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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,153 per month in Amman vs $900 in Aqaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,845 per month in Amman vs $1,498 in Aqaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,536 per month in Amman vs $2,095 in Aqaba, rent included.

Amman costs about 28% more than Aqaba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Amman and Aqaba are more affordable than the global median – Amman 16% lower, Aqaba 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.98 JOD 4.94

$2.77 JOD 1.96

151.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 JOD 46.84

$67.8 JOD 47.98

-2.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 JOD 4.97

$4.33 JOD 3.07

61.89%

Cappuccino

$4.36 JOD 3.08

$4.40 JOD 3.11

-0.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 JOD 0.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 JOD 0.39

$0.57 JOD 0.40

-1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.38 JOD 5.93

$8.47 JOD 6.00

-1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.90 JOD 7.71

$10.91 JOD 7.73

-0.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 JOD 1.06

$1.38 JOD 0.98

8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 JOD 0.50

$0.47 JOD 0.33

48.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 JOD 1.07

Eggs

$2.41 JOD 1.71

$1.70 JOD 1.21

41.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.31 JOD 6.59

$5.69 JOD 4.03

63.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.74 JOD 4.77

$4.16 JOD 2.95

62.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 JOD 9.05

$10.12 JOD 7.16

26.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 JOD 1.81

$1.39 JOD 0.99

84.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 JOD 1.42

$1.40 JOD 0.99

43.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 JOD 1.29

$1.07 JOD 0.76

70.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 JOD 0.55

$0.73 JOD 0.51

6.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 JOD 0.70

$0.70 JOD 0.50

41.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 JOD 0.59

$0.68 JOD 0.48

23.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 JOD 0.43

$0.62 JOD 0.44

-1.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 JOD 0.44

$0.54 JOD 0.38

12.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 JOD 2.79

$3.86 JOD 2.73

2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.83 JOD 14.75

$17.24 JOD 12.21

20.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.03 JOD 3.56

$2.90 JOD 2.05

73.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 JOD 3.61

$2.51 JOD 1.78

103.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 JOD 0.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.80 JOD 30.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 JOD 0.46

$0.48 JOD 0.34

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 JOD 1.02

$1.40 JOD 0.99

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 JOD 4.90

$7.11 JOD 5.03

-2.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 JOD 1.13

$1.42 JOD 1.00

12.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K JOD 25.3K

$31.6K JOD 22.4K

13.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.9K JOD 24.7K

$31.4K JOD 22.2K

11.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$129 JOD 91.3

$130 JOD 91.8

-0.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.62 JOD 11.06

$15.77 JOD 11.16

-0.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.12 JOD 22.74

$32.40 JOD 22.94

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 JOD 37.23

$62.3 JOD 44.07

-15.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.31 JOD 23.59

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 JOD 8.04

$11.12 JOD 7.87

2.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$492 JOD 348

$491 JOD 348

0.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,419 JOD 6,668

$2,841 JOD 2,012

231.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 JOD 45.54

$28.20 JOD 19.96

128.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.0 JOD 58.1

$42.90 JOD 30.38

91.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 JOD 89.5

$41.69 JOD 29.52

203.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 JOD 60.4

$71.6 JOD 50.7

19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 JOD 327

$284 JOD 201

63.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$245 JOD 174

$210 JOD 148

17.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 JOD 543

$682 JOD 483

12.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 JOD 295

$460 JOD 326

-9.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,590 JOD 1,125

$1,125 JOD 797

41.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,032 JOD 731

$555 JOD 393

86.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$774 JOD 548

$562 JOD 398

37.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

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

Last update for Amman: September 14, 2026

Last update for Aqaba: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $462 in Amman versus $284 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 38% 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 $66.0 in Amman versus $68.0 in Aqaba. Groceries tell a different story – $265 in Amman vs $189 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

Amman costs about 28% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,730 per month in Amman and $1,350 in Aqaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Amman and $68.0 in Aqaba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Amman, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Amman at $1,153. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amman it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aqaba costs $900 versus $1,153 in Amman. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.