Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Aleppo Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Aleppo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Damascus versus $708 in Aleppo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Damascus versus $1,121 in Aleppo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,439 in Damascus versus $1,534 in Aleppo.

Living in Damascus is roughly 2% more expensive than Aleppo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 46% lower, Aleppo 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07 SYP 670
$3.04 SYP 336
99.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.25 SYP 3,011
$20.16 SYP 2,228
35.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 SYP 602
$2.54 SYP 280
114.57%
Cappuccino
$1.49 SYP 165
$1.18 SYP 131
26.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 SYP 124
$1.35 SYP 149
-17.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SYP 80.0
$0.56 SYP 61.6
28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 SYP 179
$8.43 SYP 931
-80.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 SYP 272
$1.28 SYP 142
92.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 SYP 108
$0.98 SYP 109
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 SYP 69.0
$0.89 SYP 97.8
-30.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 SYP 188
$3.05 SYP 337
-44.26%
Eggs
$1.88 SYP 208
$2.05 SYP 226
-8.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.04 SYP 336
$4.70 SYP 520
-35.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.67 SYP 847
$6.37 SYP 704
20.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.26 SYP 1,244
$21.40 SYP 2,365
-47.38%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 SYP 102
$2.40 SYP 265
-61.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 SYP 198
$2.47 SYP 272
-27.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 SYP 110
$2.29 SYP 253
-56.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 SYP 96.6
$0.69 SYP 76.1
26.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 72.7
$0.66 SYP 73.1
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 SYP 72.2
$1.04 SYP 115
-37.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 SYP 41.96
$0.29 SYP 31.81
31.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 SYP 63.3
$0.74 SYP 81.9
-22.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03 SYP 335
$3.18 SYP 351
-4.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.00 SYP 663
$5.01 SYP 553
19.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 SYP 109
$1.98 SYP 219
-50.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 SYP 201
$2.58 SYP 285
-29.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.10 SYP 11.54
$0.16 SYP 17.27
-37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.18 SYP 1,899
$3.03 SYP 335
467.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 SYP 109
$2.76 SYP 305
-64.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 SYP 139
$2.04 SYP 225
-38.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.39 SYP 706
$5.91 SYP 653
8.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.59 SYP 397
$1.33 SYP 147
169.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K SYP 2.0M
$28.3K SYP 3.1M
-34.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K SYP 2.3M
$39.2K SYP 4.3M
-45.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SYP 11.4K
$62.1 SYP 6,864
66.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.22 SYP 908
$36.18 SYP 3,997
-77.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6 SYP 6,036
$20.26 SYP 2,239
169.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.20 SYP 1,679
$15.38 SYP 1,699
-1.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.41 SYP 819
$12.76 SYP 1,410
-41.93%
Cinema Ticket
$3.07 SYP 339
$3.08 SYP 341
-0.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.11 SYP 4,763
$68.7 SYP 7,586
-37.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,799 SYP 198.8K
$3,198 SYP 353.4K
-43.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.40 SYP 3,248
$24.75 SYP 2,735
18.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.02 SYP 2,876
$61.9 SYP 6,838
-57.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.85 SYP 5,067
$114 SYP 12.6K
-59.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4 SYP 6,230
$119 SYP 13.1K
-52.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 SYP 28.6K
$90.2 SYP 9,971
187.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 SYP 18.6K
$77.4 SYP 8,549
117.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$522 SYP 57.7K
$195 SYP 21.5K
168.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$290 SYP 32.1K
$156 SYP 17.2K
86.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,694 SYP 187.2K
$802 SYP 88.6K
111.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$598 SYP 66.1K
$298 SYP 32.9K
100.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Damascus
Aleppo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$44.01 SYP 4,863
$62.4 SYP 6,893
-29.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.75
0
-

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

Last update for Damascus: May 31, 2026

Last update for Aleppo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Damascus and $90.2 in Aleppo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aleppo pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Damascus vs $20.00 in Aleppo. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $228, with Damascus 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 Aleppo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Damascus and Aleppo?
Damascus and Aleppo differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($723 vs $708 including rent). Aleppo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Aleppo earns 42% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Damascus and Aleppo?
Rent for a central apartment: $259 in Damascus versus $90.2 in Aleppo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Damascus or Aleppo?
All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Damascus versus $708 in Aleppo – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Damascus and Aleppo?
A monthly transit pass in Aleppo runs roughly 467% less than in Damascus. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How far does $1,200 go in Damascus vs Aleppo?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Aleppo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Damascus and Aleppo?
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.
Where should expats move: Damascus or Aleppo?
Expats usually find Aleppo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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