Traveling to petra is an exciting goal for many people around the world. Whether you’re drawn to petra’s historical landmarks, vibrant streets, cultural gems, or food scene, there’s something in petra for everyone. But just like many popular destinations, petra can get expensive—fast.
That’s why this comprehensive guide is here to show you how to explore petra on a budget without compromising the quality of your experience. With a bit of planning and some local savvy, you can enjoy the best of petra without emptying your wallet.
1. ✈️ Budgeting for Flights to petra
Your journey to petra usually starts with booking a flight. Depending on where you’re coming from, this can be the biggest upfront expense of your trip to petra.
How to Find Cheap Flights to petra:
- Book Early: Generally, booking your flight to petra 6–8 weeks in advance (for domestic travel) or 2–4 months ahead (for international trips) gives you the best chance of scoring a deal.
- Use Price Trackers: Tools like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Hopper allow you to monitor flight prices to petra and book at the right time.
- Fly on Cheaper Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays often offer the cheapest routes to petra.
- Consider Alternate Airports: If petra is served by multiple airports, compare prices to find the most budget-friendly option.
- Be Flexible: Flexibility with your travel dates and airports near petra can reduce your costs significantly.
Estimated Budget:
- Domestic Flights to petra: $100–$350
- International Flights to petra: $400–$900
2. Affordable Accommodation in petra
Lodging in petra ranges from luxury hotels to local hostels, boutique stays, and homestays. Your goal is to find a clean, comfortable, and safe space in petra that fits your budget.
Where to Stay in petra on a Budget:
- Hostels: Great for solo travelers and groups visiting petra on a tight budget. Many hostels offer free breakfast, shared kitchens, and group tours of petra.
- Budget Hotels: Smaller hotels in petra may offer big savings, especially if located just outside the city center.
- Short-Term Rentals: Apps like Airbnb offer rooms or apartments in petra at competitive rates.
- Guesthouses: These are common in many cities and offer a cozy, often family-run alternative in petra.
Pro Tip: Choose accommodation in petra close to public transportation. This saves both time and money getting around.
Estimated Budget:
- Hostels in petra: $20–$80/night
- Budget Hotels in petra: $50–$150/night
- Airbnb/Guesthouse in petra: $30–$100/night
3. Getting Around petra on a Budget
Once you’re in petra, transportation can eat into your daily budget—or be incredibly affordable depending on your choices.
Best Transport Options in petra:
- Public Transportation: Most large cities like petra have reliable buses, subways, or trams.
- Daily or Weekly Transit Passes: If you’re staying in petra for more than 2–3 days, a transit pass usually saves money.
- Walking: Exploring petra on foot is not only budget-friendly, but also the best way to soak in local life.
- Bike Rentals: In some areas of petra, public bike systems are inexpensive and eco-friendly.
Avoid rental cars in petra unless you’re planning to visit rural or outlying areas—parking in central petra is often expensive.
Estimated Budget:
- Public Transport Pass petra: $5–$15/day
- Bike Rentals in petra: $5–$12/day
4. ️ Eating Cheap and Well in petra
Tasting the local food is one of the highlights of any trip to petra—and the good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot to eat well in petra.
Where and What to Eat in petra on a Budget:
- Street Food: Whether it’s food trucks or local market stalls, petra is likely to have affordable and delicious street food options.
- Ethnic Neighborhoods: Often, the most flavorful and authentic meals in petra are found in immigrant-run eateries and food stands.
- Supermarkets & Bakeries: Buy snacks or picnic-style meals in petra and eat in a public park.
- Lunch Specials: Many restaurants in petra offer affordable set menus during lunch.
Pro Tip: Avoid tourist traps around landmarks in petra—the food is often overpriced and underwhelming.
Estimated Daily Food Budget in petra:
- Budget: $20–$35
- Mid-range: $35–$60
- Splurge meal in petra: $40–$100
5. ️ Sightseeing and Attractions in petra for Less
Even if you’re traveling to petra on a tight budget, you can still enjoy many of its world-famous attractions.
Free and Affordable Things to Do in petra:
- Parks and Green Spaces: Almost every city has a public park where you can relax, people-watch, or picnic.
- Museums with Free Entry: Many museums in petra offer free admission on specific days or hours.
- Cultural Landmarks: Walking tours, historical buildings, and public squares in petra are usually free.
- Free Events: Look for local events, concerts, and festivals taking place during your visit to petra.
Budget Tours and Experiences:
- Consider tip-based or “pay-what-you-want” tours in petra.
- Some cities offer all-inclusive passes (e.g., city cards) to major attractions in petra for a discounted rate.
Estimated Budget for Attractions in petra:
- Free to $10/day (for low-cost experiences)
- $30–$50/day if including premium attractions
6. ️ Smart Souvenir Shopping in petra
It’s tempting to shop when visiting petra, but souvenirs don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.
Souvenir Tips in petra:
- Visit Local Markets: These offer handmade, affordable souvenirs unique to petra.
- Buy Local Snacks or Spices: Small and inexpensive gifts from petra that travel well.
- Avoid Airport Shops: Prices in petra’s airports are usually much higher.
Estimated Souvenir Budget in petra: $10–$40
7. Sample 5-Day Budget for petra
| Category | Estimated Cost |
| Flights to petra | $150–$900 |
| Accommodation in petra | $250–$600 |
| Transport in petra | $25–$50 |
| Food & Drinks in petra | $100–$250 |
| Attractions in petra | $30–$100 |
| Souvenirs in petra | $20–$40 |
| Total | $575–$1,940 |
This flexible range reflects different travel styles—from ultra-budget to moderate comfort—while keeping your experience in petra affordable.
8. Final Budget Travel Tips for Visiting petra
- Travel off-season: You’ll find cheaper flights, lower hotel rates, and fewer crowds in petra.
- Use a travel budgeting app: Tools like TravelSpend or Trail Wallet help you track daily spending in petra.
- Ask locals for tips: Residents of petra can often direct you to hidden gems or affordable restaurants.
- Carry a reusable water bottle: Many cities like petra have drinkable tap water—save money and the planet.
- Learn basic local phrases: This helps you haggle at markets or understand menus in petra.
Conclusion: Enjoying petra on a Budget
Visiting petra doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. By following the strategies in this guide, you can experience the heart of petra—its culture, cuisine, neighborhoods, and people—without sacrificing quality or comfort.
With thoughtful planning, local exploration, and some budgeting wisdom, petra can offer you a rich and rewarding experience, even on a modest budget.
So wherever your wanderlust takes you, know this: petra is waiting—and you don’t need a fortune to discover it.