How Much Does It Cost to Live in Jerusalem?
It is known that the cost of living in Jerusalem is high, and the main expensive factor is housing.
Compared to the services received and the socio-economic status of any Israeli city, Jerusalem has the highest housing prices, hands down.
However, the rest of the expenses and the non-housing-related cost of living is similar to the rest of Israel: high, but you can get by if you work here.
Jerusalem is considered as a very expensive city, almost like Tel Aviv, because it is a tourist city, because it is a multi-religious city, and, of course, because it is the capital of Israel.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Jerusalem
RESTAURANTS
Being smart about your money in Jerusalem means usually avoiding eating in restaurants too much, as they are very expensive. If you must, then follow some simple tricks. For instance, when eating out, never order a bottled water. Tap water is safe and drinkable; everyone drinks it. 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) | $16.03 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $7.48 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.81 |
MARKETS
Jerusalem is expensive in some ways, yet less expensive in others. For example, purchasing in a grocery store or a market is the best way to enjoy a variety of food and healthy groceries without spending a lot of money. Generally the cost of meat is extremely high but the cost of seasonal fruits and vegetables can be a fraction of what you pay in your country.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.52 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.02 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.27 |
TRANSPORTATION
Public transport is very inexpensive in comparison to many other European countries. Still, it is very easy to get around using public transport. However, keep in mind that public transport serves the needs of local residents, not tourists, so you won’t find a frequent bus service to some excursions on your trip.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $1.58 |
| Monthly Pass | $57.44 |
| Gasoline | $1.67 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are rather expensive in Jerusalem, probably the most expensive in entire Israel. The basic ones like electricity, water, cooling, heating and garbage services cost over 200$. Internet, however, compared to this and especially compared to other countries, is relatively cheap, costing around 25$ a month.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $208.03 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $24.58 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Sports, leisure and similar indulgences are very expensive in Jerusalem, probably the most expensive in the entire country. It is on par with UK standards, so if you want to go to a fitness club in Jerusalem, the average is around 60$, while renting a tennis court costs 163$ an hour. Leisure is no cheaper either, with cinema tickets costing around 10$ each.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $67.45 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $13.36 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $10.69 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Popular brands of clothes have the same prices as in Europe which are generally higher than in the US. For example, Levi’s cost about $80. When it comes to the locally made clothes, the problem for tourists is that it’s near impossible to find good, cheap locations where the locals shop so you have to buy at mass chain stores for prices of around 50$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $84.28 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $56.54 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $113.60 |
RENT PER MONTH
Here we are – at the famously popular rent. Rent is extremely high in Jerusalem, and if you plan on living here, count on rent being even more expensive, just because it’s the capital. Average price of rent, for an apartment outside of city center rented by one or two people is around 700$, and for one inside the city center around 900$.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $960.07 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $712.45 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1692.07 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Jerusalem?
In Jerusalem, like in most countries, the biggest chunk of the paycheck gets spent on food, in markets or grocery stores and almost the same amount goes on the rent, since, as mentioned it is ridiculously expensive in this country.
Restaurants take up the next spot on the list, since food can get pretty pricey in Israel in general, and Jerusalem especially.
As usual, the smallest amount of money is spent on clothes and accessories, while sports and leisure take up as much as 6% of all expenses, which is a relatively high percentage.
Average Costs Breakdown
Jerusalem: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Those that get a minimum wage of about 1500$ might have some hard covering all their expenses, especially if they’re renting an apartment in such an expensive city.
Average monthly net salary in Jerusalem is pretty high, and though the expenses there are high too, an average citizen of Jerusalem can live, manage their life and sort out their expenses so that they live comfortably.
Those renting an apartment will always have a harder time paying off their bills and rent, but generally speaking, Jerusalem has a high living standard.
Jerusalem Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Jerusalem Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Israel
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Haifa |
73.42 |
| Ramat Gan |
72.15 |
| Tel Aviv-Yafo |
77.39 |
It’s interesting to think about how the costs in Jerusalem reflect its unique status as a capital and a major cultural hub. It must be challenging for locals to balance life in such an iconic yet expensive city. I’m curious about how families manage their budgets with housing taking up such a large part of their expenses. Do people often have to compromise on other essentials to live there?