Visiting the ancient city of Petra is something that features on a lot of people’s bucket lists, and it’s easy to combine a visit with a trip to the Dead Sea and maybe the deserts of Wadi Rum or the beaches on the Red Sea coast all within a week’s holiday. But how much does it cost to visit Jordan? It has a reputation as being one of the more expensive countries in the region, but I found it was still doable on a budget. Here I share my trip budget for a week in Jordan.
Note: these costs are based on my travel style – mid-range with a touch of affordable luxury – so I keep costs down where I can to can splash out on special experiences. There’s usually a mixture of hotels and apartment rentals, cooking and eating out, free activities and paid excursions.
Read more: The first-timer’s guide to visiting Petra, Jordan
A week in Jordan budget breakdown

Petra camels
Accommodation
There’s a huge range of accommodation options in Jordan, from simple locally run guesthouses up to five-star international chains. And we stayed in both, starting off with two nights in Amman at the Le Grand Amman. Rooms normally cost about JD103/£110/$145 a night but I cashed in some Starwood points I’d won in a competition and got two nights for just £25.
In Petra we stayed in the Rocky Mountain Hotel, a basic guesthouse on the hillside with million-dollar views. Our double room had a teeny en-suite shower room and only cost JD75/£80/$106 for three nights (JD12/£13/$18 per person per night). If you want to stay at the Dead Sea there’s nothing but huge five-star hotels so we splashed out for two nights at the Movenpick, which cost JD168/£180/$237 after a bit of shopping around (JD42/£45/$59 per person per night).
Total accommodation cost: £480/$633 or £240/$317 per person (not including the points discount) – £34/$45 a day each on average.

Relaxing at the Dead Sea Mövenpick
Transport
There are direct flights to Amman’s Queen Alia airport from the UK (from £350 return) as well as major cities around Europe and the Middle East. One of the cheapest ways to get there is to fly to Paphos in Cyprus where you can get a £27/$36 return Ryanair flight to Amman. We took taxis costing JD12/£13/$17 to and from the airport to Amman before picking up a hire car.
We hired a small car for the week with Avis for JD147/£157/$207 (which was booked in advance from the UK). Petrol is fairly cheap in Jordan and the car was very efficient so we only spent JD28/£30/$40 on fuel, despite driving most of the way across the country.
Total transport cost (excluding flights): £100/$132 per person – £14/$19 a day each on average.

Views down into the Wadi Mujib gorge along the King’s Highway
Activities
The biggest activity costs are in Petra, where a two-day entry ticket to the ruins costs JD55/£58/$78 per person. It’s worth staying for a couple of days as there’s so much to see at the sight and a one-day ticket is only slightly cheaper at JD50. We also did the Petra by Night tour where the Siq is lit up by candlelight, which cost JD17/£18/$24 per person.
Away from Petra, the only activity which we paid for was the entry to Amman Citadel, which cost JD2/£2/$3 per person. At the Dead Sea we did think about using the hotel’s spa (JD60/£64/$85), but as we only had a day there was enough to do with the beach and hotel pools.
Total activities cost: £78/$105 per person – £11/$15 a day each on average.

The Monastery at Petra
Food and drink
Breakfast was included at the Rocky Mountain hotel and the rest of the time we bought our own food. Lunch was normally a snack while we were out and about, and we bought various bottles of water and cold drinks, coming in at a total of JD64, or JD32/£34/$45 per person.
Dinner prices varied hugely. At the Dead Sea you’re limited to five-star resorts so we paid JD18/£19/$25 per person for a main course and drink. Many of the big hotels do buffets, the Petra Movenpick’s version is decent value (and has an amazing dessert selection) at JD21/£22/$30. But check prices as the Dead Sea Movenpick’s similar buffet was JD10 more.

Amman cityscape
Away from the big hotels we paid JD8/£9/$11 for a mezze meal in Petra and JD10/£11/$14 for a three-course set meal at the Rocky Mountain Hotel. In total we ate out for six evening meals, one lunch and a meal at the airport, coming in JD196 in total, or JD98/£105/$138 per person.
