How much does a trip to Jordan really cost?
Let's be honest about something the brochures won't tell you: Jordan is not a cheap country to travel in. It's not Egypt and it's not Turkey. Entrance fees are high, the tourist infrastructure is priced in dollars, and the two things you came for — Petra and Wadi Rum — are the two most expensive things you'll do. The good news is that it's entirely predictable, and knowing the numbers in advance means nothing catches you out.
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The headline: a week in Jordan, three ways
Per person, excluding international flights, for 7 days:
- Backpacker — roughly 550–750 JD (~$780–1,060). Hostels, public buses and shared taxis, cheap local food, a basic Wadi Rum camp, Jordan Pass.
- Mid-range — roughly 900–1,300 JD (~$1,270–1,830). 3-star hotels, a hire car or private driver for part of it, a standard Bedouin tent, restaurant meals, a Dead Sea resort day pass.
- Comfortable — 1,800 JD+ (~$2,540+). Good hotels, private driver throughout, a bubble camp, Dead Sea resort stay.
The Jordanian dinar is pegged to the dollar at roughly 1 JD ≈ $1.41, and it has been for years — so it's easy to plan against. Note that the dinar being stronger than the dollar surprises people and makes things feel expensive fast.
Where the money actually goes
1. Entrance fees — the big one. Petra alone is 50 JD. This is where the Jordan Pass (70–80 JD, covering the 40 JD visa fee plus Petra plus 40 other sites) stops being optional. Buy it before you fly. It is the single easiest saving in Jordanian travel.
2. Wadi Rum. A camp is $15–140 per person depending on type, and the jeep tour is typically 30–60 JD per jeep (split it). Budget 60–120 JD per person for a proper night in the desert including the tour.
3. Transport. This is the hidden cost. Jordan's public transport between tourist sites is poor — the JETT bus runs Amman–Petra and Amman–Aqaba and is cheap (about 11 JD), but it's slow and doesn't reach Wadi Rum or the Dead Sea usefully.
- Hire car: around 25–40 JD/day plus fuel. Roads are good, signage is fine, driving is assertive but manageable. This is the best value for two or more people.
- Private driver: around 60–100 JD/day. Expensive, but removes every logistical headache. What most families end up doing.
- Taxis within Amman: cheap (2–5 JD). Insist on the meter, or use Uber/Careem, which work well.
4. Food. Cheap if you eat like a Jordanian, expensive if you eat in hotels. A falafel or shawarma sandwich is 1–2 JD. A plate of mansaf in a local restaurant is 8–15 JD. A hotel dinner is 25 JD+. Coffee in a nice Amman café costs what it costs in Europe.
5. Accommodation. Hostel dorm 10–20 JD, decent 3-star 40–70 JD, Dead Sea resort 120 JD+.
A worked example: 7 days, mid-range, one person
- Jordan Pass (Explorer, 2 days at Petra): 75 JD
- 6 nights' accommodation (mix of Amman, Wadi Musa, Aqaba): ~330 JD
- Wadi Rum: 1 night standard Bedouin tent + shared jeep tour: ~85 JD
- Hire car, 5 days + fuel: ~200 JD (halve it if you're two)
- Dead Sea resort day pass: ~35 JD
- Food, 7 days, mixed local and restaurant: ~140 JD
- Petra by Night, tips, extras, a bad souvenir: ~60 JD
Total ≈ 925 JD (~$1,300), excluding flights. Two people sharing the car and rooms bring it down to roughly 700 JD each.
The seven ways to spend less without ruining it
1. Buy the Jordan Pass before you fly. Non-negotiable. Saves ~40 JD instantly.
2. Stay two nights in Jordan minimum — otherwise the pass's visa waiver is void and Petra charges you 90 JD instead of 50 JD.
3. Share a car. Transport is the biggest variable cost and it splits perfectly.
4. Eat where the taxi drivers eat. Hashem in downtown Amman — falafel, hummus, fuul — costs a couple of dinars and is a national institution. Habibah for kunafa, next door.
5. Take the JETT bus for the Amman–Petra and Amman–Aqaba legs if you're solo. Around 11 JD each way and perfectly comfortable.
6. Book the desert camp direct (most are family-run and answer WhatsApp) rather than through a booking site.
7. Skip the Dead Sea resort stay, buy a day pass instead. A night at a Dead Sea resort is 120 JD+; a day pass with the same beach, pools and showers is 25–50 JD. Sleep in Madaba or Amman.
Tipping, cash and cards
Cards are accepted in hotels, chain restaurants and larger shops. Everywhere else is cash — the desert, most local restaurants, taxis, tips, and small entrance fees. There are no ATMs in Wadi Rum.
Tipping is expected but modest: round up taxis, 10% in restaurants where service isn't included, 5–10 JD a day for a driver, a few dinars for hotel staff. You'll also be gently hustled for tips at Petra by people offering to photograph you or show you a viewpoint — a polite, friendly "la, shukran" (no, thank you) is all it takes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jordan expensive to travel in?
More expensive than most travellers expect — it is not Egypt or Turkey. Entrance fees are high (Petra alone is 50 JD), and transport between sites is the big hidden cost. A week costs roughly 550–750 JD as a backpacker, 900–1,300 JD mid-range, and 1,800 JD+ comfortable, excluding flights.
How much money do I need for a week in Jordan?
Excluding international flights, budget roughly 550–750 JD (~$780–1,060) for a backpacker week, 900–1,300 JD (~$1,270–1,830) mid-range, and 1,800 JD or more for a comfortable trip with a private driver and a bubble camp. Two people sharing a car and room cut the per-person cost significantly.
What is the cheapest way to travel around Jordan?
The JETT bus for the Amman–Petra and Amman–Aqaba legs (around 11 JD each way) is the cheapest option for solo travellers. For two or more people, a hire car at 25–40 JD a day plus fuel is better value and reaches Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, which buses don't serve usefully.
Do I need cash in Jordan?
Yes. Cards work in hotels, chain restaurants and bigger shops, but almost everything else — taxis, local restaurants, tips, desert camps, small entrance fees — is cash. There are no ATMs in Wadi Rum, so draw cash before you go into the desert.
How can I save money in Jordan?
Buy the Jordan Pass before you fly (it waives the 40 JD visa fee and covers Petra), stay at least two nights so Petra charges you 50 JD rather than 90 JD, share a hire car, eat where locals eat, book desert camps direct, and buy a Dead Sea resort day pass instead of staying the night.