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 $907 per month in Aqaba vs $969 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Aqaba vs $1,519 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,992 per month in Aqaba vs $2,068 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Aqaba is about 6% cheaper than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Aqaba and AL Kharj are more affordable than the global median – Aqaba 32% lower, AL Kharj 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 JOD 1.97

$6.47 SAR 24.27

-56.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.04 JOD 34.71

$26.35 SAR 98.9

86.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.19 JOD 2.96

$7.97 SAR 29.91

-47.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

Cappuccino

$4.19 JOD 2.97

$2.48 SAR 9.31

68.95%

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

$0.52 JOD 0.37

$0.75 SAR 2.83

-30.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 JOD 0.24

$0.13 SAR 0.47

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.57 JOD 3.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.23 JOD 5.12

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 JOD 1.01

$1.63 SAR 6.10

-12.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 JOD 0.36

$0.28 SAR 1.06

78.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 JOD 1.19

$2.37 SAR 8.89

-29.11%

Eggs

$1.65 JOD 1.17

$2.03 SAR 7.62

-18.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.74 JOD 4.06

$8.31 SAR 31.20

-30.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.27 JOD 3.02

$4.92 SAR 18.46

-13.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 JOD 6.85

$13.46 SAR 50.5

-28.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 JOD 0.98

$1.98 SAR 7.43

-30.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.99

$1.23 SAR 4.60

13.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 JOD 0.77

$0.89 SAR 3.33

21.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 JOD 0.52

$1.37 SAR 5.13

-45.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 JOD 0.52

$0.96 SAR 3.60

-23.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 JOD 0.49

$0.88 SAR 3.32

-21.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 JOD 0.46

$0.82 SAR 3.10

-20.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 JOD 0.41

$0.56 SAR 2.10

3.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 JOD 2.47

$6.42 SAR 24.09

-45.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.21 JOD 12.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 JOD 1.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 JOD 1.77

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.41 SAR 152

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 JOD 0.36

$2.69 SAR 10.11

-81.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$0.55 SAR 2.08

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 JOD 4.88

$13.39 SAR 50.3

-48.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 JOD 1.00

$0.59 SAR 2.20

138.98%

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

$27.0K JOD 19.1K

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

-20.57%

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

$30.9K JOD 21.9K

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

33.03%

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

$107 JOD 75.6

$106 SAR 398

0.72%

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

$17.13 JOD 12.12

$26.15 SAR 98.2

-34.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.90 JOD 22.57

$51.2 SAR 192

-37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.1 JOD 49.58

$65.7 SAR 247

6.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.52 SAR 152

Cinema Ticket

$11.45 JOD 8.10

$15.68 SAR 58.9

-26.98%

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

$279 JOD 197

$178 SAR 668

56.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,770 JOD 1,960

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

-26.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.76 JOD 19.65

$59.6 SAR 224

-53.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.12 JOD 30.52

$53.7 SAR 202

-19.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.60 JOD 29.44

$53.3 SAR 200

-22.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 JOD 49.96

$78.6 SAR 295

-10.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 JOD 223

$637 SAR 2,391

-50.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 JOD 181

$229 SAR 861

11.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 JOD 515

$488 SAR 1,833

49.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 JOD 351

$501 SAR 1,879

-0.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 JOD 802

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$553 JOD 391

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$556 JOD 394

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

-80.45%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Aqaba versus $637 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 $49.00 in Aqaba versus $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $169 – 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: $907 in Aqaba, $969 in AL Kharj – roughly 7% apart. AL Kharj costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,361 per month in Aqaba and $1,454 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 $26.00 in AL Kharj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% 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 $907, than in AL Kharj at $969. 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 $907 in Aqaba to $969 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.