Moving to Syria from South Africa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Africa to Syria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Africa to Syria, you would find that Syria is 43.3% cheaper than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,200,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly SYP535,000,000 in Syria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Africa to Syria.
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,200,000 → SYP535,000,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Syria
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 22.9% less
Groceries
pay 31.2% less
Transportation
pay 44.5% less
Housing
pay 55.2% less
Childcare
pay 69.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Syria
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Africa to Syria.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
South Africa generally does better on safety, though Syria leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Syria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Syria leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
South Africa generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Syria generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), The World Factbook (2009–2022), World Health Organization (2024), South African Revenue Service (2017), Ministry of Finance, Syria (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Pretoria | Damascus |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Damascus |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Syria. To live, work, or study long-term in Syria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Syria's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Syria
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Syria passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Syria than South Africa?
Yes — Syria is on average about 43% cheaper than South Africa. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Syria?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly SYP133,750,000 in Syria on a ZAR1,200,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Syria?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Syria has 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Syria safe for expats?
South Africa generally does better on safety, though Syria leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Syria is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 43.7 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Syria compared to South Africa?
Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in health coverage index. There are 15.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 7.9 in South Africa. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Syria compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Syria?
The official language in Syria is Arabic. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Syria
At a Glance
ZA
|
SY
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,747,319 | 25,620,427 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Syrian Pound (SYP) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Arabic |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +963 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | — |