Cost Of Living For a Student in Damascus 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: SYP
Average monthly spending for students in Damascus
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Damascus?
Students in Damascus spend around 83,000 SYP per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 12,000 SYP or as high as 550,000 SYP. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Damascus
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
| 500 SYP | 750 SYP | 1,500 SYP |
Fine dining meal for one
| 1,000 SYP | 1,500 SYP | 6,000 SYP |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 710 SYP | 950 SYP | 1,900 SYP |
Average car 1-day rental
| 790 SYP | 1,000 SYP | 1,600 SYP |
Average car price
| 360,000 SYP | 710,000 SYP | 950,000 SYP |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 1,000 SYP | 1,600 SYP | 3,100 SYP |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 490 SYP | 3,300 SYP | 22,000 SYP |
Internet and cable
| 710 SYP | 1,400 SYP | 1,900 SYP |
Mobile phone charges
| 570 SYP | 950 SYP | 2,800 SYP |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 1,300 SYP | 1,600 SYP | 3,100 SYP |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 930 SYP | 1,300 SYP | 2,000 SYP |
Woman dress
| 870 SYP | 1,200 SYP | 3,900 SYP |
Woman shoes
| 830 SYP | 1,100 SYP | 2,600 SYP |
Men's shoes
| 710 SYP | 870 SYP | 1,700 SYP |
Men suit
| 790 SYP | 980 SYP | 5,200 SYP |
Regular t-shirt
| 390 SYP | 520 SYP | 1,600 SYP |
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 13,000 SYP | 20,000 SYP | 52,000 SYP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 20,000 SYP | 31,000 SYP | 79,000 SYP |
2-bedroom apartment
| 26,000 SYP | 39,000 SYP | 100,000 SYP |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 2.6M SYP | 3.9M SYP | 7.9M SYP |
1-bedroom apartment
| 3.1M SYP | 5.2M SYP | 20M SYP |
2-bedroom apartment
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 14,000 SYP | 18,000 SYP | 24,000 SYP |
Double Bed
| 9,500 SYP | 14,000 SYP | 18,000 SYP |
Single Bed
| 8,400 SYP | 11,000 SYP | 14,000 SYP |
Living Room
| 16,000 SYP | 20,000 SYP | 71,000 SYP |
Dining Table
| 7,100 SYP | 9,500 SYP | 18,000 SYP |
Sofa or Couch
| 9,500 SYP | 13,000 SYP | 28,000 SYP |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 9,500 SYP | 14,000 SYP | 28,000 SYP |
Fridge or Freezer
| 8,400 SYP | 13,000 SYP | 18,000 SYP |
Washing Machine
| 11,000 SYP | 16,000 SYP | 28,000 SYP |
Stove or Cooker
| 10,000 SYP | 13,000 SYP | 18,000 SYP |
Mobile Phone
| 12,000 SYP | 14,000 SYP | 20,000 SYP |
Laptop or Computer
| 13,000 SYP | 16,000 SYP | 28,000 SYP |
How do students spend their money in Damascus?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost15%
15% of total expenses on average (10% to 21%)
| LOW | $0.23 3,000 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $1.5 20,000 SYP |
| HIGH | $10 130,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
Students in Damascus typically spend from 10% to 21% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 15% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 20,000 SYP with expenditure ranging from 3,000 SYP to 130,000 SYP. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities8%
8% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $0.04 490 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $0.25 3,300 SYP |
| HIGH | $1.7 22,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Damascus ranges from 6% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 3,300 SYP with 490 SYP and 22,000 SYP being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel3%
3% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $0.07 860 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $0.45 5,800 SYP |
| HIGH | $3 39,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 860 SYP to 39,000 SYP in a month on commuting with 5,800 SYP being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 3% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 9%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost24%
24% of total expenses on average (18% to 28%)
| LOW | $0.19 2,500 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $1.3 17,000 SYP |
| HIGH | $8.5 110,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Damascus is 17,000 SYP. The cost of groceries can range between 2,500 SYP to 110,000 SYP. Students spend on average about 24% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 18% and 28% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare10%
10% of total expenses on average (7% to 13%)
| LOW | $0.06 740 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $0.38 5,000 SYP |
| HIGH | $2.5 33,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
Students in Damascus allocate 7% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 740 SYP to 33,000 SYP with 5,000 SYP being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping1%
1% of total expenses on average (1% to 5%)
| LOW | $0.05 620 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $0.32 4,100 SYP |
| HIGH | $2.1 28,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 620 SYP to 28,000 SYP with 4,100 SYP being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 5% of total expenses with an average of 1% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $0.18 2,300 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $1.2 16,000 SYP |
| HIGH | $8.1 100,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 16,000 SYP per month with 2,300 SYP being the minimum spent amount and 100,000 SYP being the maximum.
