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: $2,532 in Jerusalem versus $2,256 in Bat Yam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,797 in Jerusalem versus $3,304 in Bat Yam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,061 in Jerusalem versus $4,352 in Bat Yam.

Living in Jerusalem is roughly 12% more expensive than in Bat Yam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jerusalem 90% above, Bat Yam 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.32 ₪67.8

$15.46 ₪46.97

44.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 ₪256

$84.0 ₪255

0.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.44 ₪46.90

$17.17 ₪52.2

-10.08%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ₪12.71

$3.85 ₪11.69

8.57%

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

$2.73 ₪8.30

$2.41 ₪7.31

13.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₪6.63

$1.38 ₪4.19

57.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.98 ₪27.27

$5.67 ₪17.23

58.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 ₪26.17

$4.16 ₪12.63

106.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₪6.24

$2.15 ₪6.52

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ₪7.19

$3.84 ₪11.65

-38.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 ₪8.63

$2.80 ₪8.51

1.43%

Eggs

$4.18 ₪12.70

$4.13 ₪12.55

1.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 ₪42.08

$14.01 ₪42.55

-1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.21 ₪34.04

$10.71 ₪32.54

4.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 ₪53.6

$15.98 ₪48.54

10.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ₪9.84

$3.16 ₪9.61

2.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₪5.97

$2.00 ₪6.09

-2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ₪5.27

$1.96 ₪5.95

-11.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₪7.52

$2.33 ₪7.09

6.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ₪5.13

$1.43 ₪4.35

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 ₪4.72

$1.44 ₪4.38

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₪6.33

$2.26 ₪6.87

-7.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₪4.33

$1.23 ₪3.73

16.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.63 ₪29.24

$11.09 ₪33.68

-13.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 ₪46.16

$15.78 ₪47.94

-3.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪7.40

$2.73 ₪8.28

-10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₪8.57

$3.83 ₪11.62

-26.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ₪5.06

$2.29 ₪6.95

-27.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 ₪204

$72.4 ₪220

-7.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₪10.61

$4.17 ₪12.67

-16.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ₪2.74

$0.91 ₪2.76

-1.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.05 ₪85.2

$23.84 ₪72.4

17.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 ₪6.17

$2.05 ₪6.24

-0.98%

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

$47.0K ₪142.8K

$39.2K ₪119.2K

19.77%

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

$46.9K ₪142.4K

$41.5K ₪126.0K

13.05%

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

$230 ₪698

$192 ₪584

19.66%

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

$12.65 ₪38.43

$11.67 ₪35.45

8.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.19 ₪88.7

$29.47 ₪89.5

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.0 ₪264

$48.03 ₪146

81.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.74 ₪93.4

$11.57 ₪35.14

165.69%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 ₪38.65

$12.75 ₪38.74

-0.24%

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

$880 ₪2,674

$960 ₪2,916

-8.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K ₪65.8K

$8,786 ₪26.7K

146.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₪316

$92.3 ₪280

12.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 ₪192

$52.2 ₪159

20.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₪382

$116 ₪354

8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪355

$129 ₪392

-9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 ₪4,799

$1,134 ₪3,443

39.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 ₪3,534

$1,005 ₪3,051

15.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,801 ₪8,509

$1,539 ₪4,674

82.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₪5,855

$1,556 ₪4,727

23.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K ₪60.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,924 ₪27.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 ₪12.0K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bat Yam: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,580 in Jerusalem and $1,134 in Bat Yam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Jerusalem vs $84.0 in Bat Yam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $362 per month, with Jerusalem 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 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,798 in Jerusalem and $3,384 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: $1,580 in Jerusalem versus $1,134 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 $84.0 in Jerusalem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,532 per month in Jerusalem versus $2,256 in Bat Yam – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,256 in Bat Yam versus $2,532 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 12% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.