Moving to Syria from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Syria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from United Kingdom to Syria, you would find that Syria is 72.2% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £57,000 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly SYP272,000,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Damascus averages 78°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Syria.

What does your salary buy?

£57,000 → SYP272,000,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Syria

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 61.1% less

Groceries

pay 50.6% less

Transportation

pay 62.0% less

Housing

pay 83.6% less

Childcare

pay 94.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 70.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 17216.61 SYP (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Syria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.1
SY
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
SY
29.9

United Kingdom performs better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
SY
$122
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

GB
33.0
SY
15.2

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GB
13.0
SY
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
SY
1.3t

United Kingdom generally does better on environment, though Syria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GB
42.2
SY
6.9
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
SY
124.4%

United Kingdom performs better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

GB
4.8%
SY
13.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$57,602
SY
$1,057

United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

GB
81.4 yrs
SY
72.6 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
4.1
SY
17.7

United Kingdom performs better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), The World Factbook (2009–2022), World Health Organization (2024), HM Revenue & Customs (2016), Ministry of Finance, Syria (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Damascus
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 60°/35°F (15°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 85°/51°F (29°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 96°/60°F (35°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 70°/40°F (21°/5°C)
View all months
Month London Damascus
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Kingdom passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.
Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Syria passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.

Data: 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 United Kingdom?

Yes — Syria is on average about 72% cheaper than United Kingdom. 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 SYP68,000,000 in Syria on a £57,000 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?

United Kingdom performs better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Syria is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Syria compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 33.0 in United Kingdom. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Syria compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 60°F in London. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Syria?

The official language in Syria is Arabic. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB SY
Population 69,487,000 25,620,427
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Syrian Pound (SYP)
Languages English Arabic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +963
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 —