A beer after a hot day exploring will eat into your Jordan budget – alcohol is only available in Western-owned hotels and is heavily taxed. At the Dead Sea Movenpick it’s £11 for a half-litre of imported beer! We didn’t drink much and when we did we mainly stuck to local beers. We have a few drinks in the Cave Bar in Petra, and found the sunset happy hour at the Dead Sea with two-for-one on glasses of wine, coming in at a total of JD60, or JD30/£32/$42 per person.
Total food and drink cost: £342/$450 or £171/$225 per person – £24/$32 a day each on average.

Petra by night
The grand total
The overall cost for our week in Jordan came in at £589/$779 per person. This works out at about £84/$111 a night each, not including flights. One thing we didn’t have chance to do was the overnight camping trip in Wadi Rum, but you could add that in for around £50/$66.
Lower budget? You could save money by visiting the Dead Sea on a day trip from Madaba or Amman rather than staying overnight as there isn’t much budget accommodation around. You could also save by using the public buses instead of hiring a car and by steering clear of alcohol!
Higher budget? If you want to splash out, then you can stay right next to the entrance in Petra at one of the luxury hotels like the Movenpick or the Crowne Plaza. You can also hire a driver to get around rather than driving yourself, or spend some time in the Dead Sea spas.
Pin it
This article contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission at no extra cost to you, thanks.
53 Comments
Janice Heck
December 2, 2013 at 4:18 pmGreat summary. Just one year ago, I was in Jordan, too. We combined a four-day trip to Jordan with a 9-trip to Israel. We were with a small group (Education Tours-only five of us went to Jordan), so we had personalized guide serve. I loved Jordan (though Amman’s traffic was truly horrendous), especially Petra and Jerash. This trip was one of the highlights of my life.
Lucy Dodsworth
December 3, 2013 at 6:53 pmThat sounds like a great trip, I’d be really interested to visit Israel too.
curioustourist13
December 2, 2013 at 7:15 pmI was also in Jordan last summer for an Amman-based project. I also recall the horrible traffic. On a free weekend I booked a car and headed to Petra. One things that really stuck with me – my guide in Petra said to me that Americans get scared about coming to Jordan because of all the other crazy things happen in the world…and yet here lies such beauty that they are desperate to show off. Great post!
Lucy Dodsworth
December 3, 2013 at 6:56 pmI think a lot of people lump the whole of the Middle East in together as one place but the different countries vary so much. I found Jordan to be really safe and the people were so friendly and welcoming, I hope too many people don’t get discouraged from visiting.
restlessjo
December 3, 2013 at 8:11 amThat sunset is sensational, Lucy, along with your lead photo! Don’t suppose opportunity will come knocking, but I can still enjoy your posts. 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
December 3, 2013 at 6:56 pmGorgeous isn’t it – the £28 a night guesthouse had a huge balcony all around the front looking out onto that view, definitely one of my best travel bargains!
¿Dónde has estado todo este tiempo?
December 3, 2013 at 11:15 amWhat a great post! Very very useful in terms of information and also to demystify how expensive it is to travel and visit Petra.
Great photos!! 🙂
espe.
http://dondehasestadotodoestetiempo.wordpress.com/
Lucy Dodsworth
December 3, 2013 at 6:57 pmThank you, it does have a reputation as being pricey but it really was good value for the amazing sites you can see.
Henry
December 3, 2013 at 11:22 amUseful information. My friends were in Jordan and visited Petra. They just spent less than a day and then moved into Israel. I was told that you need to walk a lot and is not suitable for elderly travellers. Is that true?
Lucy Dodsworth
December 3, 2013 at 7:01 pmI did a bit more of a comprehensive guide to Petra here (https://www.ontheluce.com/2013/01/21/a-first-timers-guide-to-petra/). But generally would say that Petra is a huge site, but there are transport options if people are able to get up onto a donkey or camel. There is also the horse and carriages from the entrance down to the Treasury so even elderly people who can’t walk too far would be able to get that far and see some of the most famous ruins.
atravelingb
December 4, 2013 at 4:16 amI love your budgets, Lucy! You do such a good job of keeping a trip reasonable while not missing out on the important things. I have not been to Petra, but will refer back to this budget guide if the opportunity presents itself.
Lucy Dodsworth
December 5, 2013 at 1:52 pmThank you, I try to keep a balance and get the best value I can, but I’m definitely not of the self-deprivation school of travel!
riannev
December 5, 2013 at 9:28 pmI’ve never been there, but I’d love to go. Thanks for your tips!
