How Much Does It Cost to Live In Israel?
Before venturing to Israel, you should know that this is a first-world economy, and costs in total will probably be about what they would be for a trip to Europe or the US.
It’s recommendable to know that upfront and not be unpleasantly surprised when you arrive.
Generally, as everywhere, it really depends a lot on your lifestyle and what your priorities are – and therefore what you can save.
The most expensive living item in Israel is the rent, everything else is pretty reasonable.
Spending around $2000/month is realistic as a fairly minimal budget.
Israel : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Be very smart about your money and you can save up a huge amount.
For instance, when eating out, never order bottled water.
Tap water is safe and drinkable; everyone drinks it.
No need to waste money on bottled water as a matter of course.
You should also know that lunch/dinner prices are pretty much the same, so if you want to save up, just avoid the top upscale restaurants.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $19.24 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $8.88 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.14 |
MARKETS
Purchasing in a grocery store or a market is the best way to enjoy a variety of food and healthy groceries.
Fresh veggies and fruit are always available at a low price, and you can also find cold cuts, a variety of cheeses, and even ready-made food like roasted chicken that costs much less than in a restaurant.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.79 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.48 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.94 |
TRANSPORTATION
Generally speaking, though it is expensive, it is very easy to get around using public transport, without knowing a word of Hebrew.
However, keep in mind that public transport is designed to serve the needs of local residents, not tourists, so you won’t find frequent bus service to wherever you want to go.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $1.78 |
| Monthly Pass | $65.11 |
| Gasoline | $2.07 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are rather expensive in Israel, amounting to almost 240$ a month for basic ones like electricity, water, cooling, heating, and garbage services.
Internet, however, compared to this and especially compared to other countries, is relatively cheap, costing around 30$ a month.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $238.93 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $29.37 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Indulging in sports and leisure in Israel is far from cheap.
It is on par with UK standards, so if you want to go to a fitness club in this country, the average is around 72$, while renting a tennis court costs 20$ an hour.
Leisure is no cheaper either, with cinema tickets costing around 13$ each.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $72.15 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $19.83 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.73 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Brand-name clothes usually have the same prices as in the rest of Europe which are generally higher than in the US.
For example, Levi’s costs about $90.02.
As for locally made clothes, the problem for tourists anywhere is finding the good, cheap locations where the locals shop so you have to buy at mass chain stores for prices of around 60.90$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $90.02 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $60.90 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $120.54 |
RENT PER MONTH
Rent is extremely high in Israel, almost as high as in Ireland (which is infamous for enormously expensive rent).
The average price of rent, for an apartment outside of the city center rented by one or two people, is around 956.53$, and for one inside the city center around 1,181.36$.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1181.36 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $956.53 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1863.91 |
HEALTHCARE
Israel provides universal health insurance funded through mandatory contributions; out-of-pocket spending is around 15 to 20 percent of total health expenditure, and individual out-of-pocket amounts often range from roughly 500 to 900 USD per year.
Private supplemental insurance typically costs about 60 to 140 USD per month.
With average monthly salaries of 3,500 to 4,000 USD, healthcare costs are generally affordable relative to income.
EDUCATION
Public primary and secondary education is funded by the government, with families paying for books, meals, and supplies.
Private and international schools charge higher tuition, often several thousand dollars annually.
Public universities charge moderate tuition, with average bachelor’s fees around $3,000 per year for domestic students and significantly more for private options; additional student costs include housing, food, and textbooks.
Average monthly income is around $3,400, so education costs, particularly private schooling and university living expenses, are a considerable part of income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Israel?
In Israel, like in most countries, the biggest chunk of the paycheck gets spent on food, in markets or grocery stores.
The next huge expense is rent, since, as mentioned it is ridiculously expensive in this country.
Restaurants take up the next spot on the list, since food can get pretty pricey, and this goes for transportation too.
As usual, the smallest amount of money is spent on clothes and accessories, while sports and leisure take up as much as 6% of all expenses.
Average Costs Breakdown
Israel: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Those that get a minimum wage of about 1,706.4$ might have a hard time making ends meet or covering all expenses, especially if they’re renting an apartment in such an expensive country.
However, the average monthly net salary is pretty high, and though their expenses are high too, an average citizen of Israel can live comfortably and have no problem earning for a living.
Of course, those renting an apartment will always have a harder time paying off their bills and rent, but generally speaking, Israel has a high living standard.
Israel Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Israel Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | LOW |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | HIGH |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Israel
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Haifa |
73.42 |
| Jerusalem |
76.62 |
| Ramat Gan |
72.15 |
| Tel Aviv-Yafo |
77.39 |
I’m looking into getting an average apartment in Israel since I will be living there for work for 1-2 years. Thanks for the input!
So living there can be expensive and not in other options like food then I am okay with that. My girlfriend and I are traveling while we work and we do have business at home that covers it all.
I don’t think I can afford living in Israel with that average monthly expense since I got a job offer there but I might ask for a raise.
Seems like a lot to consider before heading there. Is it really true that everything else is reasonable aside from rent?