Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Damascus versus $810 in Essaouira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Damascus versus $1,226 in Essaouira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,439 in Damascus versus $1,642 in Essaouira.

Living in Damascus costs roughly 11% less than in Essaouira, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 46% lower, Essaouira 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.07 SYP 670

$4.34 MAD 39.86

39.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.25 SYP 3,011

$24.74 MAD 227

10.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SYP 602

$4.99 MAD 45.88

9.22%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 165

$1.84 MAD 16.91

-19.02%

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

$1.12 SYP 124

$0.45 MAD 4.13

148.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 SYP 80.0

$0.26 MAD 2.36

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

$3.85 MAD 35.40

-57.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SYP 272

$3.57 MAD 32.83

-31.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 SYP 108

$0.85 MAD 7.80

15.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 69.0

$0.53 MAD 4.90

16.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.69 MAD 15.57

0.59%

Eggs

$1.88 SYP 208

$1.80 MAD 16.52

4.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 336

$9.59 MAD 88.1

-68.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 SYP 847

$5.34 MAD 49.08

43.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 SYP 1,244

$11.51 MAD 106

-2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 SYP 102

$1.37 MAD 12.55

-32.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 198

$1.27 MAD 11.70

40.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 SYP 110

$0.72 MAD 6.59

38.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 SYP 96.6

$0.93 MAD 8.56

-6.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.7

$0.69 MAD 6.36

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 SYP 72.2

$0.92 MAD 8.47

-29.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 41.96

$0.39 MAD 3.60

-2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SYP 63.3

$0.54 MAD 4.92

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 SYP 335

$4.07 MAD 37.43

-25.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 SYP 663

$6.61 MAD 60.8

-9.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 109

$1.93 MAD 17.76

-49.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SYP 201

$2.16 MAD 19.83

-15.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 SYP 11.54

$0.90 MAD 8.25

-88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.18 SYP 1,899

$16.40 MAD 151

4.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SYP 109

$0.68 MAD 6.26

44.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 SYP 139

$0.51 MAD 4.72

147.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 SYP 706

$8.69 MAD 79.8

-26.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.59 SYP 397

$1.58 MAD 14.54

127.22%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.0M

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

-50.72%

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

$21.2K SYP 2.3M

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

0.75%

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

$103 SYP 11.4K

$28.04 MAD 258

268.30%

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

$8.22 SYP 908

$13.82 MAD 127

-40.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 SYP 6,036

$28.65 MAD 263

90.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.20 SYP 1,679

$22.11 MAD 203

-31.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.41 SYP 819

$23.63 MAD 217

-68.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 SYP 339

$6.71 MAD 61.7

-54.25%

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

$43.11 SYP 4,763

$75.6 MAD 695

-42.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,799 SYP 198.8K

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

-9.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.40 SYP 3,248

$31.43 MAD 289

-6.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 SYP 2,876

$39.79 MAD 366

-34.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.85 SYP 5,067

$48.84 MAD 449

-6.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 SYP 6,230

$44.20 MAD 406

27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 SYP 28.6K

$388 MAD 3,563

-33.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 18.6K

$345 MAD 3,173

-51.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 SYP 57.7K

$795 MAD 7,308

-34.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SYP 32.1K

$545 MAD 5,011

-46.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,694 SYP 187.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$598 SYP 66.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$44.01 SYP 4,863

$268 MAD 2,462

-83.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

5.5

150.00%

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

Last update for Damascus: May 31, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Damascus and $388 in Essaouira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Essaouira pays 509% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Damascus vs $25.00 in Essaouira. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $179, 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 Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Damascus and Essaouira differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($723 vs $810 including rent). Damascus is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Essaouira earns 509% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $259 in Damascus versus $388 in Essaouira. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Damascus – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $25.00 in Essaouira. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Damascus versus $810 in Essaouira – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Damascus 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.

Safety-wise, Damascus and Essaouira are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Damascus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Essaouira. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.