Amman Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Amman, Amman Governorate, Jordan |
| 👥 Population |
4,500,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 60-100 Mbps (Fiber available in West Amman) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
1 JOD ≈ 1.41 USD / 1 USD ≈ 0.71 JOD |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Not drinkable; use bottled water (approx. 0.35 JOD for 1.5L) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Zain, Orange, and Umniah. Zain is recommended for coverage (20GB for ~12 JOD) |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Arab Bank, Bank al Etihad (excellent app), and Revolut/Wise for ATMs |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Modern apartments in West Amman or traditional houses in Weibdeh/Rainbow St |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Partial; major malls/upscale cafes take cards, but cash is king for taxis and local shops |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Blueground, and OpenSooq |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Nomads Hotel Amman (approx. 15 JOD for dorm, 45 JOD for private) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Downtown (Al-Balad) and Rainbow Street |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Jabal Al-Weibdeh (artsy/walkable) or Abdoun (upscale/modern) |
| 🔌 Power |
230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/D/F/G (G is most common) |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Zinc (Zain Innovation Campus) in King Hussein Business Park or Shamal Start |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Dimitri's Coffee (Abdoun), Manara Arts & Culture (Weibdeh), and Wild Jordan Center |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Startup Grind Amman and TechBites meetups |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
InterNations Amman and Jabal Al-Weibdeh Community Facebook Group |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber and Careem (widely used and reliable) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Not common due to hills; limited rentals at King Hussein Park |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Dead Sea (Amman Beach or resorts), approx. 45-60 mins away |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Royal Jordanian |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Ryanair (budget European routes) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Desert Highway (South to Petra/Aqaba) and King's Highway |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Tabarbour Bus Station (North) and Mujaharin (South) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
Amman Bus (rechargable smart card available at major stops) |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
JETT Bus (Daily luxury coaches to Petra for 11 JOD, Aqaba for 10 JOD) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Al-Khalidi Medical Center or Jordan Hospital (Private, high standard) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
The Yoga Studio (Abdoun) and Chi Zone (Weibdeh) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Gold's Gym (Abdoun), Fits (Sweifieh Village) |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Wash it (App-based) or local street 'Dry Clean' shops (approx. 1 JOD per shirt) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
Talabat and Careem Food |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Mansaf (Lamb cooked in fermented yogurt Jameed) at Al-Quds |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Shams El Balad (Farm-to-table) and Bayt Sari |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Habibah Sweets (Downtown) for Kunafa (approx. 0.70 JOD per piece) |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Al-Balad (Downtown markets) and Sweifieh market |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon.ae (shipping to Jordan) and OpenSooq |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Talabat Mart and Cozmo Online |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Jabal Al-Weibdeh and Rainbow Street (Jabal Amman) |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Carakale Brewing Company (Taproom in Fuheis) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
District Rooftop and Romero's Living Room |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Hashem Restaurant (Felafel/Hummus) - open 24/7 Downtown |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Luigi's (Pizza), Yoshi (Japanese/Sushi), Casereccio (Italian) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) and Roman Theatre |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Jordan Museum and Darat al Funun |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Temple of Hercules and Umayyad Palace |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
King Abdullah I Mosque (Blue Mosque) |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Amman Jazz Festival and Amman Design Week |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Jabal Al-Weibdeh |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
The Royal Cultural Center |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Souk Jara (Friday market on Rainbow St) and Souk El-Khodra |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Maqam Productions and Corner's Pub (Live bands) |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Murals around Weibdeh / Balad (Art Amman initiative) |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Beit Sitti (cook-your-own-meal in Weibdeh) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Wadi Finan Art Gallery and Jacaranda Images |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Duke's Diwan (Downtown) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Keffiyeh (Shemagh) weaving and Bedouin hospitality culture |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Ajloun Forest Reserve and Dibbeen Forest Park |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Wadi Rum (4 hours away) and Dana Biosphere Reserve |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
King Hussein Park (Al Hussein Public Parks) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Old View Cafe (Jabal Amman) overlooking the Citadel |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Azraq Wetland Reserve (East Jordan) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Wadi Rum desert camps (authorized sites) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Aramex (Shop & Ship is very popular) and DHL |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
DNA (Abdali Mall) and specialized shops in Gardens Street |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Amman Table Tennis Club |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Qasid Arabic Institute or Sijal Institute (Weibdeh) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Library |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Haya Cultural Center |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
GG Gaming Lounge and G-Space |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Gambling is illegal in Jordan |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 1,000 JOD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 40,000 JOD) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 650 JOD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 26,000 JOD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 950 JOD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 57,000 JOD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 600 JOD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 36,000 JOD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 850 JOD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 68,000 JOD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 550 JOD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 44,000 JOD) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
20% (varying by sector; industrial is lower) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
0% for residents in most cases |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Territorial/Residency based; income earned in Jordan is taxed |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
30% (plus 1% national contribution tax) |
| 🧾 VAT |
16% (Sales Tax) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Limited; focus is on income generated within Jordan |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Annual tax based on estimated rental value (approx 15% of annual rent value) |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Registration fee approx 9% (sometimes discounted by government) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
Foreign sourced income for non-residents is generally not taxed |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING AMMAN