Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Jerusalem Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Jerusalem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,913 per month in Arad vs $2,979 in Jerusalem, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,367 per month in Arad vs $4,389 in Jerusalem, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,820 per month in Arad vs $5,800 in Jerusalem, rent included.

Arad is about 2% cheaper than Jerusalem, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Arad and Jerusalem sit above the global median – Arad by 112%, Jerusalem by 117%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.20 ₪82.3
$23.63 ₪71.5
15.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 ₪313
$98.9 ₪299
4.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.61 ₪56.3
$19.74 ₪59.7
-5.72%
Cappuccino
$4.77 ₪14.44
$5.11 ₪15.46
-6.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 ₪12.02
$3.52 ₪10.66
12.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ₪8.40
$2.87 ₪8.69
-3.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.98 ₪33.22
$8.47 ₪25.61
29.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.49 ₪31.72
$10.52 ₪31.82
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.68 ₪8.11
$2.47 ₪7.48
8.50%
White Bread (500g)
$4.95 ₪14.98
$3.48 ₪10.52
42.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 ₪9.50
$3.71 ₪11.24
-15.36%
Eggs
$4.69 ₪14.19
$4.99 ₪15.10
-6.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.06 ₪39.50
$17.52 ₪53.0
-25.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.08 ₪63.8
$14.76 ₪44.64
42.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.25 ₪70.3
$35.85 ₪108
-35.15%
Apples (1kg)
$6.41 ₪19.38
$4.54 ₪13.73
41.19%
Banana (1kg)
$3.03 ₪9.17
$3.49 ₪10.56
-13.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 ₪9.18
$2.77 ₪8.39
9.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.74 ₪11.32
$2.41 ₪7.28
55.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 ₪5.22
$1.96 ₪5.94
-11.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 ₪4.24
$1.76 ₪5.33
-20.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 ₪7.33
$2.11 ₪6.37
14.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₪6.94
$1.88 ₪5.68
21.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 ₪30.53
$13.66 ₪41.31
-26.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.39 ₪40.50
$15.74 ₪47.62
-14.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.42 ₪10.34
$5.89 ₪17.82
-41.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 ₪12.73
$6.10 ₪18.46
-30.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 ₪7.39
$2.60 ₪7.87
-6.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.5 ₪228
$69.9 ₪212
7.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.32 ₪13.06
$4.04 ₪12.21
6.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ₪3.92
$1.28 ₪3.87
1.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.48 ₪80.1
$25.92 ₪78.4
2.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.59 ₪7.82
$2.76 ₪8.34
-6.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.4K ₪176.7K
$59.3K ₪179.5K
-1.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$61.1K ₪184.7K
$59.5K ₪179.8K
2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 ₪586
$296 ₪896
-34.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90 ₪45.07
$12.96 ₪39.19
14.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 ₪168
$43.62 ₪132
27.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.5 ₪207
$74.3 ₪225
-7.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.19 ₪55.0
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.92 ₪51.2
$15.28 ₪46.23
10.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,348 ₪4,077
$1,444 ₪4,368
-6.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.6K ₪83.5K
$29.6K ₪89.6K
-6.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128 ₪388
$120 ₪363
6.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.3 ₪204
$76.8 ₪232
-12.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$178 ₪539
$158 ₪477
12.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$271 ₪819
$167 ₪504
62.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 ₪4,921
$1,926 ₪5,826
-15.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 ₪3,609
$1,312 ₪3,968
-9.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,274 ₪6,879
$3,772 ₪11.4K
-39.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,785 ₪5,399
$1,944 ₪5,882
-8.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,113 ₪27.6K
$20.6K ₪62.3K
-55.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,995 ₪24.2K
$9,202 ₪27.8K
-13.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arad
Jerusalem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,679 ₪8,103
$3,778 ₪11.4K
-29.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.2
4.99
4.21%

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

Last update for Arad: August 29, 2026

Last update for Jerusalem: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in Arad versus $1,926 in Jerusalem. 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 41% higher in Jerusalem, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Arad versus $99.0 in Jerusalem. Groceries tell a different story – $501 in Arad vs $509 in Jerusalem – so Arad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jerusalem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arad or Jerusalem?
Jerusalem costs about 2% more than Arad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Jerusalem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,370 per month in Arad and $4,469 in Jerusalem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arad or Jerusalem?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arad, 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 Jerusalem?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,913 in Arad and $2,979 in Jerusalem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Arad compared to Jerusalem?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Arad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Arad or in Jerusalem?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,913 in Arad and $2,979 in Jerusalem. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Arad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Arad compared to Jerusalem?
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 Jerusalem?
If budget matters most, go with Arad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jerusalem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Arad vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities