Is Aqaba expensive to visit?
Aqaba is a smaller destination that attracts a range of visitors, each with distinct travel styles, spending habits, and budgetary requirements. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
If you're not cautious, Aqaba can become costly, but you can save with strategies like looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $70 (JOD49) per day, mid-range travelers spend $157 (JOD112) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $292 (JOD207) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Aqaba.
Within the Middle East, Aqaba is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Haifa or Tel Aviv.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Aqaba Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Aqaba?
The average Aqaba trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Aqaba travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Aqaba cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
When planning your trip to Aqaba, it's important to have realistic expectations about your budget. Many believe they can travel on a shoestring, but that often leads to either uncomfortable travel experiences or some surprisingly high expenses. Consider your vacation style. Do you enjoy staying in hostels, resorts, regular hotels, or vacation rentals? Are attractions and dining experiences a priority? These factors will affect how much you spend and your itinerary.
What is a budget traveler, anyway?
You might think that you're a budget traveler. But unless you're willing to eliminate a lot of comforts from your trip, prepare to spend a lot more than the daily average of $70 that backpackers often get by on.
Young backpackers often get away with this shoestring budget, but it usually involves staying in hostel dorms, eating at the cheapest restaurants or fast food places, taking public transit or walking, and only visiting free attractions.
Fortunately, you can find plenty of hostels in Aqaba, including Hakaia Home, Hakaia Community, and Reef House. These hostels offer inexpensive dorm lodging and a lively social scene, but amenities are often minimal.
Are You Considered an Average Traveler?
Couples and families on a fun trip will likely choose a mid-range hotel, enjoy meals at popular dining spots, and visit significant museums and attractions that have entry fees. Most people who travel to Aqaba will want to experience its major attractions, museums, and historical landmarks. After all, most activities are not free. So, it's realistic to expect your actual daily budget to be about $157 per person, per day.
Dreaming of a Stylish Getaway?
If you're looking for an all-encompassing vacation filled with luxurious amenities and higher-level service, prepare your budget for around $292 per day. Selecting nicer hotels, savoring meals at award-winning establishments, indulging in lavish adventures, and traveling around the destination with taxis or private drivers will call for a luxury budget. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Aqaba Shore Excursion: Private Petra Sightseeing Tour with Lunch - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Aqaba
The prices for hotels in Aqaba can really vary, especially during peak travel season. Off-season, the average hotel room costs $72, while during peak season, that average price jumps to around $134. With budget accommodations starting at $39 and luxury hotels peaking at $328, there are options for every traveler. Dorm-style hostels are often the cheapest. Traveling during the low season or booking early can help you save.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Aqaba for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $117 (JOD83). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $59 (JOD42) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Aqaba include:
- Arab Divers Dive Center and Bed & Breakfast starting at $56
- My Hotel Aqaba starting at $64
- Darna Village Beach Hotel starting at $56
By skipping and traveling during the low or shoulder season, you'll enjoy lower accommodation rates and fewer crowds.
Transportation Budget in Aqaba
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $24 (JOD17) per person, per day, on local transportation in Aqaba. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Aqaba is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$24
JOD17
King Hussein International Airport is located about twenty minutes from Aqaba. You can also take a ferry to Aqaba from the surrounding ports in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Passing through Israel can be tricky at time due to border arrangements. When entering Jordan through Aqaba, there are no visa fees since it is considered part of the free trade zone. If you are coming from Amman, a northern city in Jordan, there are frequent buses that are very affordable. It is a long journey though, as there are many security points along the way where each passenger needs to show identification.
Once in the city, taxis are an affordable and easy option. The taxis in Aqaba are green and blue and shouldn't cost more than two JD within the city. If you are going outside of the city, it should cost about five JD. Keep in mind that if you ask your hotel to call you a taxi, the prices will be almost double because they receive a cut of the profit. It may be easier to just flag one down yourself. There are minibuses that run between the city center and residential neighborhoods. The bus station is located on King Talal Street, in front of the police station.
Some of the standard transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra for $60 details
- Aqaba Airport Transfer to Petra for $90 details
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay for $25 details
How much does it cost to go to Aqaba? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Aqaba will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Aqaba
Food is a major attraction for travelers, so make sure you don't miss out on the local culinary delights.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Aqaba can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Aqaba is $73 (JOD52) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$73
JOD52
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Aqaba is around $73 (JOD52) per person, with previous travelers spending from $32 to $137. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Aqaba are as follows:
- Breakfast: $7 to $22
- Lunch: $11 to $29
- Dinner: $22 to $51
- Coffee: $6
- Fast Food or Street Food: $11
A common dish on the coastal cities in this region is Sayadeyah, which combines rice, fish and spices. Kishnah is another one that incorporates fish, tomatoes and onions. A popular dessert consists of dates dipped in ghee (a type of butter). The Red Sea Grill has many of these traditional options and is located on King Hussein Street. There is a great Italian restaurant in town as well, called Casalingo on South Beach Road.
Several hotels include breakfast with your stay, while others charge separately for it. The cost and quality can vary significantly depending on the hotel. Knowing this in advance can guide your budget decisions. It could be worth it for the tasty buffet available at the hotel, or you may wish to find a cheaper option at a local bakery or cafe.
Instead of buying drinks, carry a water bottle with you. It's also a good choice for the planet.
If you're considering a tour, double-check which meals are included in the package. There may be instances where you'll have to pay for your own meals, potentially stretching your budget.
If you're looking to experience the culinary culture in Aqaba, taking a food tour or cooking class is a terrific way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. Some of the best food-related activities here include:
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner for $100 details
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp for $107 details
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner for $64 details
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Aqaba
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Aqaba typically cost an average of $54 (JOD38) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$54
JOD38
Aqaba is an ancient city, with many historic buildings and landmarks. The Aqaba Fort is an example of this; the fort was built in the early 1500's for the purpose of housing pilgrims on their way to Mecca. Another historic site is the city of Ayla, which was the first city founded outside of the Arabian Peninsula. The ruins are part of present-day Aqaba, located northwest of the city center near the Movenpick Resort.
The Aqaba Archaeological Museum is worth seeing. It is located very close to the Aqaba Fort. The museum exhibits ancient artifacts dating back to the 7th century AD. Recently, the "Lady of Aqaba", a Bronze Age artifact, was discovered in Tall Hujayrat Al-Ghuzlan. This artifact dates back to 4000 BC, which confirms that Aqaba is one of the oldest settlements in this region. This artifact is housed at the museum where there is much more information on its discovery.
The Aqaba Heritage Museum is another historic sight. It depicts many different items portraying the heritage of Aqaba as well as life-size replicas of traditional life in the city. You will also find historic images from the start of the last century up until present day. The admission to this museum is free.
The world's oldest Christian church is located in Aqaba. It was a purpose-built church that was discovered in 1998 and was considered to be built in the third century. Make sure to check it out while visiting Aqaba.
The main attraction in Aqaba is scuba diving. There are tons of companies offering PADI courses, or expeditions for dive masters. Aqaba's Anchor Diving Centre, Ahlan Aqaba Scuba Diving Center, and Red Sea Dive Center are great places to start. The reefs in Aqaba are known as some of the best in the entire world.
There are many luxury hotels in Aqaba, which all offer snorkel and scuba activities. There are also great beaches in the area where you can spend the day relaxing.
A nice way to explore destinations in Aqaba is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- 2-Hour Private Scuba Experience in Aqaba for $45 details
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour - Stargazing Overnight in a Cave - Traditional Food for $122 details
- Full Day 4x4 Classic Desert Tour with overnight in private tent for $110 details
Aqaba, Jordan
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.