Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Latakia Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Latakia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Damascus versus $478 in Latakia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,090 in Damascus versus $794 in Latakia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,449 in Damascus versus $1,109 in Latakia.

Living in Damascus is roughly 53% more expensive than in Latakia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Damascus 45% lower, Latakia 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.06 SYP 737
$4.87 SYP 592
24.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.69 SYP 3,365
$20.16 SYP 2,451
37.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.56 SYP 676
$5.01 SYP 609
10.98%
Cappuccino
$1.49 SYP 181
$0.62 SYP 75.7
140.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 SYP 142
$0.74 SYP 90.1
58.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 SYP 89.3
$0.36 SYP 43.84
102.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 SYP 192
$1.02 SYP 124
54.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 SYP 308
$1.66 SYP 202
52.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 SYP 118
$0.81 SYP 98.3
19.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 SYP 70.5
$0.64 SYP 77.6
-9.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 SYP 212
$0.99 SYP 121
75.76%
Eggs
$1.92 SYP 233
$1.90 SYP 230
1.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.10 SYP 376
$3.16 SYP 384
-1.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.44 SYP 905
$6.64 SYP 807
12.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.45 SYP 1,391
$11.17 SYP 1,358
2.51%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 SYP 105
$0.81 SYP 99.0
6.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 SYP 222
$1.01 SYP 123
80.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 SYP 120
$0.70 SYP 84.7
41.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 SYP 109
$0.64 SYP 77.8
39.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 80.2
$0.63 SYP 76.2
4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 SYP 75.1
$0.67 SYP 81.0
-7.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 SYP 48.96
$0.40 SYP 49.02
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 SYP 70.0
$0.58 SYP 70.2
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 SYP 359
$2.97 SYP 360
-0.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 SYP 960
$3.95 SYP 481
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 SYP 124
$0.98 SYP 119
4.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 SYP 221
$1.83 SYP 222
-0.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.10 SYP 12.20
$0.06 SYP 7.33
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.23 SYP 2,094
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 SYP 119
$0.98 SYP 119
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 SYP 154
$0.48 SYP 58.6
164.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.38 SYP 775
$6.32 SYP 768
0.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.66 SYP 445
$0.87 SYP 106
320.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K SYP 2.3M
$18.6K SYP 2.3M
0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K SYP 2.5M
$20.7K SYP 2.5M
0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SYP 12.5K
$40.09 SYP 4,873
155.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 SYP 1,050
$8.38 SYP 1,018
3.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6 SYP 6,641
$46.58 SYP 5,661
17.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.45 SYP 1,878
$12.06 SYP 1,466
28.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.36 SYP 894
$3.95 SYP 480
86.33%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97 SYP 361
$1.06 SYP 129
180.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$42.91 SYP 5,215
$20.51 SYP 2,493
109.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,836 SYP 223.2K
$1,795 SYP 218.2K
2.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.54 SYP 3,591
$21.58 SYP 2,623
36.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.39 SYP 3,086
$24.34 SYP 2,958
4.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.45 SYP 5,403
$41.34 SYP 5,025
7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.7 SYP 6,896
$41.72 SYP 5,071
35.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 SYP 32.6K
$249 SYP 30.2K
8.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 SYP 21.0K
$84.4 SYP 10.3K
104.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 SYP 63.3K
$472 SYP 57.4K
10.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$290 SYP 35.3K
$241 SYP 29.3K
20.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,747 SYP 212.4K
$708 SYP 86.1K
146.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$596 SYP 72.4K
$252 SYP 30.7K
136.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Damascus
Latakia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$60.2 SYP 7,319
$58.1 SYP 7,061
3.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.75
13.75
-

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

Last update for Damascus: July 20, 2026

Last update for Latakia: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Damascus and $249 in Latakia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Damascus pays 4% 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: $28.00 in Damascus vs $20.00 in Latakia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $147 per month, with Latakia 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 Latakia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Damascus and in Latakia?
Damascus and Latakia differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($731 vs $478 including rent). Latakia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Damascus or Latakia?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Damascus, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Damascus and in Latakia?
Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Damascus versus $249 in Latakia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Damascus and Latakia?
Childcare runs $42.91 in Damascus versus $20.51 in Latakia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Latakia – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $28.00 in Damascus. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,000 go in Damascus compared to Latakia?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Latakia gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Damascus and Latakia?
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.
Where should expats move: Damascus or Latakia?
Expats usually find Latakia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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