Syria

Profiled in Damascus · the Middle East

2fit /10

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, with Umayyad architecture and desert caravan ruins, emerging from fourteen years of war and a change of government in December 2024.

CapitalDamascus
LanguageArabic
CurrencySyrian pound (SYP)
Population23.2M

Cost of living

What a month costs

$600Comfortable single
$1,400Family of four
$3001-bed, central
$5Casual meal

Currency collapse makes nominal prices meaningless. Fuel, electricity and imported goods are scarce and expensive, and sanctions restrict banking.

The scores

How it rates for a moving family

Safety2
Infrastructure2
English3
Kids’ schools3
Integration4
Healthcare2
Residency path2
Tax5
Climate7

See and do

Top 10 in Damascus

  1. Umayyad MosqueEighth-century mosque in the heart of old Damascus.
  2. Old City of DamascusUNESCO-listed walled city and Straight Street.
  3. Krak des ChevaliersOne of the best-preserved Crusader castles, a UNESCO site.
  4. PalmyraColonnaded Roman ruins in the Syrian desert.
  5. Aleppo CitadelVast fortified hill at the centre of the old city.
  6. Souk al-HamidiyahCovered market leading to the Umayyad Mosque.
  7. Azm PalaceOttoman governor's palace in Damascus.
  8. Bosra Roman TheatreFifteen-thousand-seat theatre built of black basalt.

Where to go

Weekend escapes

  1. PalmyraRoman desert caravan city, heavily damaged by ISIS.
  2. Krak des ChevaliersCrusader castle above the Homs gap.
  3. MaaloulaChristian village where Aramaic is still spoken.
  4. AleppoNorthern city with the citadel and war-damaged souks.
  5. BosraRoman theatre in black basalt in the south.

Residency

There is no investor route, and international sanctions materially restrict banking and investment. The political transition since December 2024 has not yet produced a settled framework for foreign residence.

Tax

Personal rates reach 22% and the corporate rate is 28%, with sector variation. Sanctions and currency controls dominate practical considerations over headline rates.

Curious what you would actually pay? See the Syria tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →

Nearby

More of the Middle East

YemenSanaa · Overall fit 1/10United Arab EmiratesDubai · Overall fit 8/10BahrainManama · Overall fit 7/10IsraelTel Aviv · Overall fit 7/10JordanAmman · Overall fit 7/10OmanMuscat · Overall fit 7/10

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to live in Syria?

About $600 a month for one person and $1,400 for a family. A one-bedroom flat rents for around $300, and a casual meal costs about $5. Currency collapse makes nominal prices meaningless. Fuel, electricity and imported goods are scarce and expensive, and sanctions restrict banking.

Is Syria safe, and what is healthcare like?

In our index safety scores 2 out of 10 and healthcare 2 out of 10, where 10 is best.

What language and currency are used in Syria?

Arabic. The currency is Syrian pound (SYP).

What is the capital of Syria?

Damascus.

How can a foreigner get residency in Syria?

There is no investor route, and international sanctions materially restrict banking and investment. The political transition since December 2024 has not yet produced a settled framework for foreign residence.

What taxes does Syria charge?

Personal rates reach 22% and the corporate rate is 28%, with sector variation. Sanctions and currency controls dominate practical considerations over headline rates.