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Is Amman Family-Friendly? Parks, Schools, and Safety (A Slightly Exhausted Take)

@Maya Stone2/7/2026blog
Is Amman Family-Friendly? Parks, Schools, and Safety (A Slightly Exhausted Take)

okay, so someone asked me if amman is good for kids. like, really good. and honestly? it's complicated. it's not like those instagram feeds where everything's perfectly filtered and everyone's smiling. it's…amman. right now, it's that weird shoulder season thing where it's sunny enough to think about shorts, but you'll regret it by 3pm. think 22 degrees Celsius, a breeze that smells faintly of dust and jasmine, and the constant, low-level hum of traffic. you could be sipping mint tea here, and a quick 3-hour flight gets you to the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh.

brown concrete building under blue sky during daytime


i'm a vintage clothes picker, okay? i chase good finds, not perfect parenting scenarios. but i've been poking around, asking questions, and generally being nosy. and here's the deal.

*schools. this is where it gets tricky. there are international schools, obviously. they're expensive. like, really expensive. think 10-20k USD a year for the good ones. https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=69911 has a whole thread about it. public schools? well, let's just say the quality varies wildly. a friend of a friend (the friend is a baker, amazing kanafeh, seriously) said her kids go to a private Arabic school and it's solid, but you need connections to get in. it's all about wasta, you know? that's the unspoken rule of everything here.


parks. okay, this is where amman actually shines. there are parks everywhere. not like, manicured, perfect-lawn parks, but more… rugged, natural spaces. Rainbow Street has a little park, but it's mostly for hanging out, not letting toddlers loose. King Abdullah I Park is huge, has a lake, and is generally pretty chill. i overheard someone at a coffee shop (and this is important, because amman runs on coffee) saying that the park near Abdali is good, but gets crowded on weekends. like, really crowded. apparently, it's a prime spot for wedding photos.

white and brown concrete buildings under blue sky during daytime


safety. this is the big one, right? amman is generally considered safe. like, walking around at night safe. but… it's the middle east. things happen. petty theft is a thing, especially in crowded areas. and, you know, the geopolitical situation is always…present. i wouldn't let my kid wander off alone, ever. a local warned me (over a plate of falafel, naturally) that pickpockets target tourists near the Roman Theatre. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel_Guide-g293985-d201084/Amman.html has some basic safety tips. honestly, just use your common sense. and maybe don't flash expensive jewelry.

okay, let's talk numbers. because everyone wants numbers. rent for a decent 3-bedroom apartment in a good area (like Jabal Al Weibdeh or Abdoun) is going to run you anywhere from 800-1500 USD a month. groceries are relatively cheap, but imported stuff is pricey. a decent meal at a restaurant will cost you around 20-30 USD. and childcare? forget about it. it's expensive and hard to find. https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Amman has a breakdown of the cost of living, but take it with a grain of salt. it's based on user submissions, so it's not always accurate.

drunk advice from a stranger (me):* if you're thinking about moving to amman with kids, do your research. talk to expats. join facebook groups. https://www.reddit.com/r/Amman/ is a surprisingly active subreddit. and be prepared for a culture shock. it's not a western city. it's…amman. it's chaotic, it's dusty, it's beautiful, and it's definitely an adventure. but it's not for the faint of heart. and honestly? sometimes i think it's better suited for people who like digging through vintage shops than changing diapers. just sayin'.

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About the author: Maya Stone

Writing is my way of listening.

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