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: $734 in Damascus versus $429 in Homs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Damascus versus $635 in Homs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Damascus versus $841 in Homs.

Living in Damascus is roughly 71% more expensive than in Homs, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 45% lower, Homs 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 SYP 720

$3.05 SYP 371

94.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.18 SYP 3,303

$12.03 SYP 1,462

125.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 SYP 686

$4.07 SYP 495

38.82%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 182

$1.01 SYP 122

47.52%

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

$1.12 SYP 136

$0.62 SYP 75.8

80.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 SYP 82.1

$0.41 SYP 50.1

65.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 SYP 193

$0.88 SYP 108

79.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SYP 302

$1.01 SYP 123

145.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 SYP 126

$0.63 SYP 76.2

65.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 71.7

$0.60 SYP 72.6

-1.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 SYP 203

$1.13 SYP 138

47.79%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 233

$1.85 SYP 225

3.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.02 SYP 367

$2.81 SYP 342

7.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 SYP 917

$5.63 SYP 684

33.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.18 SYP 1,358

$11.08 SYP 1,347

0.90%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 107

$0.63 SYP 76.3

39.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 218

$1.37 SYP 167

30.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 125

$0.52 SYP 63.2

98.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 SYP 114

$0.31 SYP 38.24

203.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$0.57 SYP 68.9

7.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 79.8

$0.61 SYP 74.4

8.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.06

$0.38 SYP 45.74

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.6

$0.59 SYP 71.4

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 SYP 371

$1.54 SYP 187

98.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 SYP 996

$3.80 SYP 461

115.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

$0.83 SYP 101

18.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 212

$1.02 SYP 123

71.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 SYP 11.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.85 SYP 2,048

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 SYP 118

$1.01 SYP 123

-3.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 SYP 147

$0.99 SYP 120

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 SYP 761

$1.47 SYP 179

325.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.61 SYP 439

$1.23 SYP 149

193.50%

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

$18.6K SYP 2.3M

$18.2K SYP 2.2M

2.43%

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

$20.9K SYP 2.5M

$20.7K SYP 2.5M

0.82%

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

$102 SYP 12.3K

$101 SYP 12.2K

0.95%

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

$8.25 SYP 1,003

$5.90 SYP 716

39.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 SYP 6,611

$15.08 SYP 1,833

260.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.48 SYP 1,881

$9.87 SYP 1,199

56.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 SYP 897

$4.90 SYP 596

50.82%

Cinema Ticket

$2.95 SYP 359

$3.09 SYP 375

-4.53%

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

$43.49 SYP 5,285

$43.94 SYP 5,339

-1.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,804 SYP 219.2K

$1,835 SYP 223.0K

-1.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.75 SYP 3,615

$14.77 SYP 1,795

101.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.42 SYP 3,089

$12.52 SYP 1,521

103.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 SYP 5,548

$45.16 SYP 5,488

1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 SYP 6,814

$55.6 SYP 6,760

0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 32.2K

$76.4 SYP 9,285

246.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 SYP 20.6K

$35.14 SYP 4,271

383.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 SYP 64.6K

$300 SYP 36.5K

77.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SYP 34.2K

$49.52 SYP 6,017

468.15%

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

$74.3 SYP 9,034

-19.92%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Homs: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Damascus and $76.4 in Homs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Homs pays 25% 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 $172 vs $134 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 71% in total monthly costs ($734 vs $429 including rent). Homs is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Homs. 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 $76.4 in Homs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $43.49 in Damascus versus $43.94 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 71% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.