Amman - Post Report Question and Answers
How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
It is very expensive for imported goods (which is most things we want to buy). You can get decent seasonal produce but if you want cereal or cake mix, expect to pay 3-4 times the U.S. price, even with recent inflation. For example, a pint of Baskin Robbins ice cream is $10. Restaurants are good here, some real gems and there are ton available on Talabat or Careem. Also, grocery stores have apps (in English) and will deliver. - Aug 2023
You can get almost anything here, but it will cost you. Things are expensive here and COLA somehow dropped to 0 while we were here. Prices look similar to USD but are in the Jordanian dinar, which is fixed at 1.41 USD to 1 dinar. That said, you can even buy haram items such as alcohol and pork in grocery stores. - Aug 2023
Less expensive than DC but more than southern Europe. - Jul 2023
Everything is available, though more expensive than the US. There are numerous high quality grocery stores that carry everything you may need, including pork products. There are a number of very nice malls. - Mar 2023
Groceries and supplies are very available but VERY expensive. Of course everything is less expensive if you only get local items, but the quality is often a lot lower. There is extensive grocery and restaurant delivery as well. - Jul 2022
Most everything is available, and what is not available I just shipped through Amazon. With the exception of local produce and meats, prices are on the high side, particularly for imported appliances and furniture. There is an IKEA, and a simple coffee table ran me $350. It would have been less than $100 in the US. - Oct 2021
Local produce and staples are quite cheap and are excellent if you get into the local cuisine. You can get almost anything else at the bigger international grocery stores in Amman, but you'll likely pay twice as much as you would in the U.S. Sometimes it's hard to find niche products like sour cream or ricotta, but usually they show up in the store after a few weeks, so it pays to check. You can even buy cans of LaCroix for like $1 a piece at Cozmo, which is really the only comfort from home that I miss. - Apr 2021
Excellent. - Feb 2021
We recently had our COLA cut completely. Having said that, I find that buying locally is no more expensive than in the US depending on what buy. If you are only interested in buying imported/organic products you will pay a premium. There is a wide range of good quality local produce, dairy and meat readily available. There are many supermarkets here all with many options from budget to high end. There is even a pork shop. Food options have improved even over the 2.5 years I have been at post. No, it's not North America or Western Europe. If you can only bear to eat organic food, increase your carbon footprint and ship it in. Eat at home, because all that food you won't eat from the supermarket is the same food they serve you in restaurants. - Jan 2021
Groceries are available here... organic produce is harder to come by and mostly poor quality (Yanbout Organic, Mujib farms). Organic dry goods are relatively easy to get but you will be ordering online anyways. Meat is not very good- I can't find any free range chicken meat anywhere. Meat Masters is about the only place I would ever buy beef from. The commissary sells some Sausage and sorts that is hard to get in a middle eastern country. There's only 1 option for Organic milk and it Is shelf stable from Italy and rather expensive. Household supplies are preferably purchased online but I have been surprised of some of the non toxic things you can get here. You will eat a whole lot less of red meat. - Dec 2020
Very expensive. All basic food items are about 25% higher here. Breakfast cereal is about 6.50, oatmeal is about 5.00 for the allest size. Fresh veggies and fruits are reasonably priced but not organic. - Sep 2020
Most things are available, but also expensive due to being imported. You may need to stock up when you see specific things available (canned pumpkin, chocolate chips). - Sep 2018
Groceries are not expensive, though some items that are imported can be high. Many people set up a schedule for household and grocery items on Amazon. - Sep 2018
Good availability with large chains such as Carrefour, Safeway, etc. A lot of imported goods so prices are more than the US but not significantly so. Local produce is very cheap and great when in season. - Mar 2017
Everything is available for a price. Local produce is reasonable, but we have found the meat to be of poorer quality. There is a fantastic butcher, but the cost is prohibitive to purchase for daily use. I am grateful for DPO for things ranging from pet supplies and toilet paper to cereals, nuts, and seeds. - Jul 2016
