The Jordanian Dinar is one of the most stable currencies in the Middle East — pegged to the US Dollar for decades at a rate that has not moved meaningfully. Understanding how it works, where to get it, and how much to carry makes the financial side of your Jordan trip straightforward.
The Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
The Dinar is Jordan’s official currency, abbreviated JOD and also written as JD. It is divided into 1,000 fils (singular: fils) — meaning 1 JOD = 100 qirsh = 1,000 fils. You will mainly encounter:
Banknotes: 1 JOD, 5 JOD, 10 JOD, 20 JOD, 50 JOD. The 50-note is large and often hard to change at small vendors. Keep 5 and 10 JOD notes handy for taxis, food stalls, and tips.
Coins: 1 JOD coin, 500 fils (0.5 JOD), 250 fils (0.25 JOD), 100 fils (0.10 JOD), 50 fils, 10 fils. The 1 JOD and 500 fils coins are most practically useful.
The exchange rate
The JOD has been pegged to the USD since 1995 at a rate of approximately 0.71 JOD = 1 USD (or equivalently, 1 JOD = approximately 1.41 USD). This peg is maintained by the Central Bank of Jordan and has been extremely stable — it is not going to change dramatically on a trip-to-trip basis.
Current approximate rates (2026):
- 1 JOD ≈ 1.41 USD
- 1 JOD ≈ 1.30 EUR
- 1 JOD ≈ 1.12 GBP
- 10 JOD ≈ 14.10 USD / 13.00 EUR
Quick mental maths: Multiply JOD by 1.4 to get USD. A 10 JOD dinner costs you about 14 USD. A 50 JOD hotel night is about 70 USD.
Where to get Jordanian Dinars
ATMs: the best option
ATMs are the most convenient and usually the best-rate way to get JOD. They are widely available in:
- Queen Alia International Airport arrivals hall (both before and after customs)
- Central Amman (multiple ATMs on every major commercial street)
- Wadi Musa (Petra town): several ATMs near the main street and bus station area
- Aqaba: multiple ATMs along the main waterfront
- Aqaba Airport: available in arrivals
Which ATMs to use: International bank ATMs (Arab Bank, Cairo Amman Bank, Bank of Jordan, Jordan Ahli Bank) all accept Visa and Mastercard reliably. The fee per transaction is typically 1.5–3 JOD from your home bank, plus any foreign transaction fee your own bank charges. Withdrawing a larger amount less often minimises the per-transaction cost.
Withdrawal limits: Most Jordanian ATMs have a per-transaction limit of 200–500 JOD. If you need more, do two transactions.
Currency exchange: use with caution
Currency exchange offices (sarrafs) exist throughout Amman, near tourist sites, and at the airport. Their rates are legal but variable, and the spread (difference between buy and sell rates) is where they make their money.
Where exchange rates are worst: Hotel front desks. Never exchange money at your hotel unless in genuine emergency — the rates are significantly worse than ATMs or exchange offices.
Where exchange rates are acceptable: Licensed exchange offices in Amman (particularly in the Abdali and downtown areas) have competitive rates. Some travellers prefer exchanging in advance at a bank in their home country — acceptable if your bank’s rates are competitive, though most bank rates are not better than Jordanian ATMs.
USD and EUR in Jordan: Many tourist businesses (larger hotels, some Petra vendors, ferry and border fees) accept USD and sometimes EUR directly. The rate they apply to USD is usually 1 JOD = 1.40 USD, which is fair. But paying in USD for small local transactions is less practical — the rate offered will be rounded and not to your advantage. JOD is the right currency for day-to-day spending.
Cards: where they work and where they do not
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at:
- All international hotel chains (Marriott, Hyatt, Mövenpick, Kempinski)
- Most mid-range restaurants in Amman and major tourist areas
- Large supermarkets (Carrefour, Cozmo, Safeway in Amman)
- Tour operators and dive schools in Aqaba
- Larger craft shops and souvenir stores
Cash only:
- Most small local restaurants (“Jordan kitchens”, cheap local spots)
- Street food vendors (falafel, knafeh)
- Careem (can pay by card — see app settings)
- Conventional taxis (cash only)
- Wadi Rum camp extras (snacks, drinks, additional activities)
- Small Petra vendors and Bedouin craft sellers
- Bus fares
- Smaller guesthouses and budget hostels
- Entry fees at some smaller sites (even with Jordan Pass, some supplementary fees are cash)
The practical rule: Assume you need cash for anything outside a formal hotel or mid-range restaurant. Carry enough JOD to cover 2–3 days of expenses as a buffer, even if you plan to primarily use cards.
