Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Bat Yam Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Bat Yam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,531 in Jerusalem versus $2,187 in Bat Yam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,714 in Jerusalem versus $3,259 in Bat Yam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,897 in Jerusalem versus $4,332 in Bat Yam.

Living in Jerusalem is roughly 16% more expensive than Bat Yam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jerusalem 89% above, Bat Yam 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.83 ₪65.0

$15.59 ₪44.40

46.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 ₪243

$83.9 ₪239

1.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.26 ₪43.46

$17.04 ₪48.53

-10.45%

Cappuccino

$4.23 ₪12.05

$3.78 ₪10.77

11.90%

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

$2.68 ₪7.62

$2.44 ₪6.94

9.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₪6.03

$1.45 ₪4.13

46.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.96 ₪25.50

$5.58 ₪15.88

60.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 ₪23.61

$4.20 ₪11.95

97.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₪5.99

$2.16 ₪6.16

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₪6.88

$3.77 ₪10.73

-35.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 ₪8.15

$2.90 ₪8.26

-1.38%

Eggs

$4.08 ₪11.62

$4.11 ₪11.70

-0.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.80 ₪39.28

$14.17 ₪40.34

-2.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 ₪32.61

$11.13 ₪31.69

2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.44 ₪49.65

$15.87 ₪45.20

9.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ₪9.26

$3.16 ₪8.98

2.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₪5.65

$1.92 ₪5.47

3.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₪5.12

$1.91 ₪5.44

-5.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ₪6.97

$2.36 ₪6.73

3.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ₪4.97

$1.38 ₪3.92

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ₪4.28

$1.42 ₪4.05

5.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₪5.74

$2.30 ₪6.54

-12.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₪4.05

$1.19 ₪3.37

19.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 ₪28.33

$11.48 ₪32.68

-13.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.64 ₪47.39

$16.48 ₪46.93

0.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪6.96

$2.73 ₪7.78

-10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₪7.86

$3.84 ₪10.94

-28.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 ₪4.90

$2.28 ₪6.48

-24.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₪190

$74.1 ₪211

-10.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₪9.97

$4.19 ₪11.93

-16.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₪2.62

$0.87 ₪2.48

5.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.88 ₪79.4

$24.13 ₪68.7

15.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 ₪5.68

$2.08 ₪5.91

-4.33%

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

$45.9K ₪130.5K

$40.2K ₪114.5K

14.06%

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

$46.7K ₪132.8K

$42.7K ₪121.5K

9.35%

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

$231 ₪657

$195 ₪555

18.38%

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

$12.24 ₪34.84

$11.79 ₪33.58

3.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.59 ₪81.4

$28.65 ₪81.6

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 ₪248

$47.85 ₪136

82.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.76 ₪84.7

$11.67 ₪33.24

155.01%

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 ₪35.75

$12.45 ₪35.44

0.88%

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

$877 ₪2,497

$981 ₪2,793

-10.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K ₪60.2K

$8,696 ₪24.8K

143.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₪293

$94.0 ₪268

9.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₪182

$50.8 ₪145

25.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₪355

$119 ₪339

4.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪334

$131 ₪374

-10.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 ₪4,417

$1,131 ₪3,221

37.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 ₪3,229

$1,001 ₪2,850

13.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,765 ₪7,872

$1,550 ₪4,413

78.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 ₪5,410

$1,594 ₪4,539

19.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.3K ₪60.7K

$10.7K ₪30.6K

98.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,585 ₪27.3K

$7,144 ₪20.3K

34.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,196 ₪11.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

33.33%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bat Yam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Jerusalem and $1,131 in Bat Yam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $86.0 in Jerusalem vs $84.0 in Bat Yam. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $365, with Jerusalem cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bat Yam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bat Yam is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,796 in Jerusalem and $3,281 in Bat Yam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Jerusalem versus $1,131 in Bat Yam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bat Yam – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $86.0 in Jerusalem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,531 per month in Jerusalem versus $2,187 in Bat Yam – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,187 in Bat Yam versus $2,531 in Jerusalem, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bat Yam but tight or insufficient in Jerusalem. The gap between the two cities makes Bat Yam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Jerusalem and Bat Yam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bat Yam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.