Long Read
Remote Work in Homs: Is it a Digital Nomad Paradise?
so here's the deal. i spent three weeks in homs, syria, trying to work remotely. not exactly the first place you think of for "digital nomad paradise," right? but stick with me.
homs is hot. like, really hot. summer temps hit 40°c (104°f) and the power cuts are a thing. but here's what surprised me: rent is dirt cheap. i paid about $150/month for a decent apartment near the old city. compared to $1500 in berlin? yeah, no contest. but internet? sketchy. i had to buy a 4g router and top up data every few days. local sim card shop was my best friend.
the good, the bad, and the "are you insane?"
*the good: cost of living is low. food is fresh and cheap. a manousheh (za'atar flatbread) costs about 500 syp ($0.15). people are warm, curious, and helpful-even if they think you're nuts for living there. i met a guy who runs a tiny co-working space above a bakery. no website, just word of mouth. check it out if you dare.
the bad: infrastructure is a mess. electricity cuts out daily. internet is slow. and safety? well, homs was heavily affected by the war. parts of the city are still rebuilding. but locals say it's stable now. tripadvisor forums have mixed opinions, mostly from brave souls like me.
the "are you insane?":* there's no nomad scene. no meetups. no hipster cafes with oat milk lattes. just old men drinking tea and kids playing in the streets. if you need community, this ain't it.
overheard on the street
"you work on a computer? like, all day? why?" - local shopkeeper
"internet here? ha! good luck." - random guy at the bakery
"homs is safe now. but don't tell everyone to come. we like it quiet." - my landlord
cost breakdown (in USD, rough)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (1br) | $150 |
| Groceries/week | $20 |
| 10gb data | $5 |
| Coffee (local) | $0.50 |
| Taxi ride | $1 |
nearby cities like damascus and aleppo are just a few hours away by car. but honestly, homs feels like its own world. slower. grittier. real.
final thoughts
homs isn't a digital nomad paradise. it's more like a digital nomad's endurance test. if you're chasing cheap living, unique culture, and don't mind roughing it, it's worth a visit. but bring a backup battery, a sense of humor, and maybe a local friend. and don't expect to find a tribe of remote workers sipping matcha.
would i go back? maybe. but i'd pack more patience and fewer expectations. homs doesn't try to impress you. it just is. and that's kind of refreshing.
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