Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar'a and Damascus Cost of Living Comparison Between Dar'a and Damascus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $201 in Dar'a versus $723 in Damascus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $400 in Dar'a versus $1,081 in Damascus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $599 in Dar'a versus $1,439 in Damascus.

Living in Dar'a costs roughly 72% less than in Damascus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dar'a 85% lower, Damascus 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 SYP 330

$6.07 SYP 670

-50.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.08 SYP 1,666

$27.25 SYP 3,011

-44.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 SYP 602

Cappuccino

$0.97 SYP 107

$1.49 SYP 165

-34.90%

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

$0.73 SYP 80.4

$1.12 SYP 124

-34.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 SYP 57.6

$0.72 SYP 80.0

-27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SYP 179

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SYP 272

Milk (1 liter)

$0.48 SYP 53.5

$0.98 SYP 108

-51.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.29 SYP 31.81

$0.62 SYP 69.0

-53.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 SYP 136

$1.70 SYP 188

-27.65%

Eggs

$1.22 SYP 135

$1.88 SYP 208

-35.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.09 SYP 451

$3.04 SYP 336

34.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 SYP 345

$7.67 SYP 847

-59.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.56 SYP 725

$11.26 SYP 1,244

-41.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.31 SYP 34.37

$0.92 SYP 102

-66.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 SYP 130

$1.79 SYP 198

-34.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 68.0

$1.00 SYP 110

-39.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.31 SYP 34.71

$0.87 SYP 96.6

-64.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 SYP 42.12

$0.66 SYP 72.7

-42.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 SYP 26.43

$0.65 SYP 72.2

-63.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.26 SYP 28.60

$0.38 SYP 41.96

-31.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 SYP 57.7

$0.57 SYP 63.3

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 SYP 249

$3.03 SYP 335

-25.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 SYP 663

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 109

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SYP 201

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 SYP 30.14

$0.10 SYP 11.54

170.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.18 SYP 1,899

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SYP 109

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 SYP 164

$1.26 SYP 139

17.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 SYP 449

$6.39 SYP 706

-36.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 SYP 191

$3.59 SYP 397

-51.81%

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

$18.5K SYP 2.0M

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

$21.2K SYP 2.3M

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

$103 SYP 11.4K

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

$8.22 SYP 908

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.6 SYP 6,036

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$3.40 SYP 375

$15.20 SYP 1,679

-77.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 SYP 667

$7.41 SYP 819

-18.49%

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 SYP 341

$3.07 SYP 339

0.33%

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

$43.11 SYP 4,763

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,799 SYP 198.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.85 SYP 1,088

$29.40 SYP 3,248

-66.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.28 SYP 2,794

$26.02 SYP 2,876

-2.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.85 SYP 5,067

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.21 SYP 1,902

$56.4 SYP 6,230

-69.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$49.20 SYP 5,437

$259 SYP 28.6K

-81.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$34.83 SYP 3,849

$169 SYP 18.6K

-79.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 SYP 22.5K

$522 SYP 57.7K

-60.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 SYP 13.6K

$290 SYP 32.1K

-57.67%

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

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 Dar'a: June 2, 2026

Last update for Damascus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $49.20 in Dar'a and $259 in Damascus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Dar'a vs $27.00 in Damascus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $168 per month, with Dar'a cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dar'a vs Damascus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dar'a and Damascus differ by about 260% in total monthly costs ($201 vs $723 including rent). Dar'a is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $302 in Dar'a and $1,084 in Damascus to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $49.20 in Dar'a versus $259 in Damascus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Dar'a – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $27.00 in Damascus. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $201 per month in Dar'a versus $723 in Damascus – a 260% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Dar'a 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 Dar'a gentler on the wallet – expenses run 260% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.