😐A single person spends $3,143 per month in Beit Shemesh vs $2,436 in Haifa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,689 per month in Beit Shemesh vs $3,699 in Haifa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,234 per month in Beit Shemesh vs $4,963 in Haifa, rent included.
😐Beit Shemesh costs about 29% more than Haifa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Beit Shemesh and Haifa sit above the global median – Beit Shemesh by 128%, Haifa by 77%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.37₪79.9
$26.25₪79.5
0.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$135₪409
$109₪329
24.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$21.23₪64.3
$20.27₪61.4
4.74%
Cappuccino
$5.46₪16.54
$4.58₪13.88
19.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95₪11.96
$3.51₪10.62
12.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25₪9.85
$3.36₪10.18
-3.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.73₪32.52
$10.65₪32.27
0.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.51₪31.85
$10.97₪33.24
-4.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.65₪8.02
$2.57₪7.78
3.11%
White Bread(500g)
$4.75₪14.39
$3.72₪11.28
27.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73₪11.29
$3.92₪11.88
-4.85%
Eggs
$5.17₪15.67
$5.06₪15.34
2.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.69₪65.7
$17.78₪53.9
21.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.52₪50.1
$13.13₪39.79
25.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.37₪76.9
$24.79₪75.1
2.34%
Apples(1kg)
$4.65₪14.08
$4.36₪13.22
6.65%
Banana(1kg)
$3.83₪11.60
$2.92₪8.85
31.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56₪7.75
$2.37₪7.20
8.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40₪10.30
$2.56₪7.77
32.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98₪6.00
$2.09₪6.33
-5.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95₪5.90
$1.78₪5.40
9.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74₪8.32
$2.44₪7.41
12.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77₪8.40
$2.71₪8.21
2.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.88₪45.08
$13.48₪40.85
10.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.66₪50.5
$15.79₪47.86
5.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.89₪11.78
$3.32₪10.05
17.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01₪15.17
$4.95₪14.99
1.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.64₪8.00
$2.64₪7.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.4₪231
$102₪310
-25.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.49₪13.59
$4.36₪13.20
2.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12₪3.40
$1.28₪3.87
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.76₪59.9
$38.53₪117
-48.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.41₪7.29
$2.72₪8.24
-11.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$57.2K₪173.3K
$57.7K₪174.9K
-0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.8K₪175.1K
$58.4K₪177.0K
-1.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$454₪1,375
$272₪823
66.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.88₪36.00
$11.83₪35.85
0.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.47₪107
$36.39₪110
-2.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.4₪229
$71.6₪217
5.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.80₪78.2
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.14₪48.91
$16.04₪48.59
0.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,758₪5,326
$1,202₪3,643
46.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.2K₪94.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129₪390
$116₪351
11.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$90.1₪273
$72.9₪221
23.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$177₪537
$136₪412
30.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$205₪621
$159₪481
29.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646₪4,988
$1,061₪3,216
55.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,306₪3,959
$827₪2,505
58.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,306₪6,989
$1,664₪5,041
38.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,196₪6,656
$1,187₪3,596
85.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,542₪25.9K
$9,690₪29.4K
-11.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,308₪25.2K
$6,274₪19.0K
32.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beit Shemesh
Haifa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,369₪13.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.03
5.05
-0.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beit Shemesh: September 7, 2026
Last update for Haifa: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,646 in Beit Shemesh versus $1,061 in Haifa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $135 in Beit Shemesh versus $109 in Haifa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $524 vs $464 – making Haifa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Beit Shemesh vs Haifa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haifa cheaper than Beit Shemesh?
Yes – Beit Shemesh is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,715 per month in Beit Shemesh and $3,653 in Haifa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 do food prices compare in Beit Shemesh and in Haifa?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Beit Shemesh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Beit Shemesh or in Haifa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $135 in Beit Shemesh and $109 in Haifa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Beit Shemesh or in Haifa?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Haifa, where all-in costs run around $2,436, than in Beit Shemesh at $3,143. In Haifa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beit Shemesh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beit Shemesh or Haifa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Haifa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Beit Shemesh or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Haifa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beit Shemesh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Beit Shemesh vs other spots: cost of living compared