Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Afula Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Afula

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,979 in Jerusalem versus $2,682 in Afula.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,389 in Jerusalem versus $4,031 in Afula.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,800 in Jerusalem versus $5,381 in Afula.

Living in Jerusalem is roughly 11% more expensive than in Afula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jerusalem 117% above, Afula 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.63 ₪71.1
$27.03 ₪81.3
-12.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.9 ₪298
$98.2 ₪295
0.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.74 ₪59.4
$17.65 ₪53.1
11.84%
Cappuccino
$5.11 ₪15.38
$4.81 ₪14.46
6.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ₪10.60
$3.84 ₪11.56
-8.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₪8.65
$2.72 ₪8.18
5.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.47 ₪25.48
$9.39 ₪28.24
-9.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.52 ₪31.65
$6.46 ₪19.45
62.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.47 ₪7.44
$2.65 ₪7.96
-6.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 ₪10.47
$3.29 ₪9.89
5.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.71 ₪11.18
$3.13 ₪9.42
18.53%
Eggs
$4.99 ₪15.02
$4.83 ₪14.54
3.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.52 ₪52.7
$13.30 ₪40.03
31.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.76 ₪44.41
$21.35 ₪64.3
-30.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.85 ₪108
$23.66 ₪71.2
51.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 ₪13.66
$3.29 ₪9.91
37.99%
Banana (1kg)
$3.49 ₪10.50
$2.95 ₪8.86
18.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 ₪8.35
$2.24 ₪6.73
23.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₪7.24
$1.68 ₪5.05
43.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 ₪5.91
$1.66 ₪5.00
18.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 ₪5.30
$1.44 ₪4.35
22.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 ₪6.33
$1.93 ₪5.82
9.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 ₪5.65
$2.21 ₪6.66
-14.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.66 ₪41.10
$16.32 ₪49.12
-16.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.74 ₪47.38
$12.90 ₪38.83
22.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.89 ₪17.73
$3.47 ₪10.44
69.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 ₪18.36
$4.07 ₪12.24
49.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.60 ₪7.83
$2.99 ₪8.99
-13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.9 ₪210
$76.8 ₪231
-8.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 ₪12.15
$4.09 ₪12.32
-1.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 ₪3.85
$1.32 ₪3.96
-3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.92 ₪78.0
$19.75 ₪59.4
31.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.76 ₪8.30
$2.52 ₪7.59
9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$59.3K ₪178.5K
$58.9K ₪177.4K
0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$59.5K ₪178.9K
$59.5K ₪179.1K
-0.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$296 ₪892
$199 ₪600
48.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.96 ₪38.99
$13.26 ₪39.91
-2.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.62 ₪131
$26.43 ₪79.5
65.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.3 ₪224
$75.0 ₪226
-0.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.19 ₪54.7
$23.72 ₪71.4
-23.31%
Cinema Ticket
$15.28 ₪45.99
$12.51 ₪37.65
22.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,444 ₪4,346
$1,185 ₪3,567
21.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.6K ₪89.2K
$34.1K ₪102.5K
-12.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ₪361
$52.5 ₪158
128.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.8 ₪231
$65.5 ₪197
17.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 ₪475
$127 ₪383
23.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167 ₪502
$156 ₪471
6.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,926 ₪5,796
$1,551 ₪4,669
24.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 ₪3,948
$1,196 ₪3,601
9.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,772 ₪11.4K
$2,381 ₪7,166
58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,944 ₪5,852
$1,926 ₪5,796
0.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$20.6K ₪62.0K
$9,653 ₪29.0K
113.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,202 ₪27.7K
$7,937 ₪23.9K
15.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jerusalem
Afula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,778 ₪11.4K
$3,331 ₪10.0K
13.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
4.05
23.21%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: August 30, 2026

Last update for Afula: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,926 in Jerusalem and $1,551 in Afula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jerusalem pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Jerusalem vs $98.0 in Afula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $509 vs $454 per month, with Afula cheaper across the board.

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
Jerusalem vs Afula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jerusalem and in Afula?
Jerusalem and Afula differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,979 vs $2,682 including rent). Afula is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Jerusalem or Afula?
Average pay runs 13% higher in Jerusalem, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Jerusalem and in Afula?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,926 in Jerusalem versus $1,551 in Afula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Jerusalem. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Afula – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $99.0 in Jerusalem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Afula is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Jerusalem and Afula?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Jerusalem or Afula safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jerusalem and Afula are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Jerusalem or Afula?
Expats usually find Afula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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