Cost of Living in Jordan

RESTAURANTS

The cost of restaurants really depends on the area you are staying in.

If you are staying at a resort or a hotel, like near the Dead Sea or Petra, expect to spend 15-30$ per person for a meal.

Also, don’t expect a huge selection of food because these resorts cater specifically to outside tourists.

MARKETS

Jordan has a wide range of very interesting and new foods!

You’ll be delighted in their supermarkets, and cooking for yourself there will probably be an adventure by itself.

There are small grocery stores all over the place and the prices aren’t too high, though supermarkets in Petra cost a bit more.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation isn’t too cheap, but it isn’t expensive either.

The best option for anyone wanting to move around the country is probably to use a mixture of public transport and private taxi or share your transport with a group.

If you want to take a taxi, they are reasonably priced in general.

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

If you’re renting an apartment, you will get the bill for the cost of utilities separately from the rental price.

Basic utilities include water, electricity, cooling, and gas for heating and cooking.

Be careful, because, in winter, the bill for utilities can easily double.

However, utilities aren’t expensive in this country: for an apartment of 85m2, they cost around 80$.

SPORTS & LEISURE

Though some aspects of living in Jordan are definitely cheap, sports and leisure aren’t among them.

Membership in a gym or a fitness club costs as much as 53$.

The same goes for those wanting to have fun watching a movie – a ticket for a single seat in a cinema will cost you no less than a whopping 11$.

CLOTHING & SHOES

If you want to go shopping in Jordan – be warned!

Clothes and shoes aren’t very cheap in this country.

The most interesting thing is that even light pieces of clothing like a regular shirt or a summer dress cost as much as a pair of quality Levi’s jeans – around 50$!

Quality shoes are another story: if you want Nike sneakers, add another 50$ to that.

RENT PER MONTH

Rent isn’t unreasonably high but it’s still considered expensive, taking into consideration the salaries and wages in Jordan.

The price of the rent, naturally, varies according to what type of accommodation you chose.

For an apartment in the city center, you’ll have to pay around 300$ and for one on the outskirts of one of the cities, around 200$.

HEALTHCARE

Jordan has a public healthcare system covering citizens, funded by taxes and social security contributions, with private healthcare widely used for faster access.

Private insurance premiums typically range from 50 to 120 USD per month.

Out-of-pocket costs average roughly 300 to 700 USD per person per year, mainly for medications and private visits.

With average monthly salaries of 550 to 600 USD, healthcare expenses can represent a noticeable portion of income.

EDUCATION

Public primary and secondary education is free and compulsory, though families pay for uniforms, books, and supplies; private school fees can range from roughly $1,000 to $7,000 per year.

Public universities charge moderate tuition in the low thousands per year, while private institutions may charge more.

Students also face housing, food, and transport costs.

Average monthly income is about $700 to $800, so education costs, especially private schooling and living costs, are a large portion of household income.