Other Expenses20%
20% of total expenses on average (14% to 26%)
| LOW | $0.14 1,900 SYP |
| AVERAGE | $0.95 12,000 SYP |
| HIGH | $6.4 83,000 SYP |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Damascus
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Damascus?
Around 44% of surveyed students think that living in Damascus is affordable with proper budgeting while 56% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes43%
No57%
Based on the survey, 57% of the students living in Damascus said that they don't have an emergency fund while 43% said that they do.
Low-cost alternatives in Damascus
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options56%
Few low-cost options44%
Based on the survey, 56% of the students living in Damascus have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Damascus
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Damascus
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 13,000 SYP | 20,000 SYP | 52,000 SYP |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 20,000 SYP | 31,000 SYP | 79,000 SYP |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 26,000 SYP | 39,000 SYP | 100,000 SYP |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 31,000 SYP | 52,000 SYP | 140,000 SYP |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 63,000 SYP | 160,000 SYP | 310,000 SYP |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 52,000 SYP | 79,000 SYP | 220,000 SYP |
House monthly rent cost
| 63,000 SYP | 160,000 SYP | 310,000 SYP |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 79,000 SYP | 200,000 SYP | 310,000 SYP |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Damascus ranges between 13,000 SYP and 52,000 SYP, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 20,000 SYP to 79,000 SYP. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 26,000 SYP and 100,000 SYP per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 31,000 SYP to 140,000 SYP. The average rent of a townhouse in Damascus is around 79,000 SYP while house rental costs can be as high as 160,000 SYP per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 79,000 SYP to 310,000 SYP per month.
Apartment and house prices in Damascus
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 2.6M SYP | 3.9M SYP | 7.9M SYP |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 3.1M SYP | 5.2M SYP | 20M SYP |
2-bedroom apartment price
3-bedroom apartment price
Townhouse price
House price
| 26M SYP | 160M SYP | 220M SYP |
Villa price
| 31M SYP | 170M SYP | 260M SYP |
The average price of a studio apartment in Damascus can range from 2.6M SYP to 7.9M SYP depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 3.1M SYP to 20M SYP. A villa can cost you 170M SYP on average with prices ranging from 31M SYP to 260M SYP.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Damascus will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 32 | x88 monthly income | 200 |
Property prices in Damascus can be x88 to x200 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x88 multiples of the average monthly salary in Damascus.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Damascus is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 40% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
27% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 250 SYP | 3,200 SYP | 32,000 SYP |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy37%
We asked student guardians and parents in Damascus whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 63% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 37% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 56% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 44% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance56%
Easily manages finances44%
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Damascus
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Damascus
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 490 SYP | 3,300 SYP | 22,000 SYP |
Internet and cable cost
| 710 SYP | 1,400 SYP | 1,900 SYP |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 570 SYP | 950 SYP | 2,800 SYP |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 3,300 SYP. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 710 SYP to 1,900 SYP with 1,400 SYP being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 950 SYP but can range between 570 SYP and 2,800 SYP depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Damascus is around 7.4%. This means that people pay 7.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.2% to 12% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Damascus
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Damascus
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Damascus is approximatly 280 SYP with meal cost ranging from 140 SYP to 470 SYP. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
| 500 SYP | 750 SYP | 1,500 SYP |
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 500 SYP and 1,500 SYP with 750 SYP being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Damascus.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 1,000 SYP | 1,500 SYP | 6,000 SYP |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 1,000 SYP to 6,000 SYP with the average cost being 1,500 SYP for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Damascus.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Damascus is around 190 SYP. Price ranges between 120 SYP and 280 SYP depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Damascus is 110 SYP. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 140 SYP and the minimum being 95 SYP depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 95 SYP on average with 71 SYP and 140 SYP being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Damascus is between 160 SYP and 300 SYP depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 210 SYP.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 280 SYP. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Damascus costs around 100 SYP on average with prices rangeing between 77 SYP and 150 SYP depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 28 SYP to 71 SYP. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 67 SYP on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 2,500 SYP to 110,000 SYP with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
