How Much Does it Cost to Visit Jordan?
9 Budget-Friendly Tips

When it comes time to plan your trip to Jordan, one of the most important questions you might have is: how much does it cost to visit Jordan? After all – Jordan is a Middle Eastern country that requires a substantial international flight to reach, an unfavorable exchange rate for most Western currencies, and has some of the world’s most bucket-list-worthy experiences that command a premium fee. As you might guess, the cost to visit Jordan is high!

While my first trip to Jordan in 2016 was as part of a guided tour, I’ve now planned an independent return trip that required figuring out all of the costs to visit Jordan and coming up with some ways to save money.

In this post, I’ll break down what I’ve learned about the cost of travel in Jordan and the budget-friendly tips I’ve discovered that can help you bring the bottom line down while still having an unforgettable trip.

The Average Cost to Visit Jordan

Jordan is a wonderful country steeped in culture and history, so it makes sense that a trip to this Kingdom may be on your bucket list. But before making a spur-of-the-moment decision, you may wonder, what’s Jordan’s travel cost?

Well, compared to neighboring Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt, Jordan is actually quite expensive, making it hard for travelers to navigate the city on a budget. 

Don’t lose hope, though. There still are ways in which you can save a few bucks. Throughout this article, you’ll find tips to travel to Jordan on a budget.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Visiting Jordan

Since you might wonder what factors make Jordan travel costs so high, here are a few reasons that may explain it:  

1. Jordan’s currency is strong. The Jordanian Dinar has been pegged to the Great British Pound for the last 2 years (1 JOD = 1.07 GBP = 1.41 USD). For this reason, the local currency fluctuates based on the US dollar, and for many things, prices are similar to what you may find in North America.
2. Admission fees to historic sites are expensive. Tourist attractions are expensive in Jordan. For example, a one-day ticket to visit Petra costs 50 JD ($70 USD). Plus, the government imposes high taxes on service providers (35%), which reflect directly on the cost of tour packages and the hospitality industry.
3. The difficulty of getting from one place to another. Besides tourists having to cover long distances to get to Jordan’s landmarks, the country’s public transportation isn’t among the best. This makes travelers look for more expensive options to make the most of their stay in Jordan.
4. The tourism industry is a major source of income for Jordan. Unlike other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan isn’t exactly rich in natural resources or other industries. So, naturally, the country wants to harness the tourism industry as much as it can.
5. Services don’t live up to their prices. Jordan charges Western-like prices for services, but this doesn’t quite reflect in the quality. So, you might notice that you may have to spend more money to get better services. 

All these factors elevate the cost to travel in Jordan. But honestly, it’s worth every penny. 

How Much it Costs to Visit Jordan

Here’s a breakdown of the basic costs to visit Jordan you’ll have to cover: 

• Airfare costs roughly $1000 (USD) per person
• Hotels cost roughly $92 (USD) per night 
• Car rentals cost about $35-40 (USD) per day
• Eating meals at street food stalls and markets costs around $7 (USD)

Based on the above table, it costs $262-$332 per person per day to visit Jordan as a solo traveler – the cost will be a little bit less for two travelers as the costs for hotels and car rental will be split.

This doesn’t include any tours, either, as it’s hard to know exactly what you’ll choose to do during your trip – I estimated $50 per day, but it may well be less depending on what experiences you choose. It’s also worth noting that your final meal cost might be higher if you choose to eat at restaurants instead of food stalls and markets.

9 Ways to Save Money when Visiting Jordan

Like I said at the beginning, Jordan is an expensive destination. But that doesn’t mean you have to take it off your bucket list! With a little creativity and some research, you can save a few bucks… or should I say dinar. So, here are my top 9 tips for visiting Jordan on a budget so you can get the most out of your journey!

1. Exchange to Jordanian Dinar Before You Travel 

To get the most of your dollars, you should exchange to Jordanian Dinar (JD) before traveling to Jordan. This way, you can avoid exchanging money at the airport, which usually has less than favorable exchange rates for travelers. Another reason why you should exchange to JD in advance is that Jordan isn’t a credit card-friendly country. Last but not least, having JD with you will help you avoid the most expensive way to get money in a foreign country, ATM withdrawals.  

If you still want to try your luck at Jordanian banks, at least exchange the necessary dinars to get to your hotel from the airport. 

2. Be Flexible with Travel Dates

This is probably the best of my Jordan on-budget tips. If you’re traveling on a budget, being flexible with travel dates can make all the difference. So, once you’ve picked your dates, don’t be rigid about it. 

Research other dates surrounding your preferred ones and be willing to change them. You might be surprised since traveling on another day can result in dramatically lower fares. Also, be willing to travel on “inconvenient days and hours.” If you fly midweek or early or really late at night, there’s a good chance you’ll pay way less for that plane ticket to Jordan.

