Jordan Money & Currency Guide

Jordan uses the Jordanian Dinar (JOD), one of the highest-valued currencies in the world relative to the US dollar. As of 2026, one US dollar buys approximately 0.71 JOD — meaning the dinar is worth significantly more than a dollar, not less. Many first-time visitors trip over this: seeing a hotel room priced at “35” and assuming it is cheap, only to realise it is over USD 49. Keep the conversion firmly in mind before any purchase.

The Jordanian Dinar: The Basics

The JOD is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 1 JOD = approximately 1.41 USD. This peg has held for decades and means the exchange rate is predictable — no sudden swings to worry about.

Banknotes in circulation: 1 JOD, 5 JOD, 10 JOD, 20 JOD, 50 JOD. Larger denominations (50 JOD) can be hard to break at small shops and taxis.

Coins: 1 JOD and 500 fils (0.5 JOD) are common. 100, 50, 25, and 10 fils coins exist but are rarely seen in everyday transactions. The word “fils” refers to fractions of the dinar: 1,000 fils = 1 JOD.

Prices in Jordan are often written with three decimal places — 2.500 JOD means two dinars and five hundred fils, or about USD 3.50. This is standard and not an error.

Where to Get Jordanian Dinars

ATMs are the most convenient source of local currency and offer competitive rates linked to interbank exchange rates. You will find ATMs at Queen Alia International Airport (Amman), throughout Amman, in Aqaba, Petra village (Wadi Musa), and most major towns. Coverage becomes sparse in rural areas and the Wadi Rum desert. Withdraw what you need before heading into the desert.

Major bank ATMs to look for: Arab Bank, Jordan Ahli Bank, Cairo Amman Bank, Housing Bank. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted by Jordan’s ATM network. American Express and other cards may work at fewer machines.

ATM fees: Your home bank may charge a foreign transaction fee (typically 1–3%) and a flat withdrawal fee. Jordanian ATMs themselves may also charge a service fee of approximately 1–2 JOD per transaction as of 2026. Check with your bank before travel and consider a travel card that waives foreign transaction fees.

Currency exchange offices are found at the airport, in downtown Amman (particularly around First Circle and Wakalat Street in Sweifieh), and in tourist areas. Rates vary, so compare two or three before exchanging a large amount. Avoid exchanging currency at hotels — the rates are consistently poor.

Airport exchange: Rates at Queen Alia Airport are acceptable but not the best. If you have no JOD at all, exchange a modest amount (20–30 USD) at the airport to cover your first taxi and meals, then withdraw the bulk from an ATM in the city.

Credit Cards in Jordan

Credit card acceptance has expanded considerably in recent years, but Jordan remains a heavily cash-based economy in many contexts.

Where cards are accepted: upscale and mid-range hotels, large restaurants and chains, shopping malls in Amman, major supermarkets, and official tour operators. Visa and Mastercard are most widely accepted.

Where cash is essential: local taxis, minibuses (service taxis), street food stalls, traditional souks and market vendors, small guesthouses, entry fees at some smaller archaeological sites, and most budget-to-mid restaurants outside Amman.

At Petra, the main entrance fee is payable by card at the visitor centre. However, food vendors inside the site, horse rides, and camel rides are cash only.

In Wadi Rum, most camp operators accept card for accommodation bookings made in advance, but expect to pay cash for on-the-day jeep tours or teas with Bedouin hosts.

Contactless and mobile payments are available at a growing number of retailers in Amman, particularly in newer shopping areas. Outside the capital, rely on physical cards or cash.

Always notify your bank before travel to avoid your card being flagged for suspicious activity.

