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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,531 per month in Jerusalem vs $2,245 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,714 per month in Jerusalem vs $3,246 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,897 per month in Jerusalem vs $4,246 in Arad, rent included.

Jerusalem costs about 13% more than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jerusalem and Arad sit above the global median – Jerusalem by 89%, Arad by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.83 ₪65.0

$18.20 ₪51.8

25.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 ₪243

$58.6 ₪167

45.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.26 ₪43.46

$15.57 ₪44.34

-1.99%

Cappuccino

$4.23 ₪12.05

$2.75 ₪7.82

53.82%

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

$2.68 ₪7.62

$2.79 ₪7.94

-3.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₪6.03

$1.97 ₪5.61

7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.96 ₪25.50

$4.16 ₪11.84

115.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 ₪23.61

$8.62 ₪24.54

-3.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₪5.99

$1.80 ₪5.12

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₪6.88

$2.50 ₪7.12

-3.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 ₪8.15

$2.40 ₪6.83

19.17%

Eggs

$4.08 ₪11.62

$4.19 ₪11.93

-2.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.80 ₪39.28

$18.89 ₪53.8

-26.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 ₪32.61

$10.95 ₪31.19

4.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.44 ₪49.65

$17.49 ₪49.79

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ₪9.26

$3.02 ₪8.60

7.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₪5.65

$1.94 ₪5.52

2.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₪5.12

$1.87 ₪5.31

-3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ₪6.97

$1.87 ₪5.34

31.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ₪4.97

$1.44 ₪4.09

20.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ₪4.28

$1.20 ₪3.42

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₪5.74

$2.01 ₪5.73

0.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₪4.05

$1.36 ₪3.86

4.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 ₪28.33

$11.25 ₪32.04

-11.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.64 ₪47.39

$13.44 ₪38.25

23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪6.96

$2.43 ₪6.92

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₪7.86

$2.93 ₪8.35

-5.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 ₪4.90

$1.58 ₪4.51

8.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₪190

$66.7 ₪190

-0.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₪9.97

$5.97 ₪17.01

-41.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₪2.62

$1.69 ₪4.82

-45.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.88 ₪79.4

$43.97 ₪125

-36.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 ₪5.68

$2.05 ₪5.83

-2.93%

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

$45.9K ₪130.5K

$40.0K ₪113.8K

14.74%

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

$46.7K ₪132.8K

$41.0K ₪116.8K

13.69%

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

$231 ₪657

$261 ₪744

-11.59%

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

$12.24 ₪34.84

$10.76 ₪30.63

13.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.59 ₪81.4

$31.99 ₪91.1

-10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 ₪248

$67.1 ₪191

29.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.76 ₪84.7

$18.67 ₪53.1

59.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 ₪35.75

$12.43 ₪35.39

1.05%

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

$877 ₪2,497

$826 ₪2,352

6.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K ₪60.2K

$11.7K ₪33.3K

80.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₪293

$113 ₪323

-9.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₪182

$53.6 ₪153

19.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₪355

$124 ₪353

0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪334

$196 ₪557

-39.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 ₪4,417

$696 ₪1,982

122.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 ₪3,229

$937 ₪2,669

20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,765 ₪7,872

$1,145 ₪3,261

141.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 ₪5,410

$1,380 ₪3,930

37.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.3K ₪60.7K

$10.7K ₪30.6K

98.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,585 ₪27.3K

$7,361 ₪21.0K

30.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,196 ₪11.9K

$2,800 ₪7,971

49.89%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Arad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,551 in Jerusalem versus $696 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 50% 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 $86.0 in Jerusalem versus $59.0 in Arad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $353 – making Arad 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

Jerusalem vs Arad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jerusalem costs about 13% 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 $3,796 per month in Jerusalem and $3,367 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 $2,531 in Jerusalem and $2,245 in Arad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% 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 $2,245, than in Jerusalem at $2,531. 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.