3. Visit During the Low Season (December to April)

Of course, Jordan doesn’t escape the visit-during-low-season rule to reduce traveling costs. The best time to visit Jordan if you want to do budget travel (and want to avoid the crowds) is during the winter (roughly Dec to Apr). During this season, hotel prices and overall the whole hospitality industry tend to decrease prices significantly. 

Now, while Jordan can be considered a year-round destination, with activities suited for every season, some historic sites can be hard to reach during winter. The most popular landmark, Petra, can be taxing to visit with -8°C and freezing winds. However, you can still visit Aqaba, and the Dead Sea in winter, for the weather is quite temperate in this region. 

4. Book in Advance 

You might have heard that last-minute bookings are actually the key to getting low prices. That’s not necessarily true. If you really want to reduce your Jordan travel costs, start looking for flights sooner rather than later. Your best bet is to start checking prices at least 4 or 5 months in advance and examine whether prices go up or down. If you see flight fares are getting more expensive, book the flight that suits you. For travelers departing from the U.S., you can find nonstop flights to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport from New York or Chicago.

5. Purchase a Jordan Pass

Like many countries, travelers need a visa to enter Jordan, which normally costs 40 JD ($57). That said, there’s a way travelers can waive their visa fees while also lowering the cost of visiting historic sites. The secret? Purchasing a Jordan Pass. This sightseeing package starts at 70 JD ($99) and includes admission to more than 40 attractions, including Petra and Wadi Rum.

I’ve already mentioned that admission fees to historic sites in Jordan are expensive. So, considering that a single-entry visa totals 40 JD and a one-day ticket to Petra costs 50 JD, the Jordan Pass is clearly a way to reduce your Jordan travel costs.

6. Stay in Hostels

When it comes to accommodation, Jordan has an ample portfolio of hostels – especially backpackers hostels which are extremely cheap. If you stay on a dorm bed, you can expect to pay less than 11 JOD ($16) per night.

Another benefit to staying in hostels is that it’s a great way to meet people to help share future costs. There’s a high chance the people staying at your hotel are visiting the same places as you. In this case, you can ask them to share the costs to take a taxi or rent a private car.

If you’re a solo traveler, you should know that Jordan is a country that suits groups better when it comes to traveling on a budget. So, besides the obvious social component, staying in hostels has the benefit of meeting possible traveling buddies.

7. Share Taxis

Here’s when the friends you made at your hostel come in handy. Sharing a taxi is a common practice among locals when heading to the same place. And it’s also great for travelers who want to stretch their dollars. The thing is that, if you take a taxi in Jordan, the rate is the same for 1 person or for 2 people. So, if you want to negotiate better prices for your trips from one place to another, try to get at least 3 people to travel with you.

8. Rent a Car & Drive Yourself

While public transportation is cheap and is available to tourists in Jordan, it isn’t exactly the best system in the world. Amman’s bus stations can be a bit chaotic, and some services unreliable. So, next on the list of budget options to get around is renting a car. 

In Jordan, renting a small car should be around $35-40 USD per day. However, if you consider this option, be sure to explore different rental options, both local and international, to get the best deal. A good international company in Jordan is Enterprise; local options include Monte Carlo and Reliable. Also, it should be noted that fuel is quite inexpensive in Jordan.

If you decide to go this route, be sure to check my tips for driving in Jordan to help you manage the experience.

9. Eat Cheap & Drink Local

Another great way to cut down on your expenses is to eat and drink as the Jordanians do. Also, let’s be honest, eating where locals do is a great way to experience a country’s culture. Jordan is an excellent culinary destination, being home to middle eastern delicacies – highly appreciated in the Western world– like falafel, hummus, and baklava. To enjoy these delicious meals and save a few bucks, head to street market stalls where vendors will sell them for less than one dinar. 

Besides the food, drinking coffee and tea is an important social custom in Jordan. The preparation and drinking of these beverages is an experience on their own, so head to a coffeehouse to enjoy a nice cup of tea as Bedouins do. Unlike other Muslim countries, Jordan does sell alcoholic beverages, so you can enjoy a pint or a glass of wine if you feel like it. Keep in mind that most bars are in Amman’s touristy neighborhood and that local beers and wines are much less expensive than imported ones.

BONUS: Book a Guided Tour

While guided tours aren’t for everyone, they can be a way to cut down the overall cost of visiting Jordan, depending on what tour you pick. For example, my own tour to Jordan in March 2022 is $3,249 per person plus airfare – but everything is included! You won’t have to wonder about car rental costs, driving in Jordan, entrance fees, or tips/gratuities; many tours are structured like this. I hope you’ll join me on my Jordan tour, or take a look at other companies offering similar tours if this works for your travel style.

Do you have any questions about planning your trip to Jordan or the cost to travel in Jordan? Let me know in the comments!