Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Amman Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Amman

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,832 per month in Dubai vs $1,129 in Amman, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,340 per month in Dubai vs $1,798 in Amman, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,848 per month in Dubai vs $2,466 in Amman, rent included.

Dubai costs about 151% more than Amman, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Dubai sits 112% above the global median, while Amman is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 AED 39.52
$7.19 JOD 5.09
49.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 AED 295
$50.3 JOD 35.59
59.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 AED 35.87
$7.10 JOD 5.03
37.61%
Cappuccino
$5.76 AED 21.15
$4.22 JOD 2.99
36.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 AED 4.37
$0.48 JOD 0.34
147.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 AED 3.31
$0.35 JOD 0.25
157.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.10 AED 44.45
$5.61 JOD 3.97
115.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.64 AED 50.1
$6.96 JOD 4.92
95.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 AED 7.20
$1.48 JOD 1.05
32.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 AED 5.25
$0.51 JOD 0.36
180.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 AED 8.00
$1.63 JOD 1.15
33.74%
Eggs
$3.41 AED 12.54
$2.52 JOD 1.79
35.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 AED 37.01
$6.47 JOD 4.58
55.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.21 AED 33.82
$6.58 JOD 4.66
39.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.68 AED 46.59
$11.24 JOD 7.96
12.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 AED 8.66
$2.00 JOD 1.42
18.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 AED 7.15
$1.71 JOD 1.21
14.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 AED 6.86
$1.45 JOD 1.03
28.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 AED 5.67
$0.74 JOD 0.53
108.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 AED 4.35
$0.88 JOD 0.63
35.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 AED 4.62
$0.73 JOD 0.52
72.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 AED 5.13
$0.65 JOD 0.46
115.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 AED 2.41
$0.62 JOD 0.44
6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 AED 24.64
$3.59 JOD 2.54
86.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.63 AED 61.1
$21.57 JOD 15.26
-22.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 AED 9.65
$4.68 JOD 3.31
-43.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 AED 13.06
$5.29 JOD 3.75
-32.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubai
Amman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 AED 6.06
$0.81 JOD 0.57
103.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.2 AED 306
$41.90 JOD 29.65
98.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 AED 11.76
$0.74 JOD 0.52
332.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 AED 2.97
$1.40 JOD 0.99
-42.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.07 AED 29.62
$7.04 JOD 4.98
14.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 AED 2.75
$1.45 JOD 1.03
-48.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K AED 119.9K
$26.6K JOD 18.9K
22.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K AED 84.0K
$32.1K JOD 22.7K
-28.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 AED 789
$107 JOD 75.7
100.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8 AED 227
$17.28 JOD 12.23
257.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102 AED 375
$31.42 JOD 22.24
225.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.9 AED 319
$54.7 JOD 38.72
58.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.46 AED 171
$43.42 JOD 30.73
7.00%
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 AED 55.9
$11.43 JOD 8.09
33.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$851 AED 3,126
$270 JOD 191
215.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K AED 51.5K
$5,445 JOD 3,854
157.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4 AED 302
$62.5 JOD 44.23
31.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 AED 228
$56.2 JOD 39.80
10.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 AED 418
$115 JOD 81.1
-0.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 AED 439
$79.0 JOD 55.9
51.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubai
Amman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,465 AED 9,051
$467 JOD 331
427.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 AED 5,751
$301 JOD 213
419.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,655 AED 17.1K
$781 JOD 553
496.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,950 AED 10.8K
$538 JOD 381
447.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,113 AED 26.1K
$1,596 JOD 1,129
345.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,104 AED 15.1K
$1,027 JOD 727
299.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubai
Amman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,390 AED 12.4K
$697 JOD 493
386.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.49
7.27
-38.24%

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

Last update for Dubai: July 14, 2026

Last update for Amman: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,465 in Dubai versus $467 in Amman. 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 386% higher in Dubai, 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 $80.0 in Dubai versus $50.0 in Amman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $244 – making Amman 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
Dubai vs Amman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dubai or Amman?
Dubai costs about 151% more than Amman, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dubai and in Amman?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,248 per month in Dubai and $1,694 in Amman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dubai or Amman?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Amman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Dubai compared to Amman?
Public transport costs about 99% less in Amman. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Dubai and in Amman?
Kindergarten costs $851 per month in Dubai and $270 in Amman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dubai or in Amman?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amman, where all-in costs run around $1,129, than in Dubai at $2,832. In Amman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dubai or Amman?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amman costs $1,129 versus $2,832 in Dubai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dubai compared to Amman?
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.
Should I move to Dubai or to Amman?
If budget matters most, go with Amman. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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