Which place is cheaper, Amman or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Amman?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Amman can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Amman?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Jordan, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Jordan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Amman $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Amman is $110. 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 Petra and Amman in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Amman $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Amman $98
Compare Hotels in Petra and Amman
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Amman? 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.
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: Petra Hotel Prices and Amman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Amman $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Ma'in Hot Springs Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra to Aqaba King Hussein Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $52
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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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 Different Cities : $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 Departure Transfer: $27
- Amman Airport: Private Transfer to Amman Hotels: $27
- Private Transfer from / to Amman Airport to Amman Hotel: $28
- Private QAIA Airport Transfer to Amman : $30
- Private departure transfer from Amman to airport: $30
- Private Transfer From Amman City To Different Cities: $33
- Amman Airport Transfer to any Amman Hotel: $35
- Airport Transfer to Any Hotel In Amman: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Amman?
Prices for flights to both Amman and Petra 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
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $38Amman $34
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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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
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $71
- Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman: $90
- Private Panoramic Tour of Amman with Local Lunch or Dinner: $90
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Amman $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
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
- Full Day Amman Private City Tour: $35
- Amman Shooping Tour: $35
- Private Sightseeing City Tour: $40
- Half Day Private Tour to Iraq al-Amir (Qasr al-‘Abed): $40
- Amman : Must-See attractions Private walking tour: $43
- History & Culture Immersion, City Tour Of Amman : $43
- Discover it like a local - 3 hours tour with pickup: $48
- From Private Jerash, Ajloun Castle, and Umm Qais Tour: $49
- Half Day Private tour to Dead Sea From Amman. : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Amman $14
When comparing the travel costs between Petra and Amman, we can see that Petra is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Middle East, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Amman Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Amman?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Amman, 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.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Amman?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Petra or Amman in the Summer?
Both Amman and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Amman year-round.
Petra usually gets less rain in July than Amman. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Amman receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Amman, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Amman. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amman receives 364 hours of full sun.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Amman. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Amman fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Amman 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Petra or Amman in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Amman. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Amman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Amman. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Amman receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amman this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Amman during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Amman receives 274 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Petra is a little warmer than Amman in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Amman fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Amman 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Petra or Amman in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Amman. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Amman throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Amman. Petra usually gets less rain in January than Amman. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Amman receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets more sunshine than Amman. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amman receives 184 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Petra is much warmer than Amman. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Amman averages at about 8°C (46°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Amman 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Petra or Amman in the Spring?
Both Amman and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Amman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Amman. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Amman receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Amman. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Amman during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Amman receives 269 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra is generally much warmer than Amman. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Amman fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Amman 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Amman and Petra
| Petra | Amman | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.