Cost of Living Comparison Between Aqaba and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Aqaba and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $925 per month in Aqaba vs $943 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in Aqaba vs $1,496 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,921 per month in Aqaba vs $2,050 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Aqaba is about 2% cheaper than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aqaba and AL Kharj are more affordable than the global median – Aqaba 31% lower, AL Kharj 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 JOD 1.96

$6.47 SAR 24.31

-57.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.99 JOD 34.68

$26.66 SAR 100

83.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 JOD 2.97

$8.02 SAR 30.13

-47.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

Cappuccino

$4.17 JOD 2.95

$2.45 SAR 9.21

70.20%

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

$0.48 JOD 0.34

$0.78 SAR 2.94

-38.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 JOD 0.26

$0.13 SAR 0.47

184.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 JOD 4.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 JOD 4.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 JOD 0.99

$1.65 SAR 6.18

-15.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 JOD 0.36

$0.26 SAR 0.97

96.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 JOD 1.20

$2.40 SAR 9.00

-29.17%

Eggs

$1.72 JOD 1.22

$1.95 SAR 7.31

-11.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.53 JOD 3.91

$8.50 SAR 31.90

-34.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 JOD 2.97

$5.12 SAR 19.24

-18.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 JOD 6.88

$13.52 SAR 50.8

-28.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.98

$2.01 SAR 7.55

-30.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 JOD 0.98

$1.23 SAR 4.61

12.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 JOD 0.73

$0.95 SAR 3.57

8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 JOD 0.49

$1.31 SAR 4.92

-47.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 JOD 0.49

$0.90 SAR 3.40

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 JOD 0.50

$0.97 SAR 3.63

-27.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 JOD 0.42

$0.78 SAR 2.94

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 JOD 0.39

$0.51 SAR 1.93

7.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 JOD 2.56

$6.58 SAR 24.72

-45.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.67 JOD 11.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JOD 1.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 JOD 1.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.90 SAR 150

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 JOD 0.36

$2.73 SAR 10.25

-81.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 JOD 1.02

$0.55 SAR 2.07

163.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.16 JOD 5.07

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-47.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$0.64 SAR 2.40

118.75%

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

$27.4K JOD 19.4K

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

-20.72%

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

$30.7K JOD 21.7K

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

33.96%

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

$107 JOD 75.4

$105 SAR 393

1.74%

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

$17.26 JOD 12.22

$27.04 SAR 102

-36.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.92 JOD 22.59

$49.84 SAR 187

-35.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.1 JOD 48.92

$67.5 SAR 253

2.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.77 SAR 153

Cinema Ticket

$11.27 JOD 7.98

$16.29 SAR 61.2

-30.82%

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

$276 JOD 195

$179 SAR 671

54.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,842 JOD 2,011

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

-24.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.68 JOD 19.59

$59.6 SAR 224

-53.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.15 JOD 29.83

$54.2 SAR 204

-22.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.60 JOD 30.15

$53.6 SAR 201

-20.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 JOD 50.0

$81.1 SAR 305

-12.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 JOD 223

$653 SAR 2,454

-51.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 JOD 186

$233 SAR 875

12.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 JOD 524

$484 SAR 1,819

52.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 JOD 349

$492 SAR 1,847

0.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 JOD 813

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$567 JOD 401

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$566 JOD 401

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

-80.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.27

5.31

36.91%

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

Last update for Aqaba: July 12, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Aqaba versus $653 in AL Kharj. 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 400% higher in AL Kharj, 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 Aqaba versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $170 – making AL Kharj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Aqaba vs AL Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $925 in Aqaba, $943 in AL Kharj – roughly 2% apart. AL Kharj costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,387 per month in Aqaba and $1,414 in AL Kharj. 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 $49.00 in Aqaba and $27.00 in AL Kharj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in AL Kharj – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $925, than in AL Kharj at $943. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in AL Kharj it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Aqaba has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $925 in Aqaba to $943 in AL Kharj. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, AL Kharj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.