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: $724 in Damascus versus $202 in Dar'a.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,086 in Damascus versus $394 in Dar'a.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,447 in Damascus versus $587 in Dar'a.

Living in Damascus is roughly 259% more expensive than in Dar'a, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 46% lower, Dar'a 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.87 SYP 713

$3.03 SYP 368

93.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.58 SYP 3,351

$14.94 SYP 1,816

84.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 SYP 681

Cappuccino

$1.47 SYP 179

$0.99 SYP 120

48.48%

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

$1.18 SYP 143

$0.78 SYP 94.7

51.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 SYP 82.8

$0.48 SYP 57.8

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 SYP 200

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 SYP 306

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 SYP 118

$0.52 SYP 62.6

86.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 SYP 70.7

$0.29 SYP 34.82

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 207

$1.23 SYP 149

38.21%

Eggs

$1.85 SYP 224

$1.19 SYP 144

55.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 SYP 372

$4.05 SYP 492

-24.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.86 SYP 955

$3.19 SYP 387

146.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 SYP 1,376

$6.69 SYP 813

69.36%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 SYP 105

$0.29 SYP 34.63

196.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 SYP 213

$1.17 SYP 142

49.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 SYP 120

$0.63 SYP 76.4

57.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 106

$0.29 SYP 34.79

203.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 74.3

$0.38 SYP 46.40

60.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 SYP 81.4

$0.26 SYP 31.76

157.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SYP 49.49

$0.28 SYP 34.42

46.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SYP 76.3

$0.48 SYP 58.9

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 SYP 355

$2.21 SYP 269

32.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.15 SYP 990

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 124

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 SYP 222

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.09 SYP 11.38

$0.25 SYP 30.24

-64.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.20 SYP 2,090

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SYP 124

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SYP 150

$1.54 SYP 187

-20.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 SYP 785

$3.98 SYP 484

62.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.61 SYP 438

$1.72 SYP 209

109.88%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.2M

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

$21.1K SYP 2.6M

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

$100 SYP 12.2K

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

$8.27 SYP 1,005

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 SYP 6,806

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.14 SYP 1,839

$3.45 SYP 419

338.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 SYP 916

$6.15 SYP 747

22.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 SYP 375

$3.04 SYP 369

1.32%

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

$43.00 SYP 5,224

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,820 SYP 221.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.34 SYP 3,565

$9.99 SYP 1,214

193.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.25 SYP 3,190

$24.90 SYP 3,025

5.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.66 SYP 5,426

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 SYP 6,766

$16.94 SYP 2,058

228.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 SYP 32.4K

$49.14 SYP 5,971

442.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 20.5K

$35.42 SYP 4,304

377.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$531 SYP 64.6K

$199 SYP 24.1K

167.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SYP 35.3K

$126 SYP 15.3K

130.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,731 SYP 210.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$617 SYP 75.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$71.9 SYP 8,730

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dar'a: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Damascus and $49.14 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 $173 vs $87.0 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 259% in total monthly costs ($724 vs $202 including rent). Dar'a is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,086 in Damascus and $302 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: $266 in Damascus versus $49.14 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 $724 per month in Damascus versus $202 in Dar'a – a 259% 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 259% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.