Syria’s capital, Damascus is one of the 10 cheapest cities in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s bi-annual survey.

Damascus in Syria was ranked the world's second cheapest city in the survey that compares the cost of more than 150 items such as cars, food, rent, transport and clothing in 133 cities.

On the other end of the spectrum, Paris and Hong Kong were tied with Singapore as the world’s most expensive cities to live in.

It was the first time in more than 30 years that three cities shared the top spot, a sign that pricey global cities are growing more alike, said the report’s author, Roxana Slavcheva.

The top ten list was dominated by Asian and European cities, with Osaka and Seoul in joint fifth and joint seventh places respectively. Zurich (4th), Geneva (joint 5th) and Copenhagen (joint 7th) also in the elite club.

Singapore the only city that has maintained its ranking from the previous five years, the report stated.