Cost of Living Comparison Between Ma'an and At Tafilah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ma'an and At Tafilah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Ma'an versus $397 in At Tafilah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,213 in Ma'an versus $713 in At Tafilah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,674 in Ma'an versus $1,029 in At Tafilah.

Living in Ma'an is roughly 90% more expensive than At Tafilah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ma'an 44% lower, At Tafilah 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 JOD 5.05

$4.26 JOD 3.01

67.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.30 JOD 34.89

$28.34 JOD 20.06

73.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 JOD 4.89

$5.70 JOD 4.03

21.23%

Cappuccino

$4.20 JOD 2.97

$3.48 JOD 2.46

20.69%

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

$0.48 JOD 0.34

$0.34 JOD 0.24

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 JOD 0.26

$0.46 JOD 0.32

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.71 JOD 4.04

$5.60 JOD 3.96

1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 JOD 5.01

$6.86 JOD 4.86

3.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 JOD 1.04

$1.46 JOD 1.03

1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 JOD 0.39

$0.74 JOD 0.52

-24.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JOD 1.16

$1.38 JOD 0.98

18.12%

Eggs

$2.57 JOD 1.82

$1.49 JOD 1.05

72.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 JOD 4.83

$7.07 JOD 5.00

-3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 JOD 4.59

$2.86 JOD 2.02

126.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.27 JOD 7.98

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 JOD 1.46

$1.74 JOD 1.23

18.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 JOD 1.25

$1.74 JOD 1.23

1.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 JOD 1.00

$1.43 JOD 1.01

-1.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 JOD 0.53

$0.68 JOD 0.48

10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 JOD 0.62

$0.74 JOD 0.52

18.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 JOD 0.52

$0.68 JOD 0.48

8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 JOD 0.46

$0.68 JOD 0.48

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 JOD 0.45

$0.47 JOD 0.33

34.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.51 JOD 2.48

$3.20 JOD 2.26

9.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.45 JOD 15.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.63 JOD 3.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 JOD 3.89

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$0.68 JOD 0.48

105.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 JOD 5.09

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 JOD 1.04

$1.17 JOD 0.83

25.64%

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

$27.1K JOD 19.2K

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

$32.8K JOD 23.2K

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

$105 JOD 74.4

$66.1 JOD 46.81

58.92%

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

$16.67 JOD 11.80

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.13 JOD 22.74

$21.50 JOD 15.22

49.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.78 JOD 14.71

Cinema Ticket

$11.35 JOD 8.03

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

$276 JOD 195

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,331 JOD 3,773

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 JOD 43.72

$27.84 JOD 19.71

121.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 JOD 40.72

$25.84 JOD 18.29

122.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 JOD 80.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 JOD 56.0

$28.60 JOD 20.24

176.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 JOD 147

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 JOD 101

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 Ma'an: June 8, 2026

Last update for At Tafilah: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $49.00 in Ma'an vs $28.00 in At Tafilah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $109 per month, with At Tafilah cheaper across the board.

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

Ma'an vs At Tafilah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At Tafilah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,128 in Ma'an 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 125% higher in Ma'an. 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 $49.00 in Ma'an. 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, Ma'an 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 90% less than in Ma'an. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.