Daily costs per person in JOD. Amman is one of the Middle East's best-value capitals — street food is absurdly cheap, hostels are plentiful, and the Jordan Pass bundles visa and entry fees.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: JOD (Dinar) (1 USD ≈ 0.71 JOD)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | JOD 7–15 | JOD 25–50 | JOD 80+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury |
| Food | JOD 5–10 | JOD 15–25 | JOD 40+ | Street food & falafel → restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | JOD 1–3 | JOD 5–15 | JOD 25+ | Servees & walking → taxi/Uber → rental car |
| Activities | JOD 2–5 | JOD 10–25 | JOD 50+ | Citadel & theatre → cooking class → Dead Sea resorts |
| Drinks | JOD 1–3 | JOD 5–10 | JOD 15+ | Arabic coffee & tea → cafe coffee → rooftop cocktails |
| Daily Total | JOD 16–36 | JOD 60–125 | JOD 210+ | $23–51 → $85–176 → $296+ |
Money-saving tips
Jordan Pass
Buy the Jordan Pass online (JOD 70–80) before arrival — it includes your visa fee (JOD 40) plus entry to Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum, and 40+ sites. Saves JOD 50+ if visiting Petra and pays for itself instantly.
Downtown street food
Amman's downtown is one of the cheapest eating destinations in the Middle East. Falafel wraps for JOD 0.50, shawarma for JOD 1, and full meals at Hashem for JOD 2–3. You'll eat like royalty on a backpacker budget.
Shared taxis
Yellow shared taxis (servees) run fixed routes across Amman for JOD 0.25–0.50 per ride. They leave when full. Ask locals which route number you need — much cheaper than private taxis.
Free attractions
The Darat al Funun art gallery, Jordan National Gallery, King Hussein Mosque, and many neighbourhood walks are completely free. Friday mornings at Souk Jara (summer) is a free market with live music.
Cook at your hostel
Most Amman hostels have kitchens. Fresh vegetables, bread, and hummus from downtown markets cost almost nothing — JOD 2–3 feeds you for a day if you self-cater some meals.
Negotiate taxis
Always agree on a taxi fare before getting in or insist on the meter. From the airport, the fixed taxi fare to downtown is JOD 20–25. Uber and Careem work well and are usually cheaper than street taxis.
