Winter clothes What they cost, and is second-hand still cheaper?
Episode date: Length: 1 min 27 s
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With the first cold days comes the question: a new jacket, or one from the bala, the imported second-hand market? The Mukhtar asked Damascus sellers about jacket and sweater prices, local versus foreign goods, and bala prices today.
The short answer
In October 2026 a jacket in Damascus markets cost about $7.2 to $14 (1,000 to 2,000 new Syrian pounds), starting at about $1.8 (250 pounds) on street stalls, with the dearest men's jacket mentioned at about $18 (2,500 pounds). Most goods are made locally, and sellers say second-hand (bala) prices are now close to new.
According to sellers in the episode, a jacket cost about $7.2 to $14 (1,000 to 2,000 new Syrian pounds) in Damascus in October 2026. On street stalls prices start at about $1.8 (250 pounds). The dearest men's jacket mentioned was about $18 (2,500 pounds).
And a sweater?
About $7.2 to $14 (1,000 to 2,000 pounds), and a wool-cloth (jokh) sweater about $18 (2,500 pounds).
Local or foreign?
Most goods in the market are made in Syria, sellers said, and foreign items cost more.
Is second-hand still cheaper?
Bala is imported second-hand clothing. Sellers said its prices are now close to new clothes, so the gap is much smaller than it was. Compare both before you buy.
Questions people ask
How much is a winter jacket in Syria?
In October 2026 a jacket cost about $7.2 to $14 in Damascus (1,000 to 2,000 new Syrian pounds), according to sellers in the Mukhtar Al Souq episode.
Is second-hand (bala) clothing cheaper in Syria?
Sellers said bala prices are now close to new clothes, so the gap is small.
What is bala?
Imported second-hand clothing, sold in its own markets in Syria.
We ask sellers in the market and record every price with its date, in US dollars and new Syrian pounds. How we work
The Mukhtar Al Souq team: produced by Ahmad Nahas (the show on his site) · written by Ahmad Nahas, Mazen Shbib, Ranim Shabani and Dania Halbouni · edited by Abdulrahman Al-Nassar and Abdulrahman Mulla · graphics by Wael Fayyad
The truth from the market, for the people