Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Tartus and Dubai
For one person, living is cheaper in Tartus: $637 a month against $2,896 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $27,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tartus and in Dubai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $637 in Tartus versus $2,896 in Dubai.
Tartus $637
Dubai $2,896
Estimated couple costs with rent: $991 in Tartus versus $4,384 in Dubai.
Tartus $991
Dubai $4,384
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,345 in Tartus versus $5,872 in Dubai.
Tartus $1,345
Dubai $5,872
🌍
Living in Tartus costs roughly 78% less than in Dubai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Tartus is 53% below, Dubai is 115% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13SYP 1,231
$12.67AED 46.55
-20.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.29SYP 5,139
$81.7AED 300
-48.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.90SYP 838
$9.34AED 34.30
-26.12%
Cappuccino
$3.70SYP 450
$5.89AED 21.62
-37.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29SYP 279
$1.69AED 6.20
35.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89SYP 108
$0.78AED 2.86
14.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96SYP 238
$13.66AED 50.2
-85.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90SYP 474
$13.49AED 49.54
-71.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.48SYP 58.3
$1.84AED 6.78
-73.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41SYP 50.2
$1.50AED 5.50
-72.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80SYP 97.6
$2.57AED 9.45
-68.87%
Eggs
$0.79SYP 96.1
$3.32AED 12.18
-76.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.88SYP 471
$12.60AED 46.28
-69.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14SYP 381
$9.66AED 35.46
-67.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.62SYP 1,655
$12.78AED 46.93
6.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07SYP 130
$2.60AED 9.54
-58.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36SYP 166
$1.90AED 6.99
-28.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14SYP 138
$1.91AED 7.02
-40.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.22SYP 26.60
$1.37AED 5.02
-83.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.22SYP 26.68
$1.13AED 4.14
-80.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.30SYP 36.27
$1.01AED 3.71
-70.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41SYP 49.80
$1.44AED 5.30
-71.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61SYP 74.7
$0.67AED 2.48
-8.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75SYP 334
$5.88AED 21.59
-53.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09SYP 740
$16.15AED 59.3
-62.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11SYP 135
$2.72AED 10.00
-59.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SYP 343
$3.08AED 11.32
-8.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30SYP 36.12
$1.60AED 5.87
-81.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$76.0AED 279
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03SYP 125
$3.24AED 11.91
-68.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48SYP 180
$0.71AED 2.61
108.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.62SYP 925
$7.96AED 29.22
-4.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.72SYP 452
$0.98AED 3.62
279.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9KSYP 1.8M
$27.4KAED 100.6K
-45.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KSYP 2.4M
$22.0KAED 80.9K
-11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141SYP 17.1K
$249AED 913
-43.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90SYP 1,204
$54.4AED 200
-81.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.67SYP 2,390
$91.5AED 336
-78.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.74SYP 697
$103AED 380
-94.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$42.32AED 155
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.37SYP 653
$16.29AED 59.8
-67.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$9.36SYP 1,137
$844AED 3,098
-98.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,772SYP 215.3K
$18.3KAED 67.1K
-90.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.62SYP 1,412
$67.0AED 246
-82.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15SYP 4,879
$57.9AED 213
-30.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.36SYP 5,513
$102AED 375
-55.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.54SYP 1,888
$98.7AED 363
-84.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$114SYP 13.9K
$2,393AED 8,788
-95.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.5SYP 9,415
$1,533AED 5,630
-94.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230SYP 28.0K
$4,594AED 16.9K
-94.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116SYP 14.1K
$2,939AED 10.8K
-96.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,046AED 25.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,222AED 15.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$49.08SYP 5,964
$3,461AED 12.7K
-98.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.25
4.54
213.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tartus: October 13, 2026
Last update for Dubai: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🍽Eating Out
Tartus
$176 27.7%
Dubai
$305 10.5% ↑ 72.9%$129
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
$170 26.7%
Dubai
$394 13.6% ↑ 132%$224
🛒Groceries & Markets
Tartus
$136 21.4%
Dubai
$292 10.1% ↑ 114%$155
🏠Accommodation & Living
Tartus
$77 12.2%
Dubai
$1.5K 52.9% ↑ 1878%$1.5K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
$51 8%
Dubai
$147 5.1% ↑ 189%$96
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
$16 2.6%
Dubai
$136 4.7% ↑ 725%$119
🚌Getting Around
Tartus
$9.6 * 1.5%
Dubai
$89 3.1% ↑ 828%$80
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🍽Eating Out
Tartus
$567 42.2%
Dubai
$1K 17.1% ↑ 76.7%$435
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
$180 13.4%
Dubai
$449 7.6% ↑ 149%$269
🛒Groceries & Markets
Tartus
$316 23.5%
Dubai
$660 11.2% ↑ 109%$344
🏠Accommodation & Living
Tartus
$116 8.6%
Dubai
$2.9K 50.1% ↑ 2438%$2.8K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
$113 8.4%
Dubai
$326 5.6% ↑ 189%$213
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
$33 * 2.5%
Dubai
$314 5.4% ↑ 854%$281
🚌Getting Around
Tartus
$20 * 1.5%
Dubai
$181 3.1% ↑ 817%$162
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Tartus and $2,393 in Dubai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubai pays 6951% 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: $42.00 in Tartus vs $82.0 in Dubai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $136 vs $292 per month, with Tartus cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Tartus vs Dubai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubai cheaper than Tartus?
Tartus is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 354% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tartus or Dubai?
On paper, salaries run 6951% lower in Dubai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tartus and Dubai?
Rent for a central apartment: $114 in Tartus versus $2,393 in Dubai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tartus and in Dubai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 114% higher in Dubai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Tartus and in Dubai?
All in, you'll spend $637 per month in Tartus versus $2,896 in Dubai – a 354% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tartus or in Dubai?
At $637 in Tartus versus $2,896 in Dubai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tartus but tight or insufficient in Dubai. The gap between the two cities makes Tartus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tartus or Dubai more family-friendly?
For families, Tartus is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dubai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tartus or Dubai?
Safety-wise, Tartus and Dubai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tartus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 354% less than in Dubai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.