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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,532 per month in Jerusalem vs $2,256 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,797 per month in Jerusalem vs $3,284 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,061 per month in Jerusalem vs $4,312 in Arad, rent included.

Jerusalem costs about 12% more than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jerusalem and Arad sit above the global median – Jerusalem by 90%, Arad by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.32 ₪68.1

$18.28 ₪55.8

22.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 ₪258

$59.9 ₪183

40.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.44 ₪47.13

$15.51 ₪47.34

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ₪12.77

$2.83 ₪8.65

47.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₪8.34

$2.82 ₪8.60

-3.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₪6.66

$2.08 ₪6.34

4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.98 ₪27.40

$4.25 ₪12.97

111.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 ₪26.30

$8.64 ₪26.39

-0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₪6.27

$1.74 ₪5.31

17.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ₪7.23

$2.53 ₪7.73

-6.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 ₪8.68

$2.38 ₪7.27

19.33%

Eggs

$4.18 ₪12.77

$4.11 ₪12.54

1.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 ₪42.30

$18.80 ₪57.4

-26.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.21 ₪34.22

$11.17 ₪34.09

0.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 ₪53.8

$17.47 ₪53.3

0.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ₪9.89

$3.16 ₪9.66

2.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₪6.00

$2.00 ₪6.11

-2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ₪5.30

$1.81 ₪5.52

-4.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₪7.56

$1.97 ₪6.02

25.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ₪5.16

$1.39 ₪4.25

21.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 ₪4.75

$1.24 ₪3.78

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₪6.36

$2.01 ₪6.14

3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₪4.35

$1.35 ₪4.12

5.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.63 ₪29.39

$11.26 ₪34.37

-14.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 ₪46.39

$12.99 ₪39.67

17.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪7.44

$2.35 ₪7.19

3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₪8.61

$2.96 ₪9.04

-4.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ₪5.09

$1.54 ₪4.70

8.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 ₪205

$64.9 ₪198

3.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₪10.67

$5.88 ₪17.96

-40.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ₪2.75

$1.70 ₪5.20

-47.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.05 ₪85.6

$43.15 ₪132

-34.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 ₪6.20

$1.99 ₪6.07

2.01%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.0K ₪143.5K

$40.2K ₪122.8K

16.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$46.9K ₪143.1K

$41.6K ₪127.1K

12.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$230 ₪702

$262 ₪799

-12.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.65 ₪38.63

$10.76 ₪32.86

17.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.19 ₪89.1

$32.34 ₪98.7

-9.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.0 ₪265

$66.8 ₪204

30.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.74 ₪93.9

$18.35 ₪56.0

67.52%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 ₪38.85

$12.54 ₪38.27

1.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$880 ₪2,687

$848 ₪2,589

3.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K ₪66.1K

$12.0K ₪36.8K

79.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₪318

$116 ₪353

-9.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 ₪193

$54.7 ₪167

15.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₪384

$126 ₪386

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪357

$194 ₪592

-39.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 ₪4,823

$715 ₪2,183

120.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 ₪3,552

$920 ₪2,808

26.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,801 ₪8,552

$1,122 ₪3,426

149.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₪5,885

$1,385 ₪4,228

39.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K ₪61.2K

$8,464 ₪25.8K

136.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,924 ₪27.2K

$6,890 ₪21.0K

29.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 ₪12.1K

$2,643 ₪8,070

49.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

71.43%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: July 11, 2026

Last update for Arad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,580 in Jerusalem versus $715 in Arad. 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 49% 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 $84.0 in Jerusalem versus $60.0 in Arad. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Jerusalem vs $353 in Arad – so Jerusalem 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

Jerusalem vs Arad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jerusalem costs about 12% more than Arad, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,798 per month in Jerusalem and $3,384 in Arad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,532 in Jerusalem and $2,256 in Arad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Arad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arad, where all-in costs run around $2,256, than in Jerusalem at $2,532. In Arad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jerusalem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.