Aqaba
Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city a 200,000-person Red Sea port at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, uniquely on earth where four countries (Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia) meet within a 25 km radius. The city is uniquely the most-northerly coral-reef diving destination on earth the Gulf of Aqaba reef system has 200+ coral species and uniquely intact reef-and-shipwreck dive sites. Aqaba operates uniquely on earth as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) a 375 km² free zone with 5% income tax on Aqaba-source income, 0% tax on the first JOD 1,000 of personal income, 7% sales tax (vs 16% national), and 0% customs duty. Petra (the iconic UNESCO Nabataean rock-cut city) is 2 hours north; Wadi Rum National Park (where Lawrence of Arabia and The Martian were filmed) is 60 minutes north-east; Eilat (Israel) is 5 km across the Gulf; Taba (Egypt) is 7 km across the Gulf. The 137 m Great Arab Revolt Flag (the world's 5th-tallest free-standing flagpole) is the architectural-and-political symbol of the city. A one-bedroom near the Royal Yacht Club or in Tala Bay costs JOD 350–550/month ($490–780).
What it costs to live in Aqaba, Jordan: rent from $600/mo, about $1,260/mo all-in for one person. Visa options, safety, internet and climate scores for anyone relocating — compare Aqaba with 355 other cities on Jonzy.
Best for: Red Sea coastal lifestyle, Diving and snorkelling, ASEZA-registered freelancers and entrepreneurs, Petra-and-Wadi-Rum heritage.
- Rent from $600/mo, about $1,260/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 88/100 · Internet 80/100 · a mild, fairly pleasant climate.
- Visa: Easy process, about 4 weeks.
- Local salaries average around $600/mo, with a solid, growing expat community.
Cost of living in Aqaba
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $600/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $280/mo |
| Transport | $50/mo |
| Healthcare | $80/mo |
| Utilities | $100/mo |
| Other essentials | $150/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $1,260/mo |
How Aqaba stacks up
- Rent eats about 48% of a one-person monthly budget in Aqaba — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$1,260/mo all-in, Aqaba runs about 10% cheaper than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$600/mo) covers roughly 48% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is safety (88/100); the weakest is climate (75/100).
Is Aqaba right for you?
Highlights
- Fast, reliable internet (80/100).
- Very safe by catalog scores (88/100).
- Large expat community — quick to plug into.
- Clean air (AQI ~35).
Quality of life in Aqaba
- Safety: 88/100
- Internet speed: 80/100
- Climate: 75/100
- Healthcare: 78/100
- Expat community: 75/100
Taxes in Aqaba
Jordan taxes residents (183+ days) on Jordan-source income at 5–30% progressive
Living in Jordan
Jordan is a Middle Eastern constitutional monarchy of 11 million people between Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria. Jordan taxes residents (183+ days) on Jordan-source income at 5–30% progressive; non-residents owe no Jordanian tax on foreign-sourced earnings. Aqaba operates uniquely on earth as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA, established 2001) a 375 km² free zone with 5% income tax on Aqaba-source income, 0% tax on the first JOD 1,000 of personal income, 7% sales tax (vs 16% national), and 0% customs duty uniquely advantageous globally for digital nomads, freelancers, and small-business entrepreneurs registered within the zone. Jordan has comprehensive tax treaties with most major economies including the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, and Korea. Most Western nationals enter on the Visa-on-Arrival (30-day, JOD 40 / ~$57) or the Jordan Pass (which uniquely waives the visa fee for visitors staying 3+ nights and includes Petra entry).
Aqaba relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Aqaba?
A single person typically spends about $1,260/month in Aqaba, including rent (from $600/mo), food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and misc. Costs vary by neighbourhood and lifestyle.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Aqaba?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Aqaba: rent from $600, food $280, transport $50, healthcare $80, utilities $100, and other essentials $150 — about $1,260/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Aqaba a good place to relocate?
On this page, Aqaba scores 80/100 for internet, 88/100 for safety, and 75/100 for climate — catalog averages, not personalised to you. In Jonzy, you can rank it against 355 other cities for your income, passport, and lifestyle priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Aqaba?
Long-stay relocation routes for Aqaba depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Citizenship by Investment" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Jordan against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aqaba?
Core costs for one person run about $1,260/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $1,800/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $600/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Aqaba best for?
Aqaba tends to suit red sea coastal lifestyle, diving and snorkelling, aseza-registered freelancers and entrepreneurs and petra-and-wadi-rum heritage — based on its cost profile (about $1,260/mo all-in), 80/100 internet, 88/100 safety, and a solid, growing expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Aqaba expensive to live in?
At about $1,260/mo all-in for one person, Aqaba sits around the middle of the catalog on cost — about 10% below the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Aqaba safe to live in?
Aqaba scores 88/100 on Jonzy's safety index, among the safer cities in the catalog. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Aqaba good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 80/100 — fast and dependable enough for video-heavy remote work. The expat and nomad scene rates 75/100, and work-life balance 80/100. Combined with ~$1,260/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Aqaba; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Aqaba?
Aqaba scores 75/100 for climate — a comfortable climate for most of the year. It logs roughly 340 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Aqaba?
Typical tax snapshot for Aqaba, Jordan: Jordan taxes residents (183+ days) on Jordan-source income at 5–30% progressive. Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.