Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Amman Cost 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 – Sanaa 33% lower, Amman 16% lower.

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

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