Cost of living comparison
Brussels is 5.6 times more expensive than Damascus.
If you lived in Brussels instead of Damascus, you would:
pay 3.7 times more for restaurants
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$3.75
SYP9,422
|
$19.59
€18.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.50
SYP11,306
|
$11.97
€11.01
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
SYP2,387
|
$2.72
€2.50
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.61
SYP1,539
|
$2.58
€2.37
|
|
pay 3.0 times more for groceries
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.00
SYP2,513
|
$2.68
€2.47
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$1.84
SYP4,630
|
$8.38
€7.71
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.00
SYP10,038
|
$5.89
€5.42
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.68
SYP4,216
|
$4.11
€3.78
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.63
SYP6,604
|
$5.43
€4.99
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.45
SYP1,127
|
$1.23
€1.13
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
SYP1,831
|
$0.89
€0.82
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.33
SYP826
|
$1.31
€1.20
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
SYP811
|
$1.30
€1.20
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.25
SYP638
|
$0.87
€0.80
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.20
SYP499
|
$0.83
€0.77
|
|
pay 83.3% more for transportation
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$11.70
SYP29,396
|
$7.19
€6.62
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$17.00
SYP42,713
|
$53.34
€49.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$18,000.00
SYP45,225,540
|
$31,021.96
€28,527.27
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$13.00
SYP32,663
|
$24.16
€22.22
|
|
pay 4.1 times more for housing
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.67
SYP139,864
|
$57.82
€53.17
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$270.43
SYP679,452
|
$1,165.94
€1,072.18
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$135.00
SYP339,192
|
$976.56
€898.03
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$48.94
SYP122,966
|
$182.93
€168.22
|
|
pay 20.1 times more for childcare
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$51.88
SYP130,337
|
$989.17
€909.62
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$1,100.00
SYP2,763,783
|
$23,148.55
€21,287.01
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.50
SYP3,769
|
$5.44
€5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.30
SYP3,266
|
$3.88
€3.57
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.00
SYP7,538
|
$9.25
€8.51
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$12.14
SYP30,509
|
$34.92
€32.11
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$2.75
SYP6,909
|
$14.15
€13.01
|
|
pay 2.8 times more for clothing
|
Damascus
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$29.00
SYP72,863
|
$104.24
€95.86
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$29.80
SYP74,873
|
$49.59
€45.60
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$40.75
SYP102,386
|
$117.47
€108.02
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$46.67
SYP117,251
|
$144.77
€133.13
|
|
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