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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,020 per month in Sanaa vs $1,153 in Amman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,621 per month in Sanaa vs $1,845 in Amman, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,223 per month in Sanaa vs $2,536 in Amman, rent included.

Sanaa is about 12% cheaper than Amman, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Sanaa and Amman are more affordable than the global median – Sanaa 25% lower, Amman 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.33 YER 1,494
$6.98 JOD 4.94
-9.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.97 YER 5,898
$66.2 JOD 46.84
-62.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.53 YER 2,252
$7.01 JOD 4.97
35.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 YER 468
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 YER 604
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.80 YER 898
$4.36 JOD 3.08
-12.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 YER 279
$0.65 JOD 0.46
81.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 YER 150
$0.56 JOD 0.39
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$8.38 JOD 5.93
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.90 JOD 7.71
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 YER 493
$1.50 JOD 1.06
39.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 YER 391
$0.70 JOD 0.50
137.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 YER 469
$1.52 JOD 1.07
30.26%
Eggs
$3.70 YER 875
$2.41 JOD 1.71
53.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.00 YER 4,017
$9.31 JOD 6.59
82.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.11 YER 1,916
$6.74 JOD 4.77
20.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.13 YER 4,520
$12.78 JOD 9.05
49.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 YER 770
$2.56 JOD 1.81
27.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 YER 239
$2.01 JOD 1.42
-49.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.26 YER 533
$1.82 JOD 1.29
24.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 YER 398
$0.78 JOD 0.55
116.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 YER 362
$0.99 JOD 0.70
54.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 YER 326
$0.84 JOD 0.59
64.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 YER 286
$0.61 JOD 0.43
98.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 YER 160
$0.61 JOD 0.44
11.48%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.46 YER 817
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 YER 440
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 YER 775
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 YER 1,322
$3.94 JOD 2.79
42.13%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$20.83 JOD 14.75
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.03 JOD 3.56
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.10 JOD 3.61
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 YER 103
$0.75 JOD 0.53
-41.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.0 YER 20.3K
$42.80 JOD 30.30
100.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 YER 1,006
$0.64 JOD 0.46
565.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 YER 513
$1.44 JOD 1.02
50.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.41 YER 1,751
$6.93 JOD 4.90
6.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 YER 499
$1.60 JOD 1.13
31.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K YER 4.0M
$35.8K JOD 25.3K
-53.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K YER 8.2M
$34.9K JOD 24.7K
-0.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 YER 25.6K
$129 JOD 91.3
-15.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.71 YER 5,601
$15.62 JOD 11.06
51.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 YER 23.9K
$32.12 JOD 22.74
215.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 YER 15.9K
$52.6 JOD 37.23
28.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 YER 3,782
$33.31 JOD 23.59
-51.94%
Cinema Ticket
$5.84 YER 1,379
$11.36 JOD 8.04
-48.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 YER 27.8K
$492 JOD 348
-76.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,184 YER 515.8K
$9,419 JOD 6,668
-76.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.56 YER 9,818
$64.3 JOD 45.54
-35.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$121 YER 28.7K
$82.0 JOD 58.1
47.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.05 YER 11.4K
$126 JOD 89.5
-62.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.45 YER 9,793
$85.3 JOD 60.4
-51.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 YER 53.1K
$462 JOD 327
-51.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.8 YER 22.6K
$245 JOD 174
-60.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 YER 94.7K
$767 JOD 543
-47.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 YER 63.8K
$417 JOD 295
-35.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,166 YER 984.2K
$1,590 JOD 1,125
162.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$817 YER 192.9K
$1,032 JOD 731
-20.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$197 YER 46.5K
$774 JOD 548
-74.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
6.81
65.20%

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

Last update for Sanaa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Amman: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Sanaa versus $462 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 293% 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 $25.00 in Sanaa versus $66.0 in Amman. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Sanaa vs $265 in Amman – so Amman wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 13% more than Sanaa, 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 Sanaa and in Amman?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,530 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 101% 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 $118 per month in Sanaa and $492 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 $1,020, than in Amman at $1,153. 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 $1,020 versus $1,153 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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