Moving to Syria from Zambia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Zambia to Syria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Zambia to Syria, you would find that Syria is 25.1% cheaper than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly SYP735,000,000 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.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Zambia and Syria.

What does your salary buy?

ZMW1,500,000 → SYP735,000,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Syria

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 23.5% more

Groceries

pay 46.1% less

Transportation

pay 14.1% less

Housing

pay 22.5% less

Childcare

pay 79.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 33.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ZMW = 654.16 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

The numbers behind daily life in Syria compared to Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2015

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
SY
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
SY
29.9

Zambia generally does better on safety, though Syria leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
SY
$122
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
3.2
SY
15.2

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZM
50.0
SY
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
SY
1.3t

Zambia performs better than Syria across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZM
0.8
SY
6.9
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
SY
124.4%

Syria generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
SY
13.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$1,318
SY
$1,057

Zambia 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

ZM
66.5 yrs
SY
72.6 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
34.6
SY
17.7

Syria performs significantly better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), The World Factbook (2009–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), Ministry of Finance, Syria (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Damascus
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 60°/35°F (15°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 85°/51°F (29°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 96°/60°F (35°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 70°/40°F (21°/5°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Damascus
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Syria

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

Syria passport holder visiting Zambia

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

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 Zambia?

On average Syria is about 25% less expensive than Zambia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Syria?

Budget about SYP183,750,000 for 3 months in Syria (based on a ZMW1,500,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Syria?

Connectivity is usually fine (Syria: 6.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Syria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Syria safe for expats?

Zambia 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 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Syria compared to Zambia?

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in adult obesity rate. There are 15.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

What's the weather like in Syria compared to Zambia?

The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Syria?

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

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At a Glance

ZM SY
Population 21,913,874 25,620,427
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Syrian Pound (SYP)
Languages English Arabic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +963
Time zones 1 1