Money in Jordan: Dinars, Cards, Taxi Payments and Taxes

Jordan uses the Jordanian dinar. Cards are useful in major businesses, but a Petra and Wadi Rum itinerary also calls for small cash. Pay particular attention to amounts written with three decimal places.

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Dinars and fils

One dinar, JOD or JD, equals 100 qirsh or 1,000 fils. Banknotes are 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 dinars, with coins for fractions. A price of 4.750 means four dinars and 750 fils, or four and three quarters, not 4,750 dinars.

Establish the currency when a transfer or package is quoted. A dollar price and a dinar price are not interchangeable.

Carry some small cash

Major hotels, restaurants and shops accept cards, but a market stall, taxi or desert camp may not. Separate prepaid expenses from meals, tips, short rides and extras payable locally.

Set aside cash for your days outside major towns, preferably in small denominations. Keep a backup card and store reserves separately rather than carrying the entire budget together.

Exchange desks and ATMs

Use banks, ATMs or licensed exchange businesses. Compare the final dinar amount after fees, not only the displayed rate. An initial airport or border exchange need not cover your entire journey.

If a terminal offers your home currency, compare it with paying in JOD. Operator fees, card charges and exchange margins can be separate. The converter here is an estimate, not a guaranteed transaction rate.

Using the Careem app

Select a destination, vehicle category and payment method in the Careem app before booking. Cash and supported cards are available options, subject to your account and ride. Match the driver and registration to the booking.

Carry manageable change for cash rides. Do not pay twice if the ride is already charged through the app. For other taxis, establish the meter or agreed fare, currency and payment method before departure.

Amman Bus and BRT payments

Amman Bus, also branded باص رؤية, and the BRT bus rapid transit system use a loaded transport card or a QR ticket in the Amman Bus app. Buy or top up at an authorised point and validate when boarding. Fares depend on the route.

The app provides routes, arrival information and card functions. Do not rely on buying a card from the driver or paying cash aboard these services. A prepaid card is a practical alternative if your foreign bank card fails.

Tips and service charges

Tipping rewards good service. Around 10% in a restaurant without a service charge is a reasonable discretionary starting point, not a compulsory rate. Rounding a taxi fare is optional.

Ask whether a tour includes gratuities for its driver and guide. A service charge is not necessarily a personal tip passed entirely to staff.

Sales tax and displayed prices

The standard general sales-tax rate is 16%, with other rates and exemptions by product, service and area. Do not add 16% to every bill or assume hotels and restaurants all have the same treatment.

Check whether menus and room quotes include tax and service. A ++ notation or a taxes-and-service footnote calls for a final dinar total. Aqaba has a separate tax framework; compare actual final bills rather than importing an Amman rate.

What is included in a package?

Establish whether admission, border fees, any visa, meals, transport and accommodation are included. Paying a supplier in advance does not establish that every border or attraction charge is covered.

For car hire, distinguish the price from the deposit, excess and additional-driver costs. Hotels may require a card hold even when the room is prepaid.

Tourist tax refunds

A scheme exists for eligible visitors exporting goods bought from participating retailers, with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh refund facilities. An ordinary receipt from any shop is not automatically sufficient.

Before relying on a refund, ask the retailer to confirm eligibility, minimum spend, documents, export deadline and an operating facility at your exit point. Current uniform thresholds have not been verified here, so no refund amount or eligibility guarantee is presented.

Before departure

Keep receipts and refund documents with the goods and establish whether inspection must happen before baggage check-in. Shopping refunds do not automatically refund accommodation, meals or transfers.

Retain a little cash for final expenses and check card holds after the car return and hotel checkout. A temporary hold is not necessarily a final charge.