Cost of living comparison

Baghdad, Iraq

compared to

Damascus, Syria

Damascus vs. Baghdad Cost of Living Summary

Damascus is 20.6% more expensive than Baghdad.

Restaurants: pay 74.1% more in Damascus
Groceries: pay 4.7% more in Damascus
Transportation: pay 2.8 times more in Damascus
Housing: pay 11.1% less in Damascus
Childcare: pay 61.1% less in Damascus
Entertainment and Sports: pay 37.0% less in Damascus
Clothing: pay 10.1% less in Damascus

The cost of transportation, restaurants, and groceries in Damascus are more expensive than in Baghdad. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, and clothing are lower in Damascus. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Damascus.

Damascus vs. Baghdad Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Damascus instead of Baghdad, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 74.1% more for restaurants

	Baghdad	Damascus
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$5.31 IQD6,962	$5.00 SYP65,010	-5.9%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.59 IQD9,945	$5.00 SYP65,010	-34.1%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.42 IQD553	$1.05 SYP13,652	+149.0%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.19 IQD249	$0.54 SYP7,086	+187.3%
Average			+74.1%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of restaurants

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pay 4.7% more for groceries

	Baghdad	Damascus
Bread 1 loaf	$0.88 IQD1,148	$0.63 SYP8,217	-27.9%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$2.38 IQD3,117	$1.67 SYP21,752	-29.7%
Milk (1 gallon)	$5.13 IQD6,721	$4.05 SYP52,594	-21.1%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.82 IQD2,385	$1.97 SYP25,571	+8.1%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.22 IQD2,908	$3.01 SYP39,106	+35.5%
Apples (1 lb)	$0.51 IQD673	$0.46 SYP5,918	-11.4%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.51 IQD674	$0.96 SYP12,544	+87.5%
Oranges (1 lb)	$0.46 IQD609	$0.46 SYP5,963	-1.3%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.31 IQD403	$0.39 SYP5,065	+26.6%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.30 IQD389	$0.27 SYP3,476	-10.0%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.29 IQD379	$0.28 SYP3,593	-4.5%
Average			+4.7%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of groceries

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pay 2.8 times more for transportation

	Baghdad	Damascus
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$1.78 IQD2,338	$15.92 SYP207,051	+792.6%
Monthly public transit pass	$22.77 IQD29,836	$17.00 SYP221,034	-25.3%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$18,213.31 IQD23,868,624	$18,500.00 SYP240,537,000	+1.6%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$15.94 IQD20,885	$11.00 SYP143,022	-31.0%
Average			+184.5%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of transportation

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pay 11.1% less for housing

	Baghdad	Damascus
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$35.21 IQD46,144	$66.75 SYP867,884	+89.6%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$443.62 IQD581,372	$282.23 SYP3,669,607	-36.4%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$264.28 IQD346,337	$145.72 SYP1,894,661	-44.9%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$113.01 IQD148,094	$53.53 SYP695,989	-52.6%
Average			-11.1%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of housing

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pay 61.1% less for childcare

	Baghdad	Damascus
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$162.43 IQD212,862	$48.33 SYP628,430	-70.2%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$3,438.23 IQD4,505,812	$1,650.00 SYP21,453,300	-52.0%
Average			-61.1%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of childcare

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pay 37.0% less for entertainment and sports

	Baghdad	Damascus
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$2.28 IQD2,984	$1.25 SYP16,252	-45.1%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.89 IQD3,792	$1.27 SYP16,578	-55.9%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$2.28 IQD2,984	$3.00 SYP39,006	+31.8%
Monthly membership at local gym	$29.60 IQD38,797	$13.30 SYP172,927	-55.1%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$7.59 IQD9,945	$3.00 SYP39,006	-60.5%
Average			-37.0%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 10.1% less for clothing

	Baghdad	Damascus
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$28.72 IQD37,643	$22.00 SYP286,044	-23.4%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$34.03 IQD44,598	$23.50 SYP305,547	-30.9%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$61.01 IQD79,951	$47.50 SYP617,595	-22.1%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$41.35 IQD54,193	$56.25 SYP731,362	+36.0%
Average			-10.1%

Baghdad vs. Damascus - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: June 2025

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