Cost of Living Comparison Between Az-zarqa' and At Tafilah Cost of Living Comparison Between Az-zarqa' and At Tafilah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Az-zarqa' versus $397 in At Tafilah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,054 in Az-zarqa' versus $724 in At Tafilah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,432 in Az-zarqa' versus $1,051 in At Tafilah.

Living in Az-zarqa' is roughly 70% more expensive than in At Tafilah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Az-zarqa' 49% lower, At Tafilah 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.16 JOD 2.94

$4.35 JOD 3.08

-4.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 JOD 17.91

$27.74 JOD 19.64

-8.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 JOD 3.95

$5.73 JOD 4.06

-2.44%

Cappuccino

$0.84 JOD 0.59

$3.51 JOD 2.49

-76.07%

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

$0.46 JOD 0.33

$0.36 JOD 0.25

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 JOD 0.24

$0.45 JOD 0.32

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.19 JOD 2.97

$5.58 JOD 3.95

-24.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 JOD 5.02

$7.14 JOD 5.06

-0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 JOD 1.01

$1.51 JOD 1.07

-5.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 JOD 0.39

$0.72 JOD 0.51

-23.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 JOD 1.19

$1.37 JOD 0.97

22.63%

Eggs

$1.81 JOD 1.28

$1.44 JOD 1.02

25.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 JOD 4.59

$6.87 JOD 4.87

-5.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 JOD 2.98

$2.80 JOD 1.98

50.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.48 JOD 6.71

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 JOD 1.15

$1.80 JOD 1.27

-9.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$1.71 JOD 1.21

-18.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 JOD 0.74

$1.40 JOD 0.99

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 JOD 0.51

$0.74 JOD 0.52

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 JOD 0.53

$0.69 JOD 0.49

7.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

$0.73 JOD 0.52

-6.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 JOD 0.37

$0.74 JOD 0.52

-28.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 JOD 0.39

$0.48 JOD 0.34

14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 JOD 2.44

$3.19 JOD 2.25

8.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.95 JOD 4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 JOD 2.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 JOD 3.08

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 JOD 0.43

$0.69 JOD 0.49

-13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.04 JOD 14.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

$0.74 JOD 0.53

-8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 JOD 0.65

$0.68 JOD 0.48

35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 JOD 3.54

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 JOD 1.01

$1.17 JOD 0.83

21.37%

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

$26.7K JOD 18.9K

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

$27.8K JOD 19.7K

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

$98.9 JOD 70.0

$66.4 JOD 46.98

48.96%

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

$13.25 JOD 9.38

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.50 JOD 16.63

$21.39 JOD 15.14

9.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.87 JOD 21.15

$21.50 JOD 15.21

38.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.90 JOD 6.30

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 JOD 6.94

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

$81.9 JOD 58.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,788 JOD 1,973

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.33 JOD 15.80

$28.12 JOD 19.90

-20.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 JOD 18.48

$25.69 JOD 18.19

1.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.90 JOD 31.78

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.5 JOD 39.29

$28.16 JOD 19.93

97.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 JOD 113

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 JOD 85.5

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 JOD 196

$210 JOD 149

31.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 JOD 164

$142 JOD 101

62.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$568 JOD 402

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$347 JOD 245

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 JOD 360

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.27

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

Last update for Az-zarqa': July 13, 2026

Last update for At Tafilah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Az-zarqa' vs $28.00 in At Tafilah. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $109, with At Tafilah cheaper for home cooking.

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

Az-zarqa' vs At Tafilah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At Tafilah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,014 in Az-zarqa' and $595 in At Tafilah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Az-zarqa'. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in At Tafilah – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $25.00 in Az-zarqa'. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though At Tafilah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Az-zarqa' and At Tafilah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find At Tafilah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Az-zarqa'. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.