Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem and Ramallah

For one person, living is cheaper in Bethlehem: $1,593 a month against $1,940 in Ramallah, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ramallah outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bethlehem, Palestine
Ramallah, Palestine
Bethlehem
🇵🇸 Palestine
$1,593
/mo nomad
Ramallah
🇵🇸 Palestine
$1,940
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bethlehem and in Ramallah

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

A single person spends $1,593 per month in Bethlehem vs $1,940 in Ramallah, rent included.

  • Bethlehem $1,593
  • Ramallah $1,940

A couple spends around $2,473 per month in Bethlehem vs $2,803 in Ramallah, rent included.

  • Bethlehem $2,473
  • Ramallah $2,803

A family of three spends $3,353 per month in Bethlehem vs $3,666 in Ramallah, rent included.

  • Bethlehem $3,353
  • Ramallah $3,666

Bethlehem is about 18% cheaper than Ramallah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bethlehem and Ramallah sit above the global median – Bethlehem by 17%, Ramallah by 43%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.16 ₪35.02
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.06 ₪154
$65.0 ₪204
-24.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 ₪43.66
$12.72 ₪39.93
9.36%
Cappuccino
$4.48 ₪14.06
$4.99 ₪15.67
-10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₪4.14
$1.92 ₪6.04
-31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₪3.17
$1.59 ₪4.98
-36.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 ₪19.28
$9.65 ₪30.28
-36.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 ₪25.70
$7.98 ₪25.03
2.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ₪6.25
$2.12 ₪6.67
-6.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 ₪2.88
$2.62 ₪8.22
-64.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ₪6.99
$2.98 ₪9.34
-25.17%
Eggs
$2.62 ₪8.23
$3.78 ₪11.86
-30.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.69 ₪33.56
$11.39 ₪35.73
-6.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.80 ₪30.75
$6.36 ₪19.96
54.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.40 ₪64.0
$26.28 ₪82.5
-22.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 ₪11.52
$4.81 ₪15.08
-23.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 ₪6.42
$1.64 ₪5.15
25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ₪4.98
$1.64 ₪5.15
-3.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 ₪7.41
$2.21 ₪6.92
6.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 ₪4.70
$1.90 ₪5.96
-21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 ₪4.99
$1.64 ₪5.14
-3.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 ₪5.14
$2.33 ₪7.32
-29.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ₪3.13
$0.95 ₪3.00
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.02 ₪31.43
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.48 ₪45.44
$22.97 ₪72.1
-36.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₪6.97
$2.61 ₪8.21
-14.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₪6.96
$2.29 ₪7.19
-3.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 ₪7.67
$1.65 ₪5.17
47.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$144 ₪451
$82.5 ₪259
74.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 ₪9.99
$4.85 ₪15.21
-34.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 ₪10.45
$4.88 ₪15.33
-31.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 ₪10.05
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.37 ₪7.43
$2.55 ₪8.01
-7.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K ₪128.4K
$57.9K ₪181.7K
-29.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.3K ₪151.5K
$89.3K ₪280.2K
-45.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ₪613
$318 ₪999
-38.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.21 ₪123
$29.76 ₪93.4
31.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.23 ₪101
$38.22 ₪120
-15.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.7 ₪206
$90.4 ₪284
-27.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.15 ₪101
$19.35 ₪60.7
66.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ₪26.09
$11.41 ₪35.81
-27.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.8 ₪310
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,843 ₪30.9K
$8,158 ₪25.6K
20.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.10 ₪154
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.0 ₪304
$97.7 ₪307
-0.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 ₪352
$131 ₪411
-14.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 ₪515
$96.8 ₪304
69.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₪1,509
$1,066 ₪3,344
-54.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 ₪1,032
$636 ₪1,995
-48.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$895 ₪2,809
$1,438 ₪4,513
-37.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$639 ₪2,006
$970 ₪3,043
-34.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,618 ₪5,078
$1,190 ₪3,736
35.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,125 ₪3,532
$895 ₪2,809
25.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bethlehem
Ramallah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,304 ₪4,093
$1,275 ₪4,001
2.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
5.33
87.62%

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

Last update for Bethlehem: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ramallah: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bethlehem
$329
Ramallah
$636 93.3% $307
Groceries & Markets
Bethlehem
$310
Ramallah
$364 17.3% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bethlehem
$267
Ramallah
$386 44.7% $119
Eating Out
Bethlehem
$241
Ramallah
$176 * 26.9% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Bethlehem
$190
Ramallah
$147 * 22.9% $43
Getting Around
Bethlehem
$173
Ramallah
$118 31.7% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Bethlehem
$82
Ramallah
$113 37.5% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Bethlehem versus $1,066 in Ramallah. 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 $49 in Bethlehem versus $65 in Ramallah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $310 vs $364 – making Bethlehem the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇸 Bethlehem
🇵🇸 Ramallah
🕒 Local time
14:14 2:14 PM
14:14 2:14 PM
Same time as Bethlehem
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,019
43,880 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3.14 ILS (1 ILS = 0.319 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.285 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bethlehem Ramallah 22 km
From you
  • Bethlehem
  • Ramallah

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
Bethlehem vs Ramallah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bethlehem cheaper than Ramallah?
Yes – Ramallah is pricier by about 22%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,389 per month in Bethlehem and $2,910 in Ramallah. 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 Bethlehem, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,066 in Ramallah.
What are total monthly expenses in Bethlehem and in Ramallah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,593 in Bethlehem and $1,940 in Ramallah. That makes Bethlehem about 18% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Bethlehem or in Ramallah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Bethlehem and $65 in Ramallah. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 enough to cover costs in Bethlehem or in Ramallah?
$1,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,593 in Bethlehem and $1,940 in Ramallah. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Bethlehem or in Ramallah?
It depends on your priorities. Ramallah has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,593 in Bethlehem to $1,940 in Ramallah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Bethlehem or Ramallah?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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