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: $859 in Damascus versus $631 in Al-Qusayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,394 in Damascus versus $1,005 in Al-Qusayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,928 in Damascus versus $1,378 in Al-Qusayr.

Living in Damascus is roughly 36% more expensive than in Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 38% lower, Al-Qusayr 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 SYP 1,235

$9.96 SYP 1,210

2.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.45 SYP 5,402

$45.13 SYP 5,484

-1.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 SYP 868

$7.20 SYP 875

-0.83%

Cappuccino

$3.63 SYP 441

$3.77 SYP 459

-3.71%

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

$2.28 SYP 277

$2.26 SYP 275

0.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 SYP 105

$0.84 SYP 102

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 SYP 235

$1.92 SYP 233

0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 SYP 359

$2.96 SYP 360

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 SYP 127

$1.05 SYP 128

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 SYP 50.1

$0.42 SYP 50.7

-2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 SYP 201

$1.58 SYP 192

5.06%

Eggs

$1.55 SYP 188

$1.61 SYP 195

-3.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.01 SYP 488

$3.83 SYP 466

4.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 SYP 688

$5.87 SYP 713

-3.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 SYP 1,680

$13.59 SYP 1,652

1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 SYP 131

$1.03 SYP 126

4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 SYP 170

$1.37 SYP 167

2.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 SYP 132

$1.14 SYP 138

-4.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 SYP 128

$1.01 SYP 123

3.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 SYP 91.3

$0.81 SYP 98.2

-7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 SYP 90.3

$0.80 SYP 97.6

-7.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 SYP 53.2

$0.41 SYP 49.26

7.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.1

$0.66 SYP 80.1

-7.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 SYP 340

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 SYP 731

$5.91 SYP 718

1.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 SYP 128

$1.07 SYP 130

-1.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SYP 361

$2.98 SYP 362

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 SYP 28.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.04 SYP 1,220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SYP 123

$1.02 SYP 124

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 SYP 187

$1.48 SYP 180

4.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.78 SYP 945

$7.90 SYP 960

-1.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.60 SYP 437

$3.64 SYP 443

-1.10%

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

$15.0K SYP 1.8M

$15.1K SYP 1.8M

-0.94%

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

$19.0K SYP 2.3M

$19.3K SYP 2.3M

-1.09%

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

$140 SYP 17.1K

$140 SYP 17.0K

0.21%

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

$9.76 SYP 1,187

$9.72 SYP 1,181

0.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.06 SYP 5,719

$46.01 SYP 5,591

2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.69 SYP 3,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.73 SYP 1,061

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 SYP 675

$5.34 SYP 649

3.93%

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

$67.0 SYP 8,146

$65.4 SYP 7,945

2.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,751 SYP 212.8K

$1,769 SYP 215.0K

-1.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.35 SYP 3,445

$28.39 SYP 3,450

-0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.54 SYP 4,927

$40.28 SYP 4,895

0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 SYP 7,297

$60.0 SYP 7,286

0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.3 SYP 7,084

$58.0 SYP 7,042

0.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 SYP 63.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 SYP 22.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 SYP 100.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 SYP 53.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 SYP 209.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$605 SYP 73.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$70.9 SYP 8,617

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.25

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

Last update for Damascus: September 5, 2026

Last update for Al-Qusayr: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Damascus vs $45.00 in Al-Qusayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $169 per month, with Damascus cheaper across the board.

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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,289 in Damascus and $946 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 0% higher in Damascus. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $859 per month in Damascus versus $631 in Al-Qusayr – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $631 in Al-Qusayr versus $859 in Damascus, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Qusayr but tight or insufficient in Damascus. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Qusayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 36% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.