Cost of Living Comparison Between Amman and Aqaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Amman and Aqaba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,154 per month in Amman vs $898 in Aqaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,801 per month in Amman vs $1,439 in Aqaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,449 per month in Amman vs $1,980 in Aqaba, rent included.

Amman costs about 29% more than Aqaba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Amman and Aqaba are more affordable than the global median – Amman 14% lower, Aqaba 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95 JOD 4.93
$2.89 JOD 2.05
140.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.49 JOD 35.09
$48.92 JOD 34.68
1.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.16 JOD 5.08
$4.25 JOD 3.01
68.47%
Cappuccino
$4.22 JOD 2.99
$4.08 JOD 2.89
3.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 JOD 0.36
$0.52 JOD 0.37
-1.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 JOD 0.27
$0.35 JOD 0.25
8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.80 JOD 4.11
$5.75 JOD 4.08
0.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 JOD 4.90
$6.94 JOD 4.92
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 JOD 1.00
$1.44 JOD 1.02
-2.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 JOD 0.36
$0.47 JOD 0.33
8.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 JOD 1.14
$1.70 JOD 1.21
-5.29%
Eggs
$2.55 JOD 1.81
$1.66 JOD 1.18
53.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.62 JOD 4.69
$5.72 JOD 4.06
15.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 JOD 4.57
$4.14 JOD 2.94
55.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 JOD 8.13
$9.59 JOD 6.80
19.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 JOD 1.41
$1.37 JOD 0.97
45.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 JOD 1.27
$1.37 JOD 0.97
30.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 JOD 1.01
$1.04 JOD 0.74
37.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 JOD 0.56
$0.74 JOD 0.52
6.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 JOD 0.61
$0.74 JOD 0.52
16.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 JOD 0.51
$0.70 JOD 0.50
4.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 JOD 0.46
$0.61 JOD 0.43
4.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 JOD 0.45
$0.59 JOD 0.42
6.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 JOD 2.45
$3.48 JOD 2.46
-0.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.12 JOD 14.97
$16.90 JOD 11.98
24.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.83 JOD 3.42
$2.85 JOD 2.02
69.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 JOD 3.86
$2.44 JOD 1.73
122.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 JOD 0.55
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.34 JOD 30.02
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 JOD 0.50
$0.48 JOD 0.34
45.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 JOD 1.01
$1.38 JOD 0.98
3.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.26 JOD 5.15
$7.12 JOD 5.05
1.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 JOD 1.01
$1.41 JOD 1.00
0.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K JOD 19.1K
$27.3K JOD 19.4K
-1.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K JOD 22.5K
$31.4K JOD 22.3K
1.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 JOD 75.9
$105 JOD 74.6
1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.95 JOD 12.02
$16.98 JOD 12.04
-0.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.50 JOD 23.04
$31.99 JOD 22.68
1.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 JOD 38.25
$71.5 JOD 50.7
-24.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.16 JOD 29.89
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 JOD 8.07
$11.19 JOD 7.93
1.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 JOD 196
$275 JOD 195
0.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,406 JOD 3,833
$2,840 JOD 2,013
90.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 JOD 43.55
$28.70 JOD 20.35
114.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 JOD 39.53
$41.49 JOD 29.42
34.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 JOD 82.5
$41.75 JOD 29.60
178.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 JOD 57.5
$71.1 JOD 50.4
14.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 JOD 331
$313 JOD 222
49.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 JOD 212
$259 JOD 184
15.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$774 JOD 549
$739 JOD 524
4.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$526 JOD 373
$496 JOD 352
5.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,521 JOD 1,078
$1,137 JOD 806
33.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$963 JOD 683
$554 JOD 393
73.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amman
Aqaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 JOD 493
$572 JOD 405
21.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.27
7.27
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amman: April 27, 2026

Last update for Aqaba: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Amman versus $313 in Aqaba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Amman, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Amman versus $49.00 in Aqaba. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Amman vs $188 in Aqaba – so Aqaba wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Amman vs Aqaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Amman or Aqaba?
Amman costs about 29% more than Aqaba, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Amman vs Aqaba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,731 per month in Amman and $1,347 in Aqaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Amman or Aqaba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aqaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Amman vs Aqaba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Amman and $49.00 in Aqaba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Amman or Aqaba?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Amman, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Amman or Aqaba?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Amman at $1,154. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amman it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Amman or Aqaba?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aqaba costs $898 versus $1,154 in Amman. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Amman compared to Aqaba?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Amman or Aqaba?
If budget matters most, go with Aqaba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amman makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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