How much cash to carry
For an average day:
- Budget traveller: 30–50 JOD in cash covers food, local transport, and miscellaneous
- Mid-range traveller: 50–100 JOD covers the above plus some guide tips and site extras
- Travellers on private driver: 20–40 JOD for daily incidentals (tips, snacks, souvenirs)
At specific points:
- Petra entry (without Jordan Pass): 50 JOD cash or card (check current payment options at visitor centre)
- Wadi Rum camp: most camps take card for the main booking, cash for in-camp extras
- Jordan Pass: purchased online, no in-Jordan cash transaction needed
- JETT bus: card or cash; having cash is safer
- Petra by Night: approximately 17 JOD, cash preferred
Tipping in JOD
Tipping is customary in Jordan. Keep small denominations (1 and 5 JOD notes) ready for tips. Full guidance in our tipping guide for Jordan. Brief summary:
- Restaurants: 10% if service not included
- Hotel porter: 1–2 JOD
- Private driver/guide: 5–10 JOD per day
- Wadi Rum camp cook: 5 JOD
Budget benchmarks in JOD
| Item | Cost (JOD) | Cost (USD approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Falafel sandwich | 0.5–1 JOD | $0.70–$1.40 |
| Local restaurant meal | 3–6 JOD | $4–$8.50 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | 8–15 JOD | $11–$21 |
| Bottled water (1.5L, shop) | 0.25–0.4 JOD | $0.35–$0.55 |
| Bottled water (tourist site) | 0.5–1 JOD | $0.70–$1.40 |
| Local coffee (qahwa) | 0.5 JOD | $0.70 |
| Cafe latte in Amman | 3–4 JOD | $4.20–$5.60 |
| Amman city taxi ride | 3–7 JOD | $4.20–$10 |
| JETT bus Amman–Petra | 11 JOD | $15.50 |
| Budget hotel/guesthouse | 15–35 JOD/night | $21–$49 |
| 3-star hotel | 40–80 JOD/night | $56–$113 |
| 5-star hotel | 120–350+ JOD/night | $170–$495 |
Traveller’s cheques and PayPal
Traveller’s cheques are functionally obsolete in Jordan. No need to bring them. PayPal is used by some online service providers but not accepted for in-country purchases at tourist sites or restaurants.
Frequently asked questions
Should I bring USD or EUR to exchange in Jordan?
If you prefer not to use ATMs, bringing USD in cash is the most practical choice — it is accepted directly at many tourist businesses and exchanges well at sarrafs. EUR also exchanges easily. GBP is exchangeable in Amman but less universally.
Are travellers with US sanctions-compliant cards or unusual card situations affected?
Most standard-issue US, EU, UK, and Australian cards work without issue at Jordanian ATMs and card readers. If your card has been flagged for international use (some basic accounts have international transaction restrictions), notify your bank before travel. Wise and Revolut cards generally work well in Jordan.
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay?
Not reliably across Jordan as of 2026. Some larger hotel chains and upscale restaurants may have NFC readers that support it, but do not rely on contactless digital payment as your primary method. Physical card or cash remains the standard.
Is Jordan expensive?
Mid-range by Middle East standards. More expensive than Egypt and Morocco, comparable to Turkey, cheaper than Israel and the Gulf states. See our full Jordan planning guide for day-by-day budget breakdowns.
The JOD in practice: a day-by-day spending guide
Understanding the Jordanian Dinar is one thing; knowing what you will actually spend day-by-day is more useful. Here is a realistic daily breakdown for three travel styles.
