Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Amman Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Amman

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $897 per month in Sanaa vs $1,154 in Amman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Sanaa vs $1,795 in Amman, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Sanaa vs $2,437 in Amman, rent included.

Sanaa is about 22% cheaper than Amman, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sanaa and Amman are more affordable than the global median – Sanaa 33% lower, Amman 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.98 YER 1,424
$6.94 JOD 4.91
-13.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.00 YER 5,474
$48.74 JOD 34.51
-52.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 YER 2,456
$6.99 JOD 4.95
47.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.83 YER 436
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 YER 443
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.73 YER 887
$4.02 JOD 2.85
-7.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 YER 272
$0.52 JOD 0.37
119.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 YER 118
$0.35 JOD 0.25
42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.56 JOD 3.94
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.88 JOD 4.87
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 YER 448
$1.47 JOD 1.04
27.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 YER 298
$0.56 JOD 0.39
123.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 YER 594
$1.68 JOD 1.19
48.81%
Eggs
$3.97 YER 944
$2.57 JOD 1.82
54.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 YER 2,279
$6.72 JOD 4.76
42.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 YER 1,598
$6.63 JOD 4.69
1.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.11 YER 4,548
$11.54 JOD 8.17
65.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 YER 963
$2.08 JOD 1.47
94.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 YER 335
$1.71 JOD 1.21
-17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 YER 563
$1.42 JOD 1.00
66.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 YER 391
$0.77 JOD 0.54
112.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 YER 420
$0.93 JOD 0.66
89.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 YER 392
$0.68 JOD 0.48
142.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 YER 151
$0.66 JOD 0.47
-3.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 YER 172
$0.63 JOD 0.45
14.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.45 YER 821
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 YER 388
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 YER 771
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 YER 942
$3.44 JOD 2.44
15.12%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$21.24 JOD 15.04
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.68 JOD 3.31
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.29 JOD 3.75
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 YER 102
$0.77 JOD 0.54
-44.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.1 YER 19.5K
$42.58 JOD 30.14
92.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.18 YER 994
$0.72 JOD 0.51
480.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.95 YER 941
$1.40 JOD 0.99
182.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.20 YER 1,713
$7.19 JOD 5.09
0.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.65 YER 631
$1.45 JOD 1.03
82.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5K YER 3.9M
$26.6K JOD 18.9K
-38.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K YER 7.9M
$32.0K JOD 22.7K
4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.8 YER 16.6K
$106 JOD 75.4
-34.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.63 YER 3,245
$17.02 JOD 12.05
-19.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.15 YER 9,079
$32.08 JOD 22.71
18.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.9 YER 16.2K
$54.2 JOD 38.34
25.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.01 YER 4,049
$42.75 JOD 30.27
-60.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 YER 1,353
$11.12 JOD 7.87
-48.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$111 YER 26.5K
$280 JOD 198
-60.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,848 YER 439.7K
$5,364 JOD 3,798
-65.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.61 YER 9,664
$62.3 JOD 44.14
-34.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$147 YER 35.0K
$57.1 JOD 40.43
157.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.75 YER 9,699
$114 JOD 80.4
-64.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.65 YER 9,913
$78.9 JOD 55.9
-47.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$163 YER 38.9K
$468 JOD 331
-65.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.7 YER 23.2K
$294 JOD 208
-66.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 YER 95.3K
$775 JOD 549
-48.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 YER 62.1K
$537 JOD 380
-51.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,190 YER 997.2K
$1,628 JOD 1,153
157.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$800 YER 190.3K
$1,033 JOD 731
-22.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$193 YER 45.9K
$701 JOD 496
-72.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
7.27
54.75%

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

Last update for Sanaa: July 28, 2026

Last update for Amman: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $163 in Sanaa versus $468 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 263% higher in Amman, 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 $23.00 in Sanaa versus $49.00 in Amman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $246 – making Sanaa 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
Sanaa vs Amman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sanaa or Amman?
Amman costs about 29% more than Sanaa, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Sanaa and in Amman?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,346 per month in Sanaa and $1,730 in Amman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sanaa or Amman?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sanaa, 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 Sanaa compared to Amman?
Public transport costs about 93% less in Sanaa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Sanaa and in Amman?
Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Sanaa and $280 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 Sanaa or in Amman?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanaa, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Amman at $1,154. In Sanaa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amman it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sanaa or Amman?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sanaa costs $897 versus $1,154 in Amman. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sanaa 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 Sanaa or to Amman?
If budget matters most, go with Sanaa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amman makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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