Cost of Living Comparison Between Madaba and At Tafilah Cost of Living Comparison Between Madaba and At Tafilah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $836 in Madaba versus $406 in At Tafilah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,443 in Madaba versus $719 in At Tafilah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,050 in Madaba versus $1,032 in At Tafilah.

Living in Madaba is roughly 106% more expensive than in At Tafilah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Madaba 37% lower, At Tafilah 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.71 JOD 4.05

$4.39 JOD 3.11

30.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.51 JOD 34.35

$28.51 JOD 20.19

70.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 JOD 4.55

$5.66 JOD 4.01

13.60%

Cappuccino

$3.61 JOD 2.55

$3.54 JOD 2.51

1.98%

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

$0.52 JOD 0.37

$0.37 JOD 0.26

40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 JOD 0.26

$0.46 JOD 0.32

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.20 JOD 2.97

$5.55 JOD 3.93

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 JOD 4.89

$7.26 JOD 5.14

-4.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 JOD 0.97

$1.52 JOD 1.07

-9.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 JOD 0.36

$0.70 JOD 0.49

-27.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 JOD 1.18

$1.37 JOD 0.97

21.90%

Eggs

$1.73 JOD 1.23

$1.50 JOD 1.06

15.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.30 JOD 3.04

$7.20 JOD 5.10

-40.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 JOD 4.10

$2.78 JOD 1.97

108.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 JOD 8.22

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 JOD 1.39

$1.78 JOD 1.26

10.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 JOD 0.97

$1.73 JOD 1.22

-20.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 JOD 1.04

$1.39 JOD 0.99

5.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 JOD 0.50

$0.74 JOD 0.53

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 JOD 0.53

$0.73 JOD 0.52

1.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 JOD 0.51

$0.74 JOD 0.53

-2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 JOD 0.26

$0.70 JOD 0.49

-48.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 JOD 0.39

$0.48 JOD 0.34

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 JOD 1.46

$3.14 JOD 2.23

-34.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.33 JOD 15.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 JOD 3.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 JOD 3.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JOD 0.63

$0.73 JOD 0.51

21.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.8 JOD 50.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 JOD 0.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 JOD 0.99

$0.68 JOD 0.48

105.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.87 JOD 4.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 JOD 1.01

$1.22 JOD 0.87

16.39%

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

$27.3K JOD 19.3K

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

$31.9K JOD 22.6K

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

$70.3 JOD 49.77

$66.1 JOD 46.77

6.40%

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

$14.06 JOD 9.95

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.54 JOD 15.25

$21.13 JOD 14.96

1.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.58 JOD 20.23

$21.48 JOD 15.21

33.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$70.0 JOD 49.58

Cinema Ticket

$11.22 JOD 7.95

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

$42.00 JOD 29.74

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,115 JOD 790

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 JOD 43.49

$28.39 JOD 20.10

116.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.75 JOD 34.52

$24.92 JOD 17.64

95.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 JOD 44.18

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.44 JOD 25.09

$28.65 JOD 20.28

23.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 JOD 124

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$128 JOD 90.7

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 JOD 275

$214 JOD 152

81.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 JOD 247

$142 JOD 101

145.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$499 JOD 353

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

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

Last update for Madaba: July 26, 2026

Last update for At Tafilah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $49.00 in Madaba vs $29.00 in At Tafilah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $110 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

Madaba vs At Tafilah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At Tafilah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 106% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,254 in Madaba and $609 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 105% higher in Madaba. 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 $29.00 versus $49.00 in Madaba. 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, Madaba 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 106% less than in Madaba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.