Budget traveller (35–50 JOD / 50–70 USD per day)
- Accommodation: Dorm bed or basic guesthouse, 8–15 JOD
- Breakfast: Falafel + hummus at a local place, 1.5–2 JOD
- Lunch: Local restaurant set menu (mansaf, grilled chicken), 3–5 JOD
- Dinner: Mid-range local restaurant, 5–8 JOD
- Transport: JETT bus days (pro-rated 11 JOD over 2 days), or local taxis, 3–6 JOD
- Entrance fees: Covered by Jordan Pass (70–80 JOD upfront)
- Water (3 bottles): 1 JOD
- Miscellaneous (souvenir, snack, tip): 3–5 JOD
- Total: ~28–42 JOD/day (excluding Jordan Pass amortised cost of ~10 JOD/day for 7-day trip)
Mid-range traveller (90–145 JOD / 125–200 USD per day)
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel or well-reviewed guesthouse, 40–70 JOD
- Meals: Hotel breakfast + restaurant lunch + dinner at a decent restaurant, 20–30 JOD
- Transport: Taxi or Careem in cities, 5–10 JOD/day
- Entrance fees: Jordan Pass
- Guided tours: Pro-rated cost of one guided experience per day, 10–20 JOD
- Tips: 5–10 JOD
- Miscellaneous: 5–10 JOD
- Total: 85–150 JOD/day
Comfort/luxury traveller (200–350+ JOD / 280–500+ USD per day)
- Accommodation: Six Senses Wadi Rum (from ~250 USD), Mövenpick Petra, Kempinski Aqaba, 120–350 JOD
- Meals: Hotel restaurant or top Amman restaurants (Fakhr El-Din, Sufra), 30–60 JOD
- Private driver: 85–110 JOD/day all-inclusive
- Private guides and premium experiences: 20–40 JOD
- Total: 255–560+ JOD/day
Understanding Jordanian pricing culture
Negotiation: Jordan is not a negotiation-first culture at restaurants or supermarkets (prices are fixed). However, at souvenir stalls, traditional markets (souks), and for taxi fares, negotiation is both expected and appropriate. The opening price offered to a tourist is often 50–100% above the final acceptable price. Counter-offer at 50–60% of the opening price and settle in the middle.
Tourist prices vs local prices: At well-known tourist sites (Petra vendor stalls, Wadi Rum souvenir shops), prices for tourists are higher than what locals pay. This is standard and widely understood. If you shop in the local markets of Amman downtown rather than the tourist-facing boutiques in Jabal Amman, prices are significantly lower.
Bargaining etiquette: Bargaining should be friendly and good-humoured. Do not bargain aggressively or use it as a form of sport — if you do not intend to buy, do not enter a prolonged negotiation. A simple “I’ll think about it / shukran” ends a conversation politely.
Jordanian coins: what they look like and what they are worth
Jordanian coins are often confusing for first-time visitors because the denominations are marked in Arabic script (Eastern Arabic numerals) rather than Western numerals. A quick reference:
| Coin | Value | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
| 10 fils | 0.01 JOD | Nothing — effectively rounding |
| 50 fils | 0.05 JOD | A bus ticket component |
| 100 fils | 0.10 JOD | Small change |
| 250 fils | 0.25 JOD | Quarter of a dinar — cup of tea in some settings |
| 500 fils | 0.5 JOD | Half a dinar — cheap snack, local coffee |
| 1 JOD | 1 JOD | Local falafel sandwich, short taxi change |
The coins you will actually use most: 500 fils and 1 JOD. The fils coins below 100 are near-worthless for practical purposes and you will accumulate them as change.
Cash vs card: a practical Jordan summary
Always pay cash: Taxis, minibuses, local restaurants, souvenir markets, Wadi Rum camps, tips, street food, small guesthouses, mosque donations, Jordan Pass offline Petra supplements.
Card works reliably: International chain hotels, mid-range and upscale restaurants in Amman, Aqaba dive operators, Jordan Pass (purchased online), JETT bus (card option exists at terminal), airport car rental desks, Careem (card in-app).
Card works sometimes: Wadi Musa restaurants and shops (mixed), Petra visitor centre (Visa/Mastercard accepted for entry tickets as of 2026 — verify as this changes), souvenir shops in tourist areas (larger ones tend to accept card).
The rule: carry 50–80 JOD in cash at any given time during your trip to cover 2–3 days of unexpected cash-only situations. Refill at ATMs in major cities rather than small-town ATMs where limits may be lower.