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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $472 in Latakia versus $737 in Damascus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Latakia versus $1,091 in Damascus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,110 in Latakia versus $1,445 in Damascus.

Living in Latakia costs roughly 36% less than in Damascus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Latakia 65% lower, Damascus 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.64 SYP 527

$6.10 SYP 692

-23.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.83 SYP 2,252

$27.02 SYP 3,069

-26.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 SYP 583

$5.49 SYP 623

-6.56%

Cappuccino

$0.66 SYP 75.4

$1.50 SYP 170

-56.00%

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

$0.74 SYP 84.3

$1.13 SYP 129

-34.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 SYP 40.97

$0.69 SYP 78.2

-47.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 SYP 112

$1.62 SYP 183

-39.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 SYP 195

$2.57 SYP 292

-33.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 SYP 87.7

$0.95 SYP 107

-18.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 SYP 70.9

$0.64 SYP 72.6

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 SYP 113

$1.68 SYP 190

-40.48%

Eggs

$1.89 SYP 215

$1.85 SYP 210

2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 SYP 347

$3.06 SYP 348

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 SYP 763

$7.46 SYP 847

-9.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.25 SYP 1,278

$11.33 SYP 1,287

-0.71%

Apples (1kg)

$0.82 SYP 93.3

$0.88 SYP 100

-6.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 SYP 119

$1.81 SYP 205

-41.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 SYP 78.3

$1.04 SYP 118

-33.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 SYP 67.4

$0.87 SYP 99.3

-32.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 SYP 69.2

$0.67 SYP 75.6

-8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 75.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 SYP 43.13

$0.38 SYP 43.14

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SYP 66.4

$0.59 SYP 66.5

-1.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 SYP 336

$3.05 SYP 347

-2.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 SYP 581

$7.79 SYP 885

-34.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 111

$0.97 SYP 110

1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SYP 200

$1.85 SYP 210

-4.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.06 SYP 6.94

$0.11 SYP 12.80

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.80 SYP 1,908

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SYP 112

$0.98 SYP 111

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 SYP 54.1

$1.24 SYP 140

-61.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.30 SYP 716

$6.32 SYP 718

-0.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 SYP 108

$3.63 SYP 412

-73.83%

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

$18.4K SYP 2.1M

$18.5K SYP 2.1M

-0.98%

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

$20.7K SYP 2.4M

$21.4K SYP 2.4M

-3.06%

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

$40.53 SYP 4,603

$100 SYP 11.4K

-59.60%

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

$8.63 SYP 980

$8.43 SYP 957

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.31 SYP 5,373

$54.5 SYP 6,186

-13.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.95 SYP 1,357

$15.02 SYP 1,706

-20.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.91 SYP 444

$7.30 SYP 829

-46.44%

Cinema Ticket

$1.07 SYP 121

$3.02 SYP 343

-64.57%

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

$20.50 SYP 2,328

$43.43 SYP 4,932

-52.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,836 SYP 208.5K

$1,840 SYP 209.0K

-0.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.72 SYP 2,467

$29.06 SYP 3,301

-25.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.01 SYP 2,727

$26.07 SYP 2,961

-7.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.15 SYP 4,673

$45.79 SYP 5,201

-10.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.60 SYP 4,725

$56.5 SYP 6,414

-26.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 SYP 27.6K

$264 SYP 30.0K

-8.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.6 SYP 9,495

$170 SYP 19.3K

-50.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 SYP 53.7K

$521 SYP 59.2K

-9.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 SYP 26.9K

$281 SYP 31.9K

-15.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,795 SYP 203.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$628 SYP 71.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$59.1 SYP 6,717

$48.23 SYP 5,477

22.62%

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 Latakia: April 20, 2026

Last update for Damascus: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Latakia and $264 in Damascus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Latakia pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20 in Latakia vs $27 in Damascus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $170 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

Latakia vs Damascus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Latakia and Damascus differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($472 vs $737 including rent). Latakia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Latakia pays 23% more on average, 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: $243 in Latakia versus $264 in Damascus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $20.50 in Latakia versus $43.43 in Damascus. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Latakia – a meal for two runs $20.00 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 Latakia 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 Latakia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Damascus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.