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. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $60. 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 $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Kathmandu $78
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 $6.69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman

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


  • Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.70
  • RIde to Airport
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman

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

  • Amman Queen Alia Airport: Bus Transfer from/to Amman North: $6.82
  • Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Amman Hotel : $20
  • Amman Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $20
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Multi Destinations: $21
  • Amman Airport private Transfers From/To multi destinations : $24
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $25
  • From Amman :Private transfer to Airport, Dead Sea and Petra.: $26
  • From Amman :Private transfer to Airport, Dead Sea and Petra: $26
  • Amman Airport: Private Transfer to Amman Hotels: $27
  • Amman Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $27
  • Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Amman Hotel : $28
  • Private QAIA Airport Transfer to Amman : $30

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Tribhuvan International Airport KTM Private Transfer to Kathmandu: $28
  • Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara in Deluxe Tourist AC Sofa Bus: $20
  • Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
  • Private Transfer: Hotel to Kathmandu Airport Vehicle : $35
  • Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
  • Private Transfer to Ramechhap and Manthali By Car,: $146
  • Private Transfer to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu : $65
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $134
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $112

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 $58
    Kathmandu $14
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:

  • Private 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $70
  • Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman: $100
  • Private Half Day Jerash Visit & Optional Cooking Class from Amman: $107
  • Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $127
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $147

Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Dessert
    $1.30
  • Dinner for Two
    $2.89

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

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

  • Nepali Cooking Class with Momo Making & Pickup: $4.88
  • Nepali Cooking Class & Momo Making with Pickup: $5.00
  • Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $6.00
  • Cooking Class Experience Dal Bhat & Momo Making: $11
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $18
  • Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
  • Private Cooking class with Pickup and Drop: $20
  • Nepali and Newari Cooking Class with Optional …: $21
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Cooking Class in Nepal: $25
  • Private Half -Day Cooking Class with Meals: $26
  • Nepal: Dinner at a Local Home with a Local Family: $28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Kathmandu $7.73

Tours and Activities in Amman

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

  • Full Day Amman City Tour Included Shopping Time: $20
  • Amman Private City Tour: $20
  • JR The Wine Experience: $25
  • Amman : Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
  • Full Day Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Tour: $35
  • City Tour with Guide and Transport to/from Hotel: $35
  • Sightseeing Tour in Heart of Amman downtown: $40
  • Private Sightseeing City Tour: $40
  • Private Walking Tour in Madaba with Local Guide: $41
  • Amman : Must-See attractions Private walking tour: $41
  • Full Day Amman Private Luxury City Tour: $45
  • Ma'in Hot Springs Private Tour: $45

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.45
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.62
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.45

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

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

  • Day tour Namo Buddha : $90
  • Kathmandu to Annapurna Base Camp Trek 7 Days Tour: $300
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $116
  • Private Full Day Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square Sightseeing from Kathmandu: $145
  • Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $70
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
  • 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
  • 1 Night 2Days Nagarkot Tour: $175

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Kathmandu $5.55

Sample the Local Flavors in Amman

Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman: $87

Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:

  • Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $32
  • Kathmandu Nightlife Tour - Pub Crawl: $113


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.