How Much Cash to Carry

A practical approach: carry enough cash for one to two days of spending, topped up from ATMs as needed. For a mid-range traveller, this typically means:

Amman: 20–40 JOD per day for meals, local transport, and incidentals. Hotels and major restaurants often take cards.
Petra day visit: 5–15 JOD for food and drinks inside the site (entry fees can be paid by card). Tipping guides and horse handlers is expected — have small bills ready.
Wadi Rum: 10–20 JOD for tips, tea stops, and any extras not covered by your camp package.
Aqaba: 15–30 JOD for meals, snorkelling rentals, and local transport.

Budget travellers using hostels, local buses, and street food will need less. Those staying at luxury camps or Dead Sea resorts will spend most of their budget via card.

Tipping in Jordan

Tipping is expected and appreciated in Jordan. It is not included in bills at most restaurants — check carefully, as some tourist-oriented restaurants add a service charge (typically 10%) without flagging it clearly.

Restaurants: 10% is the standard tip for sit-down meals. At casual local spots (hummus houses, falafel counters), rounding up the bill is common rather than a percentage tip.

Hotel staff: Bellhops: approximately 0.5–1 JOD per bag. Housekeeping: 1–2 JOD per night left in the room. At luxury hotels, tipping is expected at multiple points.

Tour guides: For a full-day private guide, 10–15 JOD is appropriate as of 2026. For group tours, 2–5 JOD per person is reasonable. Petra guides who complete the full treasury-to-monastery route with you have worked hard — tip accordingly.

Taxi drivers: Rounding up the fare is standard. For a fare of 4.5 JOD, paying 5 JOD is appropriate. For longer journeys (Amman to the Dead Sea), a tip of 1–2 JOD extra is appreciated.

Drivers on multi-day tours: 5–10 JOD per day is the norm for dedicated drivers.

Do not feel pressured into inflated tips. If someone performs an unsolicited “service” (showing you to a shop, “guiding” you somewhere you did not ask) and then requests money, you are not obligated.

Bargaining and Haggling

Bargaining is part of daily commerce in Jordan’s traditional markets (souks) but is entirely absent from most fixed-price settings.

Where bargaining is normal: souvenir shops, the markets of Amman’s downtown (Balad), antique dealers, jewellery vendors in tourist areas, and informal taxi rides where no meter is running.

Where bargaining is not appropriate: supermarkets, pharmacies, formal restaurants, hotels with listed prices, and official attractions.

How to bargain effectively: Start by asking the price. If it seems high, counter at roughly half to two-thirds of the asking price and negotiate toward a middle ground. Laughing, walking away, and returning are standard moves. Buying multiple items gives you more leverage.

Be respectful throughout — hard bargaining is not adversarial in Jordanian culture. A tea offer during negotiations is genuine hospitality; accept it.

Be realistic about what a fair price is. The difference between “tourist price” and “local price” at a pottery stall might be 2 JOD — worth a friendly negotiation, but not worth confrontation.

Practical Tips

Carry small bills at all times. Taxi drivers and small vendors frequently cannot change a 20 JOD note. Withdraw funds and spend down to smaller denominations when you can.
The airport bureau de change is a last resort. ATMs inside the arrivals hall at Queen Alia Airport give better rates than the exchange counters.
Dual-currency pricing is common in tourist areas. A guesthouse or tour operator may quote prices in USD or JOD — clarify which before agreeing.
JOD is not widely tradeable outside Jordan. Exchange back to hard currency before you leave, or spend down your dinars. The airport departures hall has exchange counters.
Check your receipt. In tourist-heavy areas, overcharging does occasionally occur. Compare the figure on the meter or the written bill against what you hand over.

Jordan is a safe country for carrying moderate amounts of cash. Petty crime against tourists is rare, but use standard urban common sense in crowded areas such as Amman’s downtown. Protecting your finances on the road also means covering your trip — see our travel insurance options for Jordan for policies that cover medical, cancellation, and adventure activities.

Related guides: First Time in Jordan · Jordan on a Budget · Jordan eSIM Guide · Jordan Safety Guide

Jordan Currency Guide: Dinars, ATMs, Tipping, and Paying Your Way