Syria🇸🇾
At a Glance
How Syria compares across key indices
Cost of Living
18 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
25/100
Healthcare
55/100
Quality of Life
73/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Syria
Cost of Living
18
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
13
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
18
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
18
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Higher RiskHow safe residents feel in Syria - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
25/100
Crime Index
80/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Syria
Syria has 84 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $356 in ‘Ayn al ‘Arab to $469 in Damascus. Deir ez-Zor leads on safety, scoring 25/100. Deir ez-Zor ranks highest for quality of life at 81/200.
‘Ayn al ‘Arab
$356/mo
Deir ez-Zor
25/100
Deir ez-Zor
81/200
Damascus
67/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus | $469 | 20/100 | 79/200 | 67/100 | 58 |
| Aleppo | $427 | 21/100 | 79/200 | 63/100 | 56 |
| Homs | $408 | 23/100 | 80/200 | 60/100 | 52 |
| Latakia | $407 | 23/100 | 80/200 | 60/100 | 52 |
| Ar Raqqah | $401 | 24/100 | 80/200 | 59/100 | 51 |
| Ḩamāh | $398 | 24/100 | 80/200 | 58/100 | 50 |
| Ţarţūs | $398 | 24/100 | 80/200 | 58/100 | 50 |
| Al Ḩasakah | $397 | 24/100 | 80/200 | 58/100 | 50 |
| Deir ez-Zor | $388 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 57/100 | 48 |
| Al Qāmishlī | $381 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 55/100 | 47 |
| Al Bāb | $375 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 54/100 | 45 |
| Idlib | $374 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 54/100 | 45 |
| Dūmā | $371 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 54/100 | 45 |
| Manbij | $369 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 53/100 | 44 |
| Dar‘ā | $369 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 53/100 | 44 |
| As Salamīyah | $369 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 53/100 | 44 |
| Al-Tabqa | $367 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 53/100 | 44 |
| Dārayyā | $363 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 43 |
| I‘zāz | $362 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 43 |
| Jablah | $362 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 43 |
| As Safīrah | $361 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 42 |
| As-Suwayda | $360 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 42 |
| Ālbū Kamāl | $359 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 42 |
| At Tall | $358 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 52/100 | 42 |
| Al Mayādīn | $358 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 42 |
| Ar Rastan | $358 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 42 |
| Kabbasin | $357 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 42 |
| Tadmur | $357 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 42 |
| ‘Ayn al ‘Arab | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| An Nabk | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Khān Shaykhūn | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| ‘Afrīn | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Nawá | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Kafranbel | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| ‘Irbīn | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Al Quşayr | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Yabrūd | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Jisr ash Shughūr | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Bāniyās | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
| Tallbīsah | $356 | 25/100 | 81/200 | 51/100 | 41 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Syria
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Environment
ModerateAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Syria
Pollution Index
49/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
24.7ug/m3
Moderate
Environmental Quality
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Syria, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Syria?
Syria has a cost of living index of 18 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $371 in Dūmā and reach $469 in Damascus.
What is the cheapest city in Syria for expats?
Dūmā is the most affordable city in Syria in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $371 for a single person including rent. Idlib is the next most affordable at $374/mo.
Is Syria safe for expats?
Syria has a safety index of 25/100, making it worth researching carefully before committing for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Deir ez-Zor scores highest on safety at 25/100.
What is the best city in Syria for expats and digital nomads?
Deir ez-Zor ranks highest for quality of life in Syria, scoring 81/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $388/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Dūmā offers the lowest monthly costs at $371/mo.
How good is healthcare in Syria?
Syria scores 55/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is Syria cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Syria's cost of living is roughly 82% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 87% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Before You Go
Your pre-departure checklist for Syria
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
Recommended PartnerDon't skip health insurance
Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Set Up International Banking
Get a multi-currency account before you leave. Essential for managing money abroad.
Get Connected
eSIM, VPN, and reliable internet - sorted before you land.
Book Your First Accommodation
Secure at least your first week. Having a home base makes everything else easier.
Find Flights
Find the cheapest flights with flexible date search. Set alerts for price drops on your route.
Follow Syria
Get new Syria articles by email
Future guides and articles for Syria will land in your inbox.
Cost of living, safety, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates modeled from open public sources. Data sources
Freedom Abroad helps you figure out the part nobody talks about: how to actually build a life in another country. Films, tools, and data. No fluff.
Learn about our mission