A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amman vs. Kathmandu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amman or Kathmandu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Kathmandu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Amman or Kathmandu?

Amman

Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Amman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $57. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Amman and Kathmandu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amman $49
    Kathmandu $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Kathmandu $80
Compare Hotels in Amman and Kathmandu

Looking for a hotel in Amman or Kathmandu? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Amman


Hotels in Kathmandu


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Amman Hotel Prices and Kathmandu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amman $24
    Kathmandu $6.95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:


  • Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.71
  • RIde to Airport
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman

Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Amman Hotel : $20
  • Queen Alia Airport Transfer : $21
  • Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $23
  • Amman Airport private Transfers From/To multi destinations : $24
  • From Amman :Private transfer to Airport, Dead Sea and Petra.: $25
  • Amman Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $27
  • Amman Airport: Private Transfer to Amman Hotels: $27
  • Private Transfer from / to Amman Airport to Amman Hotel: $28
  • Petra Private Transfer to or from Amman or Airport or Dead Sea or K.H.B: $30
  • Private departure transfer from Amman to airport: $30
  • Private Transfer From Amman To Different Cities: $33
  • Airport Transfer to Any Hotel In Amman: $37

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
  • Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
  • Private Arrival Transfer Kathmandu Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal: $45
  • Pokhara: One way transfer To or From Kathmandu: $117
  • One-Way Flight Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $130
  • Nagarkot to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $40
  • Mount Everest Scenic Tour by Plane with Transfers: $79
  • Mount Everest Scenic Tour by Plane with Transfers: $88
  • Everest Mountain flight by a plane with Transfer: $156

Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Kathmandu?

Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Amman change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Amman $34
    Kathmandu $8.31
Typical Food Prices in Amman

For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Pastries
    $4.23
  • Tea
    $5.64

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman

For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Amman:Home resturant lunch and dinner: $37
  • Private Day or Night Amman Sightseeing - Optional Cooking or Wine Tasting Tour : $51
  • 3 course dinner with a sommelier: $56
  • Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $71
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
  • 3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman: $130
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173

Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.35
  • Dinner for Two
    $3.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Best Half-Day Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $7.50
  • Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.59
  • Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.37
  • Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
  • Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $12
  • Cooking Class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chef with pickup: $13
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
  • Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $19
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Food Tour In Kathmandu With Walking Local Market: $23
  • Nepali cooking class and Homestay experience : $25
  • Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Kathmandu $8.04

Tours and Activities in Amman

For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • the apple bottom jeans experience 3: $1.14
  • Discover the hidden gems of Amman's Rainbow street on a self-guided audio tour: $5.00
  • JR The Wine Experience: $26
  • Amman Safe Tour: Authentic Cuisine, Local Experience & Souv.: $35
  • Private Sightseeing City Tour: $40
  • Amman : Must-See attractions Private walking tour: $43
  • History & Culture Immersion, City Tour Of Amman : $43
  • Half Day Private Tour to Iraq al-Amir (Qasr al-‘Abed): $45
  • Half Day Private tour to Dead Sea From Amman. : $50
  • Half Day Tour: Jerash From Amman.: $52
  • Downtown (Amman city) sightseeing 5 hours : $53
  • From Private Jerash, Ajloun Castle, and Umm Qais Tour: $53

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.50
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.76
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.50

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • Day tour Namo Buddha : $90
  • Hire Tour Guide Nepal : $81
  • Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $110
  • Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
  • Private Full- Day Nagarkot SunriseTour and Bhaktapur( UNESCO) Durbar Square : $90
  • Two Days Sightseeing in Kathmandu Tour UNESCO Heritage sites: $150
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $312
  • 1 Day Everest base camp helicopter tour: $2,146
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
  • 1 Day Rock Climbing Tour near Kathmandu Valley: $190

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Kathmandu $5.77


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Kathmandu, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Kathmandu is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Kathmandu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amman or Kathmandu?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Amman. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Kathmandu, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.