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: $734 in Damascus versus $837 in Essaouira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Damascus versus $1,254 in Essaouira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Damascus versus $1,671 in Essaouira.

Living in Damascus costs roughly 12% less than in Essaouira, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 45% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 SYP 720

$4.36 MAD 40.68

36.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.18 SYP 3,303

$25.14 MAD 234

8.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 SYP 686

$4.97 MAD 46.37

13.68%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 182

$1.76 MAD 16.37

-15.34%

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

$1.12 SYP 136

$0.46 MAD 4.26

143.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 SYP 82.1

$0.26 MAD 2.41

161.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 SYP 193

$3.79 MAD 35.36

-58.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SYP 302

$3.72 MAD 34.69

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 SYP 126

$0.84 MAD 7.87

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 71.7

$0.49 MAD 4.57

20.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 SYP 203

$1.65 MAD 15.43

1.21%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 233

$1.81 MAD 16.90

6.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.02 SYP 367

$9.24 MAD 86.1

-67.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 SYP 917

$5.29 MAD 49.31

42.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.18 SYP 1,358

$11.42 MAD 107

-2.10%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 107

$1.42 MAD 13.21

-38.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 218

$1.22 MAD 11.42

46.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 125

$0.72 MAD 6.69

43.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 SYP 114

$0.88 MAD 8.22

6.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$0.70 MAD 6.52

-12.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 79.8

$0.91 MAD 8.48

-27.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.06

$0.39 MAD 3.66

2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.6

$0.53 MAD 4.97

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 SYP 371

$4.15 MAD 38.66

-26.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 SYP 996

$6.45 MAD 60.1

27.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

$1.93 MAD 18.03

-49.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 212

$2.20 MAD 20.52

-20.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 SYP 11.69

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-88.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.85 SYP 2,048

$16.46 MAD 154

2.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 SYP 118

$0.63 MAD 5.92

53.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 SYP 147

$0.48 MAD 4.43

152.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 SYP 761

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-30.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.61 SYP 439

$1.58 MAD 14.70

128.48%

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

$18.6K SYP 2.3M

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

-49.97%

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

$20.9K SYP 2.5M

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

-0.92%

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

$102 SYP 12.3K

$27.86 MAD 260

264.43%

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

$8.25 SYP 1,003

$13.90 MAD 130

-40.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 SYP 6,611

$27.94 MAD 261

94.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.48 SYP 1,881

$21.61 MAD 202

-28.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 SYP 897

$22.76 MAD 212

-67.53%

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 SYP 359

$6.65 MAD 62.0

-55.64%

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

$43.49 SYP 5,285

$75.3 MAD 702

-42.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,804 SYP 219.2K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

-7.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.75 SYP 3,615

$30.88 MAD 288

-3.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.42 SYP 3,089

$39.68 MAD 370

-35.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 SYP 5,548

$49.28 MAD 460

-7.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 SYP 6,814

$44.34 MAD 413

26.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 32.2K

$388 MAD 3,617

-31.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 SYP 20.6K

$346 MAD 3,229

-50.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 SYP 64.6K

$813 MAD 7,584

-34.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SYP 34.2K

$559 MAD 5,209

-49.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,714 SYP 208.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$596 SYP 72.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$59.5 SYP 7,235

$268 MAD 2,498

-77.78%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Damascus and $388 in Essaouira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Essaouira pays 350% 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 $172 vs $176, 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 14% in total monthly costs ($734 vs $837 including rent). Damascus is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 350% lower in Essaouira. 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: $265 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 $734 per month in Damascus versus $837 in Essaouira – a 14% 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 14% less than in Essaouira. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.