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.

Tartus
🇸🇾 Syria
$637
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,896
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tartus and in Dubai

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
🍽 Eating Out
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 SYP 1,231
$12.67 AED 46.55
-20.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.29 SYP 5,139
$81.7 AED 300
-48.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.90 SYP 838
$9.34 AED 34.30
-26.12%
Cappuccino
$3.70 SYP 450
$5.89 AED 21.62
-37.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 SYP 279
$1.69 AED 6.20
35.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 SYP 108
$0.78 AED 2.86
14.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 SYP 238
$13.66 AED 50.2
-85.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 SYP 474
$13.49 AED 49.54
-71.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 SYP 58.3
$1.84 AED 6.78
-73.91%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 SYP 50.2
$1.50 AED 5.50
-72.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 SYP 97.6
$2.57 AED 9.45
-68.87%
Eggs
$0.79 SYP 96.1
$3.32 AED 12.18
-76.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.88 SYP 471
$12.60 AED 46.28
-69.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 SYP 381
$9.66 AED 35.46
-67.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.62 SYP 1,655
$12.78 AED 46.93
6.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 SYP 130
$2.60 AED 9.54
-58.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 SYP 166
$1.90 AED 6.99
-28.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 SYP 138
$1.91 AED 7.02
-40.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.22 SYP 26.60
$1.37 AED 5.02
-83.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.22 SYP 26.68
$1.13 AED 4.14
-80.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 SYP 36.27
$1.01 AED 3.71
-70.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 SYP 49.80
$1.44 AED 5.30
-71.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SYP 74.7
$0.67 AED 2.48
-8.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75 SYP 334
$5.88 AED 21.59
-53.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.09 SYP 740
$16.15 AED 59.3
-62.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 SYP 135
$2.72 AED 10.00
-59.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 SYP 343
$3.08 AED 11.32
-8.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 SYP 36.12
$1.60 AED 5.87
-81.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.0 AED 279
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 SYP 125
$3.24 AED 11.91
-68.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 SYP 180
$0.71 AED 2.61
108.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.62 SYP 925
$7.96 AED 29.22
-4.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.72 SYP 452
$0.98 AED 3.62
279.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9K SYP 1.8M
$27.4K AED 100.6K
-45.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K SYP 2.4M
$22.0K AED 80.9K
-11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 SYP 17.1K
$249 AED 913
-43.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90 SYP 1,204
$54.4 AED 200
-81.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.67 SYP 2,390
$91.5 AED 336
-78.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$5.74 SYP 697
$103 AED 380
-94.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$42.32 AED 155
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 SYP 653
$16.29 AED 59.8
-67.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$9.36 SYP 1,137
$844 AED 3,098
-98.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,772 SYP 215.3K
$18.3K AED 67.1K
-90.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.62 SYP 1,412
$67.0 AED 246
-82.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15 SYP 4,879
$57.9 AED 213
-30.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.36 SYP 5,513
$102 AED 375
-55.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.54 SYP 1,888
$98.7 AED 363
-84.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$114 SYP 13.9K
$2,393 AED 8,788
-95.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.5 SYP 9,415
$1,533 AED 5,630
-94.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$230 SYP 28.0K
$4,594 AED 16.9K
-94.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$116 SYP 14.1K
$2,939 AED 10.8K
-96.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,046 AED 25.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,222 AED 15.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tartus
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$49.08 SYP 5,964
$3,461 AED 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.
Eating Out
Tartus
$176
Dubai
$305 72.9% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
$170
Dubai
$394 132% $224
Groceries & Markets
Tartus
$136
Dubai
$292 114% $155
Accommodation & Living
Tartus
$77
Dubai
$1.5K 1878% $1.5K
Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
$51
Dubai
$147 189% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
$16
Dubai
$136 725% $119
Getting Around
Tartus
$9.6 *
Dubai
$89 828% $80

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.

Good to know
🇸🇾 Tartus
🇦🇪 Dubai
🕒 Local time
19:35 7:35 PM
20:35 8:35 PM
1 h ahead of Tartus
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,769
3,790,000
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

AED, USD, EUR to SYP – Syrian Pound Converter

Syrian Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 122 SYP (1,000 SYP = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 137 SYP (1,000 SYP = 7.32 EUR).

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.13 AED (1 AED = 0.242 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tartus Dubai 2,150 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tartus
  • Dubai

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.

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