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 $900 per month in Aqaba vs $951 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,498 per month in Aqaba vs $1,473 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,095 per month in Aqaba vs $1,996 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Aqaba is about 5% cheaper than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aqaba and AL Kharj are more affordable than the global median – Aqaba 34% lower, AL Kharj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.77 JOD 1.96

$4.68 SAR 17.59

-40.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.8 JOD 47.98

$26.80 SAR 101

152.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 JOD 3.07

$7.91 SAR 29.71

-45.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 SAR 7.79

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

Cappuccino

$4.40 JOD 3.11

$3.07 SAR 11.53

43.32%

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

$0.65 JOD 0.46

$0.84 SAR 3.15

-22.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 JOD 0.40

$0.13 SAR 0.48

338.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.47 JOD 6.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.91 JOD 7.73

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 JOD 0.98

$1.44 SAR 5.42

-4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 JOD 0.33

$0.26 SAR 0.97

80.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 JOD 1.07

$2.32 SAR 8.73

-34.48%

Eggs

$1.70 JOD 1.21

$2.07 SAR 7.78

-17.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.69 JOD 4.03

$9.96 SAR 37.40

-42.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 JOD 2.95

$4.97 SAR 18.66

-16.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.12 JOD 7.16

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-25.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.99

$1.76 SAR 6.59

-21.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$1.30 SAR 4.90

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 JOD 0.76

$1.22 SAR 4.59

-12.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 JOD 0.51

$1.34 SAR 5.03

-45.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 JOD 0.50

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-32.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-38.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 JOD 0.44

$0.55 SAR 2.05

12.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 JOD 0.38

$0.59 SAR 2.21

-8.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.15 SAR 8.09

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SAR 9.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.86 JOD 2.73

$6.59 SAR 24.74

-41.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.24 JOD 12.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JOD 2.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 JOD 1.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.75 SAR 85.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 JOD 0.34

$2.70 SAR 10.15

-82.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$0.55 SAR 2.05

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 JOD 5.03

$13.40 SAR 50.3

-46.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 JOD 1.00

$0.59 SAR 2.22

140.68%

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

$31.6K JOD 22.4K

$35.3K SAR 132.6K

-10.38%

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

$31.4K JOD 22.2K

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

43.65%

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

$130 JOD 91.8

$102 SAR 384

26.75%

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

$15.77 JOD 11.16

$27.14 SAR 102

-41.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 JOD 22.94

$51.5 SAR 193

-37.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 JOD 44.07

$73.8 SAR 277

-15.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.56 SAR 152

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 JOD 7.87

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-17.08%

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

$491 JOD 348

$283 SAR 1,064

73.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,841 JOD 2,012

$3,710 SAR 13.9K

-23.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.20 JOD 19.96

$59.4 SAR 223

-52.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.90 JOD 30.38

$53.1 SAR 199

-19.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.69 JOD 29.52

$46.69 SAR 175

-10.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.6 JOD 50.7

$79.7 SAR 299

-10.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 JOD 201

$676 SAR 2,539

-58.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 JOD 148

$260 SAR 976

-19.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 JOD 483

$591 SAR 2,219

15.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 JOD 326

$467 SAR 1,756

-1.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,125 JOD 797

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$555 JOD 393

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 JOD 398

$2,869 SAR 10.8K

-80.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

5.54

22.92%

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

Last update for Aqaba: September 13, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Aqaba versus $676 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 411% 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 $68.0 in Aqaba versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $173 – 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: $900 in Aqaba, $951 in AL Kharj – roughly 6% apart. AL Kharj costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,350 per month in Aqaba and $1,426 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 $68.0 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 9% 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 $900, than in AL Kharj at $951. 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 $900 in Aqaba to $951 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.