Lucy Dodsworth
December 6, 2013 at 3:13 pmIt’s a really amazing place, well worth a visit if you get the chance!
Suzanne Courtney
December 6, 2013 at 2:58 pmSuch a useful reference to have and fab photos too Lucy 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
December 6, 2013 at 3:14 pmThanks Suzanne, it was nice to revisit it even if it was just by writing this – could do with some of that warmth now!
thegrownupgapyear
December 9, 2013 at 3:06 amLove the photos Lucy and always good to see a budget that includes one or two little luxuries along the way;)
Lucy Dodsworth
December 9, 2013 at 1:15 pmI always have to have a few luxuries in there somewhere!
thegrownupgapyear
December 9, 2013 at 1:19 pmMe too, it’s definitely the #grownupgapyear way to travel!;)
The Culture Chameleon
December 12, 2013 at 4:55 pmBeautiful shot.
Lucy Dodsworth
December 16, 2013 at 12:17 pmThanks – Jordan is such a photogenic place, I loved taking pictures out there.
hannahbfoster
December 15, 2013 at 9:32 amA really interesting way to talk about a trip – while you were laying out the budget I gained a lot of great info! Great pics too, thanks!
Lucy Dodsworth
December 16, 2013 at 12:18 pmThanks – it’s interesting to go through it all after a trip to see if the reality matched the plan!
rhiydwi
December 18, 2013 at 11:38 pmIn the process of planning a trip there in the next few months but I’ve been struggling to find a realistic budget, thank you so much for the tips!
Lucy Dodsworth
December 19, 2013 at 4:17 pmThat’s great – hope it comes in useful and that you have a fantastic trip!
Neil Barnes (@packsandbunks)
January 7, 2014 at 5:12 pmLove it Lucy, thanks. I found this post a massive help in planning a potential trip to Jordan in March.
How did you find the driving in the highway out of interest?
Lucy Dodsworth
January 7, 2014 at 6:12 pmGreat – hope you have a fantastic time, loved Jordan! Driving wasn’t too bad – bit chaotic in the cities and would definitely say get a sat nav, especially if you plan to drive through Amman as it’s a bit of a nightmare. Outside the cities the roads were good, though lots of speed bumps all over the place. Recommend doing the King’s Highway down to Petra, it was a slower than the highway but the scenery was amazing and the roads empty half the time. Any more Jordan questions just give me a shout.
ramesh
January 19, 2014 at 2:34 pmhi,
hows the driving ? Is it crazy ? Also, when we buy tickets to Petra, is a tour guide included in the price?
thanks!
Ramesh.
Lucy Dodsworth
January 22, 2014 at 12:58 pmHi Ramesh, the Petra ticket doesn’t include a guide, but you can arrange one at the Visitor’s Centre. The driving wasn’t too bad outside the cities, Amman itself is incredibly hectic and confusing so a GPS is a good idea, but in the smaller towns there was no problem.
Desiree Mendes
April 21, 2014 at 7:38 amHi Can anyone let me know if there is any public transport from Queen Alia Airport to Petra.
The hotel is charging us 75 JD which I think is too expensive Thanks
Lucy Dodsworth
April 21, 2014 at 1:18 pmHi Desiree, it’s around a three hour drive from Amman to Petra and around 70 JD does seem to be the normal rate (for the taxi so less if there are more of you). The other option is the bus – the JETT buses (www.jett.com.jo) cost JD 19 return, plus you would need to get a taxi to their offices from the airport.
Desiree Mendes
April 21, 2014 at 1:44 pmThanks Lucy!
Anand
November 16, 2014 at 4:35 amHi Lucy,
I’m also planning the visit Jordan for 1 week for Christmas – New Year. Your post gives a fair idea about the places I plan to visit. We do not plan to hire a car and thinking of using the public transport / taxies which may not be very convenient.
Lucy
November 17, 2014 at 2:01 pmHi Anand, I heard that the buses are pretty good (see http://jett.com.jo/ for more info) and if you are travelling in a group it’s good value to hire a taxi and driver. Hope you have a great trip!
Dazzle
August 21, 2015 at 4:45 pmHi Lucy ..Is it safe to drive out there..
