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: $718 in Damascus versus $205 in Dar'a.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Damascus versus $396 in Dar'a.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,450 in Damascus versus $587 in Dar'a.

Living in Damascus is roughly 251% more expensive than 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

$6.10 SYP 692

$3.09 SYP 350

97.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.96 SYP 3,059

$15.28 SYP 1,734

76.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 SYP 627

Cappuccino

$1.55 SYP 176

$1.01 SYP 115

53.47%

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

$1.13 SYP 128

$0.74 SYP 83.9

52.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 SYP 78.0

$0.49 SYP 55.5

40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 SYP 178

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SYP 279

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 SYP 114

$0.51 SYP 57.9

96.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 SYP 71.2

$0.29 SYP 32.55

117.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 193

$1.23 SYP 140

38.21%

Eggs

$1.87 SYP 213

$1.16 SYP 132

61.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.17 SYP 360

$4.11 SYP 467

-22.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.73 SYP 877

$3.15 SYP 357

145.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.44 SYP 1,298

$6.75 SYP 765

69.48%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 SYP 101

$0.31 SYP 35.48

187.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 SYP 205

$1.23 SYP 140

47.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 116

$0.59 SYP 66.5

72.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 SYP 102

$0.31 SYP 35.33

190.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 SYP 76.1

$0.38 SYP 43.43

76.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 69.3

$0.24 SYP 27.10

154.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 SYP 42.26

$0.28 SYP 31.78

32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SYP 71.5

$0.48 SYP 54.7

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.06 SYP 347

$2.18 SYP 248

40.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.18 SYP 929

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SYP 116

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SYP 201

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.09 SYP 10.29

$0.27 SYP 30.92

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.79 SYP 1,905

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SYP 116

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 SYP 144

$1.46 SYP 165

-13.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 SYP 730

$4.06 SYP 460

58.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.72 SYP 422

$1.74 SYP 197

113.79%

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

$18.4K SYP 2.1M

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

$20.8K SYP 2.4M

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

$102 SYP 11.5K

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

$8.24 SYP 935

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 SYP 6,287

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.17 SYP 1,721

$3.43 SYP 390

342.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.13 SYP 809

$5.83 SYP 661

22.30%

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 SYP 344

$2.94 SYP 333

3.06%

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

$43.54 SYP 4,941

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,820 SYP 206.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.53 SYP 3,350

$10.13 SYP 1,150

191.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.63 SYP 2,909

$24.55 SYP 2,786

4.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.38 SYP 5,036

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 SYP 6,337

$16.75 SYP 1,901

233.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 30.1K

$49.29 SYP 5,593

438.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 SYP 19.6K

$35.18 SYP 3,992

390.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 SYP 60.5K

$201 SYP 22.8K

165.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 SYP 32.4K

$124 SYP 14.1K

130.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,779 SYP 201.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$635 SYP 72.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$49.26 SYP 5,589

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Dar'a: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Damascus and $49.29 in Dar'a. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Damascus vs $15.00 in Dar'a for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 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 251% in total monthly costs ($718 vs $205 including rent). Dar'a is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,077 in Damascus and $307 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 $49.29 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 $27.00 in Damascus. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $718 per month in Damascus versus $205 in Dar'a – a 251% 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 251% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.