Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Haifa

For one person, living is cheaper in Haifa: $2,457 a month against $2,976 in Arad, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Arad
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,976
/mo nomad
Haifa
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,457
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Arad and in Haifa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Arad and in Haifa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,976 per month in Arad vs $2,457 in Haifa, rent included.

  • Arad $2,976
  • Haifa $2,457

A couple spends around $4,235 per month in Arad vs $3,680 in Haifa, rent included.

  • Arad $4,235
  • Haifa $3,680

A family of three spends $5,493 per month in Arad vs $4,904 in Haifa, rent included.

  • Arad $5,493
  • Haifa $4,904

Arad costs about 21% more than Haifa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Arad and Haifa sit above the global median – Arad by 120%, Haifa by 82%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.95 ₪80.7
$25.88 ₪80.5
0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.1 ₪286
$106 ₪330
-13.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.04 ₪62.4
$19.58 ₪60.9
2.35%
Cappuccino
$4.81 ₪14.97
$4.56 ₪14.20
5.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 ₪12.40
$3.61 ₪11.24
10.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₪8.31
$3.19 ₪9.93
-16.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.92 ₪30.86
$10.64 ₪33.11
-6.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.27 ₪31.97
$10.64 ₪33.10
-3.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 ₪7.99
$2.56 ₪7.98
0.39%
White Bread (500g)
$5.61 ₪17.46
$3.76 ₪11.69
49.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 ₪10.51
$3.78 ₪11.77
-10.58%
Eggs
$4.48 ₪13.95
$5.01 ₪15.58
-10.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.12 ₪40.82
$17.62 ₪54.8
-25.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.23 ₪59.8
$12.67 ₪39.41
51.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.55 ₪82.6
$23.83 ₪74.1
11.41%
Apples (1kg)
$6.38 ₪19.84
$4.34 ₪13.51
47.00%
Banana (1kg)
$3.20 ₪9.95
$2.98 ₪9.26
7.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.05 ₪9.50
$2.33 ₪7.24
30.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 ₪9.87
$2.60 ₪8.09
21.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 ₪6.54
$2.08 ₪6.46
0.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 ₪5.28
$1.75 ₪5.44
-2.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 ₪7.51
$2.43 ₪7.57
-0.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 ₪7.95
$2.70 ₪8.40
-5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.96 ₪31.00
$13.21 ₪41.09
-24.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.22 ₪41.12
$15.35 ₪47.77
-13.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69 ₪14.58
$3.23 ₪10.03
45.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 ₪13.14
$4.95 ₪15.41
-14.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Arad
Haifa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.99 ₪9.29
$2.67 ₪8.29
11.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.4 ₪272
$101 ₪315
-13.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.24 ₪25.65
$4.19 ₪13.04
96.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ₪3.59
$1.26 ₪3.92
-8.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.86 ₪89.8
$36.97 ₪115
-21.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.63 ₪8.17
$2.56 ₪7.96
2.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.2K ₪181.2K
$57.8K ₪179.9K
0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.7K ₪182.8K
$57.2K ₪178.1K
2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$336 ₪1,046
$264 ₪822
27.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.37 ₪38.47
$11.58 ₪36.02
6.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.51 ₪154
$35.35 ₪110
40.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.7 ₪264
$83.9 ₪261
0.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.08 ₪78.0
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.53 ₪51.4
$15.78 ₪49.09
4.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,643 ₪5,112
$1,140 ₪3,548
44.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K ₪93.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 ₪319
$114 ₪355
-10.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.3 ₪200
$71.0 ₪221
-9.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$176 ₪548
$135 ₪421
30.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 ₪487
$154 ₪478
1.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arad
Haifa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 ₪5,222
$1,057 ₪3,288
58.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 ₪3,683
$816 ₪2,538
45.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,522 ₪7,846
$1,640 ₪5,104
53.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,624 ₪5,053
$1,183 ₪3,681
37.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K ₪33.6K
$9,291 ₪28.9K
16.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,515 ₪26.5K
$6,147 ₪19.1K
38.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arad
Haifa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,569 ₪7,992
$4,372 ₪13.6K
-41.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.2
5.04
3.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arad: October 11, 2026

Last update for Haifa: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Arad
$1.2K
Haifa
$816 31.1% $368
Groceries & Markets
Arad
$516
Haifa
$457 11.5% $59
Eating Out
Arad
$422
Haifa
$422 0% $0
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arad
$398
Haifa
$311 21.9% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Arad
$225
Haifa
$213 5.1% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Arad
$118
Haifa
$115 2% $2.3
Getting Around
Arad
$113
Haifa
$122 7.9% $8.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,678 in Arad versus $1,057 in Haifa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Haifa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Arad versus $106 in Haifa. Groceries tell a different story – $516 in Arad vs $457 in Haifa – so Haifa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇱 Arad
🇮🇱 Haifa
🕒 Local time
13:47 1:47 PM
13:47 1:47 PM
Same time as Arad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
25,530
279,591
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Arad Haifa 170 km
From you
  • Arad
  • Haifa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Arad vs Haifa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arad or Haifa?
Arad costs about 21% more than Haifa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arad and in Haifa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,464 per month in Arad and $3,685 in Haifa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arad or Haifa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Haifa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Arad compared to Haifa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,976 in Arad and $2,457 in Haifa. That's a gap of about 21%.
How expensive is transport in Arad compared to Haifa?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Haifa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Arad or in Haifa?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Haifa, where all-in costs run around $2,457, than in Arad at $2,976. In Haifa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arad or Haifa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Haifa costs $2,457 versus $2,976 in Arad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Arad compared to Haifa?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Arad or to Haifa?
If budget matters most, go with Haifa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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