Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Tartus Cost of Living Comparison Between Damascus and Tartus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Damascus versus $483 in Tartus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Damascus versus $760 in Tartus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Damascus versus $1,037 in Tartus.

Living in Damascus is roughly 52% more expensive than in Tartus, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 SYP 720

$6.18 SYP 751

-4.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.18 SYP 3,303

$27.98 SYP 3,400

-2.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 SYP 686

$5.51 SYP 670

2.54%

Cappuccino

$1.49 SYP 182

$0.78 SYP 94.8

91.03%

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

$1.12 SYP 136

$1.12 SYP 137

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 SYP 82.1

$0.69 SYP 83.5

-1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 SYP 193

$1.64 SYP 200

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SYP 302

$2.46 SYP 299

0.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 SYP 126

$1.00 SYP 122

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 71.7

$0.63 SYP 76.2

-6.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 SYP 203

$1.53 SYP 186

9.15%

Eggs

$1.92 SYP 233

$1.40 SYP 170

37.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.02 SYP 367

$3.10 SYP 377

-2.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 SYP 917

$7.52 SYP 914

0.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.18 SYP 1,358

$8.10 SYP 985

38.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 SYP 107

$0.93 SYP 113

-5.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 SYP 218

$1.22 SYP 149

46.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 SYP 125

$0.98 SYP 120

5.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 SYP 114

$0.96 SYP 117

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 74.2

$0.62 SYP 75.6

-1.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 79.8

$0.67 SYP 81.4

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 SYP 49.06

$0.38 SYP 45.97

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.6

$0.61 SYP 74.2

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 SYP 371

$3.07 SYP 373

-0.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 SYP 996

$8.07 SYP 981

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

$1.01 SYP 123

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SYP 212

$1.77 SYP 215

-1.13%

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

$0.63 SYP 76.1

53.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 SYP 147

$1.28 SYP 155

-5.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 SYP 761

$6.35 SYP 772

-1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.61 SYP 439

$1.17 SYP 142

208.55%

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

$18.6K SYP 2.3M

0.13%

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

$20.9K SYP 2.5M

$21.0K SYP 2.6M

-0.87%

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

$102 SYP 12.3K

$101 SYP 12.2K

0.96%

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

$8.25 SYP 1,003

$8.37 SYP 1,017

-1.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 SYP 6,611

$35.08 SYP 4,262

55.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.48 SYP 1,881

$12.14 SYP 1,475

27.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 SYP 897

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

$43.00 SYP 5,225

1.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,804 SYP 219.2K

$1,813 SYP 220.3K

-0.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.75 SYP 3,615

$19.63 SYP 2,386

51.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.42 SYP 3,089

$25.73 SYP 3,127

-1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 SYP 5,548

$45.53 SYP 5,532

0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 SYP 6,814

$39.56 SYP 4,807

41.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 SYP 32.2K

$101 SYP 12.2K

163.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 SYP 20.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 SYP 64.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SYP 34.2K

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

$50.2 SYP 6,094

18.70%

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 Tartus: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Damascus and $101 in Tartus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Damascus pays 19% 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 $28.00 in Tartus. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $157, with Tartus 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 Tartus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Damascus and Tartus differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($734 vs $483 including rent). Tartus is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Damascus, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Damascus versus $101 in Tartus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $43.49 in Damascus versus $43.00 in Tartus. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tartus – a meal for two runs $28.00 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 Tartus 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 Tartus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.