Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and AmmanCost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Amman
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $905 per month in Sanaa vs $1,133 in Amman, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Sanaa vs $1,761 in Amman, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,015 per month in Sanaa vs $2,389 in Amman, rent included.
🙂Sanaa is about 20% cheaper than Amman, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Sanaa and Amman are more affordable than the global median – Sanaa33% lower, Amman16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12YER 1,459
$7.01JOD 4.96
-12.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96YER 5,471
$49.04JOD 34.71
-53.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47YER 2,495
$7.22JOD 5.11
45.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81YER 430
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82YER 434
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.80YER 905
$4.10JOD 2.90
-7.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10YER 263
$0.48JOD 0.34
129.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46YER 110
$0.35JOD 0.25
31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.71JOD 4.04
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.10JOD 5.02
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85YER 440
$1.48JOD 1.05
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19YER 285
$0.54JOD 0.38
120.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.47YER 589
$1.63JOD 1.15
51.53%
Eggs
$3.97YER 946
$2.56JOD 1.81
55.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.45YER 2,252
$6.56JOD 4.64
44.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91YER 1,647
$6.65JOD 4.71
3.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.87YER 4,496
$11.62JOD 8.22
62.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98YER 949
$1.99JOD 1.41
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47YER 349
$1.70JOD 1.20
-13.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49YER 594
$1.40JOD 0.99
77.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68YER 399
$0.75JOD 0.53
124.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70YER 404
$0.94JOD 0.67
80.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65YER 392
$0.70JOD 0.50
135.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58YER 139
$0.66JOD 0.47
-12.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68YER 161
$0.59JOD 0.42
15.25%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.28YER 782
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67YER 398
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34YER 796
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03YER 961
$3.47JOD 2.46
16.14%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$21.48JOD 15.21
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.82JOD 3.41
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.38JOD 3.81
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43YER 102
$0.81JOD 0.57
-46.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.9YER 19.5K
$41.97JOD 29.71
95.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.21YER 1,003
$0.73JOD 0.52
476.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.13YER 985
$1.43JOD 1.01
188.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.93YER 1,653
$7.14JOD 5.06
-2.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.69YER 641
$1.40JOD 0.99
92.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5KYER 3.9M
$26.9KJOD 19.1K
-38.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KYER 8.0M
$31.8KJOD 22.5K
5.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.0YER 16.9K
$104JOD 73.4
-31.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.41YER 3,196
$16.88JOD 11.95
-20.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.65YER 9,211
$32.33JOD 22.88
19.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8YER 16.2K
$54.4JOD 38.48
24.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53YER 3,940
$42.29JOD 29.94
-60.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.88YER 1,402
$11.20JOD 7.93
-47.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116YER 27.6K
$271JOD 192
-57.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,793YER 427.4K
$5,404JOD 3,825
-66.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.46YER 9,643
$60.8JOD 43.01
-33.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$146YER 34.8K
$56.4JOD 39.91
158.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.32YER 9,846
$115JOD 81.1
-63.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.99YER 10.0K
$80.1JOD 56.7
-47.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$161YER 38.5K
$454JOD 321
-64.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.5YER 22.5K
$298JOD 211
-68.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$413YER 98.4K
$773JOD 547
-46.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270YER 64.3K
$527JOD 373
-48.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,157YER 990.5K
$1,691JOD 1,197
145.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$804YER 191.6K
$1,017JOD 719
-20.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Amman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$189YER 45.0K
$680JOD 481
-72.23%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Amman: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Sanaa versus $454 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 260% 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: $242 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 25% 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 vs Amman?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,358 per month in Sanaa and $1,699 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 vs Amman?
Public transport costs about 95% less in Sanaa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Sanaa and Amman?
Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Sanaa and $271 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 Amman?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanaa, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Amman at $1,133. 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 $905 versus $1,133 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 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.