EXPENSIVE. You will use your entire COLA and then some. US$10 box of cereal. US$4 for a liter of milk. Order what you can online. The local stores have everything, you will just pay through the nose. Meat Masters is the local butcher and it carries Australian and NZ grass fed beef. They are super helpful and friendly. The co op is well stocked but expensive. - Mar 2016
Grocery shopping can be cheap if you stick to local veggies and only buy fruit when it's in season; otherwise, it can be very expensive. You can find anything here for a price and if you're willing to visit a couple of different stores to find/purchase it. - Mar 2016
Groceries range from cheaper fruits and veggies to more expensive specialty items. Definitely a mix. - Nov 2015
Amman has wonderful grocery stores. Cozmo is our favorite. American products are pricy--but available. Amman also has great family-run produce stands. Meat can be pricy. Some grocery stores deliver for free. - May 2015
You can get pretty much anything, although you'll pay through the nose for imported things (especially cereal) and availability is spotty. When I see something I like (ie natural peanut butter) I buy in bulk. Local produce is amazing and cheap, but buy it at a local veg shop, not the big chains. - Mar 2015
Costs -look like- what you'd pay in the U.S. or are higher, therefore with the conversion (70fils=$1, 100 fils=1JD) you end up paying quite a bit more. - Jul 2014
It depends on what you buy. If you buy local fruits/veggies/meats, it can be pretty cheap. They import everything, so you can find anything, you just have to pay for it. For instance, Pillsbury or gold medal flour in the grocery store could be US$10-15 a bag, but right next to it you'll see flour from Oman for US$2-5 per bag. It's really all about shopping and brand names -- if you want Ocean Spray, you can have it, but it'll cost you more. - Mar 2014
You can get what you need here for a little more than in the States. You'll want to bring or order paper products (like in many places). Produce is mostly cheaper, depending on what you buy, but the quality really varies. Imported items cost quite a bit more, but sometimes you don't mind paying more when you really want something. There were turkeys in the grocery stores at Thanksgiving, and what you can't find locally you can get find at the Embassy co-op or order from Amazon for the most part. - Dec 2013
Groceries are generally expensive and selection is hit or miss. There are a number of large western-style stores which cater to expats but you still have to adjust your expectations. - Aug 2013
Most U.S. products or the European equivalent are available. - Jul 2013
Getting more and more expensive. Groceries here, by and large, are more expensive than the in the US (except for locally-grown produce and products). Also, the quality here really varies. We find ourselves ordering a lot of household goods through Amazon. - May 2013
Fruits, vegetables and bread are cheaper than in the US. Everything else is much more expensive. It all kind of evens out, though. - Mar 2013
Again, produce is very inexpensive, unless it is imported. Avacados are really expensive. Everything else is reasonable. If you want your US manufactured American brands, then you do have to pay for that. Therefore, I get cereal via an Amazon subscription and have it shipped to the DPO.But most things are available and affordable. The only issue I have come across is that not all US items are available all of the time. Sometimes you have to make do with what is available, do without, or order on-line. It hasn't caused me any major inconvenience. - Apr 2012
There are a number of decent grocery stores that offer a wide variety of local and imported goods. You can largely find most of what you need/want, though logistics and supply chain issues here abound...if you see XYZ product at the store, get it, lots of it, cause you never know when/if you'll see it again. Again - things are expensive here, expect to pay about double what you'd find at home for brand-name products. - Mar 2012
Groceries and household supplies are fairly available but expensive. Almost all produce is imported, and all "foreign" foods (e.g. chocolate chips, celery, Western brands) are very expensive. - Mar 2012
Good and very varied. Price in the international supermarkets is slightly more expensive than in the US.Price in the little bodegas is 1/4. - Oct 2011
Imported foods tend to be pricey and can be found at Cozmo, Safeway, and Miles. Locally or regionally produced items are good and are priced well. - Aug 2011
A lot of imported American products at the grocery stores (although still not everything). Household supplies are easy to find. Groceries (not necessarily the imported items) are very cheap. Fruits, vegetables and meats are extremely affordable. - Aug 2011
