Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Homs Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Homs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Damascus versus $427 in Homs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Damascus versus $639 in Homs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,439 in Damascus versus $850 in Homs.

Living in Damascus is roughly 69% more expensive than Homs, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 46% lower, Homs 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.07 SYP 670

$2.98 SYP 330

103.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.25 SYP 3,011

$12.12 SYP 1,339

124.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SYP 602

$3.95 SYP 437

37.97%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 165

$0.99 SYP 109

50.51%

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

$1.12 SYP 124

$0.67 SYP 73.7

67.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 SYP 80.0

$0.44 SYP 48.73

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

$0.83 SYP 91.3

95.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SYP 272

$0.98 SYP 109

151.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 SYP 108

$0.67 SYP 74.2

46.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 69.0

$0.59 SYP 65.0

5.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SYP 188

$1.13 SYP 125

50.44%

Eggs

$1.88 SYP 208

$1.85 SYP 204

1.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 SYP 336

$2.70 SYP 299

12.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 SYP 847

$5.61 SYP 620

36.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 SYP 1,244

$11.17 SYP 1,234

0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 SYP 102

$0.67 SYP 73.9

37.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 198

$1.42 SYP 157

26.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 SYP 110

$0.48 SYP 52.8

108.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 SYP 96.6

$0.32 SYP 34.88

171.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 72.7

$0.57 SYP 62.5

15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 SYP 72.2

$0.66 SYP 73.0

-1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 41.96

$0.37 SYP 41.38

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SYP 63.3

$0.58 SYP 64.2

-1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 SYP 335

$1.51 SYP 167

100.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 SYP 663

$3.68 SYP 406

63.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 109

$0.88 SYP 97.7

11.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SYP 201

$0.98 SYP 108

85.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 SYP 11.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.18 SYP 1,899

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SYP 109

$1.02 SYP 113

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 SYP 139

$1.02 SYP 112

23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 SYP 706

$1.54 SYP 170

314.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.59 SYP 397

$1.26 SYP 140

184.92%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.0M

$18.3K SYP 2.0M

1.36%

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

$21.2K SYP 2.3M

$21.1K SYP 2.3M

0.31%

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

$103 SYP 11.4K

$104 SYP 11.4K

-0.24%

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

$8.22 SYP 908

$6.05 SYP 669

35.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 SYP 6,036

$14.71 SYP 1,625

271.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.20 SYP 1,679

$10.15 SYP 1,121

49.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.41 SYP 819

$4.88 SYP 540

51.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.07 SYP 339

$2.93 SYP 323

4.78%

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

$43.11 SYP 4,763

$43.65 SYP 4,823

-1.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,799 SYP 198.8K

$1,825 SYP 201.7K

-1.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.40 SYP 3,248

$14.92 SYP 1,649

97.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 SYP 2,876

$12.43 SYP 1,374

109.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.85 SYP 5,067

$45.88 SYP 5,069

-0.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 SYP 6,230

$56.6 SYP 6,255

-0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 SYP 28.6K

$76.4 SYP 8,444

239.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 SYP 18.6K

$35.68 SYP 3,943

372.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 SYP 57.7K

$296 SYP 32.7K

76.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SYP 32.1K

$49.82 SYP 5,505

482.98%

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

$73.3 SYP 8,095

-39.92%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Homs: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Damascus and $76.4 in Homs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Homs pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Damascus vs $12.00 in Homs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $135 per month, with Homs 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 Homs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Damascus and Homs differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($723 vs $427 including rent). Homs is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Homs earns 66% 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 $76.4 in Homs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $43.11 in Damascus versus $43.65 in Homs. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Homs – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $27.00 in Damascus. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Homs 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 Homs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.