Lucy
August 26, 2015 at 8:02 pmHi Dazzle, we drove from Amman to Petra and back via the Dead Sea and had no problems at all – the roads are fine (though there’s a lot of speed bumps in the towns so keep your eye out!). Would advise getting a GPS/sat nav if you are driving in Amman as it’s quite a confusing place, but outside of there it was easy enough with a map.
Na3InWri7inG
October 1, 2015 at 5:57 pmHey Lucy,
Me and my friend will be heAding to Jordan pretty soon. It’s just gonna be us girls. I wanted to ask how safe is Jordan? How are the people there? Would you recommend is to take a tour group, rent a car or go by public transport?? We are on a tight budget and would love some input. We’re thinking of heading to Petra, do the day and night tour before heading to wadi rum to stay in one of the hotels then touring wadi rum the next day. What do you think? What are other places do you recommend in Jordan??
Lucy
October 3, 2015 at 4:52 pmHi there, I generally found Jordan to be a safe place and the people very friendly – I would advise making sure you’re covered up and taking the usual safety precautions at night and with your valuables. We did it all with a rental car and found it really easy, and good to have the flexibility. Car hire wasn’t too expensive and gas is cheap. Your itinerary sounds good, though the night tour only runs certain days so you might need to check that, and it’s a lot of walking at Petra so can be pretty tiring. If you’ve got time the Dead Sea is worth a visit – the hotels can be pricey but you can easily do it on a stopover en route back to Amman from Wadi Rum or Petra. Have a great trip!
JJ Berman (@theurbanenomad)
May 25, 2016 at 7:01 pmGreat post! Answered all my questions on whether or not Jordan would fit in my budget.
Lucy
May 26, 2016 at 12:32 pmGreat to hear it came in useful!
shereen
December 6, 2016 at 10:34 amI am absolutely amazed with your blog – just stumbled upon it today! If I ever travel as many places as you have, I want my blog to look exactly like this! Great job. Will search for your instagram now 🙂
beyondthewall_travel
February 28, 2017 at 3:20 pmWe just wanted you to know that we referred to your blog while traveling to Jordan last year and it came in quite handy. We found that a day trip ends up being costlier if you’re two people (around 100$) as opposed to a stay with free breakfast + beach access, something we wrote about on our blog too.
Thanks again, Lucy 🙂
Lucy
March 2, 2017 at 11:36 amGreat to hear it came in useful!
Sungkum
May 19, 2017 at 5:41 pmSound pretty good wish to visit ….
Lucy
May 21, 2017 at 7:59 pmThanks, yes it was a great trip!
Adam
May 6, 2018 at 7:59 pmWhen you buy petrol for the car, are you able to pay with a credit card ? Could you pay entrance fees with a credit card or only cash ? Credit cards accepted in the larger supermarkets ? Thanks.
Lucy
May 8, 2018 at 10:34 amHi yes we found petrol stations, large shops and hotels all accepted credit cards. Since I visited you can now pay for entrance fees to Petra by credit card too, though it’s useful to have some local currency for drinks, snacks, tips etc.
Earl
May 13, 2018 at 12:02 amHi Lucy, I can never find a flight from London to Jordan with easy jet. Even though I went into their official website so I ended up paying under £400 return with other airlines for my 15 days trip. I’m a little anxious with the cost in terms of accommodations as I will be only female who’s travelling alone.
Lucy
May 18, 2018 at 8:30 pmUnfortunately it looks like easyJet isn’t running that route at the moment. Accommodation is quite reasonable in Jordan though so it shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive being solo – there are some good hostels and budget hotels, Hostelworld is a good place to look for recommendations as they have a lot of reviews. Hope you have a great trip!
Ashlea
October 27, 2019 at 4:31 amThis was super useful to read before our recent trip to Jordan to help decide on our budget, thanks! We ended up spending $140 per day (£110) as a couple 🙂
Lucy
November 11, 2019 at 6:23 pmThanks so much, sounds like you did some good budgeting there!
Louise Jones
February 11, 2020 at 12:12 pmPetra by night looks so beautiful. As does Jordon. It doesn’t seem as expensive as I had thought it was. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Lucy
February 25, 2020 at 4:58 pmNo it was actually good value, especially for food and accommodation – and well worth the trip!