Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Dar'a Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Dar'a

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Damascus versus $207 in Dar'a.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Damascus versus $394 in Dar'a.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,453 in Damascus versus $581 in Dar'a.

Living in Damascus is roughly 247% more expensive than Dar'a, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 47% lower, Dar'a 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.86 SYP 647

$2.96 SYP 327

97.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.63 SYP 3,054

$15.28 SYP 1,689

80.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 SYP 623

Cappuccino

$1.56 SYP 172

$1.01 SYP 112

54.46%

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

$1.12 SYP 124

$0.72 SYP 79.6

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 SYP 79.0

$0.52 SYP 57.4

36.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 SYP 173

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SYP 268

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 SYP 114

$0.49 SYP 53.9

110.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 64.9

$0.29 SYP 31.71

103.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.21 SYP 134

40.50%

Eggs

$1.91 SYP 212

$1.22 SYP 135

56.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.13 SYP 346

$3.94 SYP 435

-20.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 SYP 867

$3.12 SYP 344

151.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.48 SYP 1,268

$6.41 SYP 709

79.10%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 97.0

$0.31 SYP 34.53

183.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 198

$1.22 SYP 135

46.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 113

$0.58 SYP 63.6

75.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 SYP 106

$0.29 SYP 31.62

231.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 73.2

$0.38 SYP 42.44

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 SYP 68.8

$0.26 SYP 28.82

138.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 SYP 41.12

$0.26 SYP 28.59

42.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SYP 69.5

$0.48 SYP 52.5

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 SYP 337

$2.14 SYP 237

42.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.04 SYP 668

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SYP 114

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SYP 196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 SYP 11.92

$0.25 SYP 27.33

-56.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.24 SYP 1,905

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 SYP 113

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 136

$1.46 SYP 162

-15.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 SYP 730

$4.10 SYP 454

61.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.64 SYP 402

$1.71 SYP 189

112.87%

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

$18.8K SYP 2.1M

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

$21.0K SYP 2.3M

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

$101 SYP 11.2K

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

$8.37 SYP 925

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 SYP 5,982

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.40 SYP 1,702

$3.58 SYP 396

330.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.17 SYP 793

$5.83 SYP 644

22.98%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 SYP 336

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

$44.07 SYP 4,870

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,800 SYP 198.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.47 SYP 3,257

$9.86 SYP 1,090

198.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 SYP 2,803

$24.97 SYP 2,759

1.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.17 SYP 4,991

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 SYP 6,187

$16.86 SYP 1,863

232.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 29.3K

$49.80 SYP 5,503

431.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 18.7K

$35.08 SYP 3,877

382.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$525 SYP 58.0K

$198 SYP 21.9K

164.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 SYP 32.1K

$125 SYP 13.8K

132.39%

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 Dar'a: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Damascus and $49.80 in Dar'a. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Damascus vs $15.00 in Dar'a for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $85.0 per month, with Dar'a 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 Dar'a: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Damascus and Dar'a differ by about 247% in total monthly costs ($717 vs $207 including rent). Dar'a is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,075 in Damascus and $310 in Dar'a 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: $265 in Damascus versus $49.80 in Dar'a. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Dar'a – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $28.00 in Damascus. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $717 per month in Damascus versus $207 in Dar'a – a 247% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Dar'a 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 Dar'a gentler on the wallet – expenses run 247% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.