🇯🇴 Jordan · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Amman? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed apartment, Jabal al-Weibdeh or Jabal AmmanJOD 300–500 / month, often unfurnished; older stone buildings cheaper and colder
1-bed apartment, Abdoun, Deir Ghbar or SweifiehJOD 450–800 / month, usually newer and better heated
Utilities, heating and internet, one personJOD 60–140 / month, with winter heating — diesel or gas — the dominant variable
Meal, mid-range restaurantJOD 8–20 per person; a downtown falafel or kunafa is under JOD 2
Est. single-person monthly, excluding rentJOD 450–700, with 16% general sales tax inside the prices you see
Good to know
Population
Around 4 million in Greater Amman — roughly a third of Jordan's population, swollen by successive waves of refugees from Palestine, Iraq and Syria
Official language
Arabic in a Levantine dialect close to Palestinian and Syrian. English is widely spoken among professionals and is the working language of the international sector
Currency
Jordanian Dinar (JOD), pegged to the US dollar at about 0.709 per USD — roughly USD 1.41 to the dinar. Divided into 100 qirsh or 1,000 fils
Work week
Sunday to Thursday; weekend is Friday–Saturday
Personal income tax
Yes — 5% to 30% on income arising in or from Jordan, plus 1% national contribution above JOD 200,000. General sales tax is 16%
Altitude & climate
Roughly 750–1,100 m across the hills. Hot dry summers, genuinely cold wet winters, and at least one snowfall most years
Water
One of the most water-scarce countries on earth. Piped supply reaches most households once or twice a week into a rooftop tank
Emergency
911, the Public Security Directorate's unified line, handling over seven million calls a year
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Amman checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Amman
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.