 113

-0.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 SYP 106

$0.94 SYP 104

2.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 73.2

$0.61 SYP 67.4

8.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 SYP 68.8

$0.65 SYP 71.9

-4.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 SYP 41.12

$0.40 SYP 44.26

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SYP 69.5

$0.62 SYP 68.9

1.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 SYP 337

$3.09 SYP 341

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.04 SYP 668

$5.92 SYP 654

2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SYP 114

$1.03 SYP 113

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SYP 196

$1.75 SYP 193

1.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 SYP 11.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.24 SYP 1,905

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 SYP 113

$0.99 SYP 109

4.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 136

$1.02 SYP 112

20.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 SYP 730

$0.99 SYP 109

567.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.64 SYP 402

$0.98 SYP 108

271.43%

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

$18.8K SYP 2.1M

$18.3K SYP 2.0M

2.82%

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

$21.0K SYP 2.3M

$20.7K SYP 2.3M

1.47%

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

$101 SYP 11.2K

0.24%

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

$8.37 SYP 925

$8.36 SYP 924

0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 SYP 5,982

$55.6 SYP 6,140

-2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.40 SYP 1,702

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.17 SYP 793

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 SYP 336

$3.01 SYP 333

1.00%

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

$44.07 SYP 4,870

$43.32 SYP 4,787

1.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,800 SYP 198.9K

$1,822 SYP 201.4K

-1.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.47 SYP 3,257

$29.26 SYP 3,233

0.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 SYP 2,803

$25.83 SYP 2,854

-1.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.17 SYP 4,991

$45.15 SYP 4,989

0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 SYP 6,187

$56.1 SYP 6,204

-0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 29.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 18.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 SYP 58.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 SYP 32.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,734 SYP 191.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$605 SYP 66.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$45.52 SYP 5,030

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Al-Qusayr: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Damascus vs $28.00 in Al-Qusayr. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $168, with Al-Qusayr 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

Damascus vs Al-Qusayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,075 in Damascus and $779 in Al-Qusayr 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Damascus. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $717 per month in Damascus versus $519 in Al-Qusayr – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Qusayr 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 Al-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.