Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,922 per month in Jerusalem vs $3,143 in Beit Shemesh, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,304 per month in Jerusalem vs $4,689 in Beit Shemesh, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,687 per month in Jerusalem vs $6,234 in Beit Shemesh, rent included.

Jerusalem is about 7% cheaper than Beit Shemesh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh sit above the global median – Jerusalem by 112%, Beit Shemesh by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.49 ₪71.2

$26.37 ₪79.9

-10.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 ₪305

$135 ₪409

-25.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.14 ₪61.0

$21.23 ₪64.3

-5.13%

Cappuccino

$5.03 ₪15.25

$5.46 ₪16.54

-7.88%

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

$3.50 ₪10.61

$3.95 ₪11.96

-11.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₪8.90

$3.25 ₪9.85

-9.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.34 ₪25.28

$10.73 ₪32.52

-22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 ₪31.71

$10.51 ₪31.85

-0.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 ₪7.22

$2.65 ₪8.02

-10.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 ₪10.14

$4.75 ₪14.39

-29.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 ₪10.91

$3.73 ₪11.29

-3.49%

Eggs

$5.01 ₪15.20

$5.17 ₪15.67

-3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.48 ₪53.0

$21.69 ₪65.7

-19.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 ₪44.04

$16.52 ₪50.1

-12.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$36.02 ₪109

$25.37 ₪76.9

41.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 ₪13.58

$4.65 ₪14.08

-3.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.33 ₪10.09

$3.83 ₪11.60

-13.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 ₪8.08

$2.56 ₪7.75

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₪7.51

$3.40 ₪10.30

-27.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 ₪5.78

$1.98 ₪6.00

-3.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 ₪5.13

$1.95 ₪5.90

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₪6.19

$2.74 ₪8.32

-25.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₪5.61

$2.77 ₪8.40

-33.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 ₪41.17

$14.88 ₪45.08

-8.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 ₪46.76

$16.66 ₪50.5

-7.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.96 ₪18.05

$3.89 ₪11.78

53.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 ₪18.16

$5.01 ₪15.17

19.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 ₪8.23

$2.64 ₪8.00

3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.7 ₪214

$76.4 ₪231

-7.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 ₪12.39

$4.49 ₪13.59

-8.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 ₪3.87

$1.12 ₪3.40

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.89 ₪78.5

$19.76 ₪59.9

31.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.65 ₪8.02

$2.41 ₪7.29

9.96%

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

$59.9K ₪181.6K

$57.2K ₪173.3K

4.81%

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

$60.2K ₪182.4K

$57.8K ₪175.1K

4.16%

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

$290 ₪879

$454 ₪1,375

-36.02%

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

$12.50 ₪37.87

$11.88 ₪36.00

5.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.08 ₪131

$35.47 ₪107

21.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 ₪229

$75.4 ₪229

0.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 ₪55.4

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 ₪44.61

$16.14 ₪48.91

-8.80%

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

$1,412 ₪4,279

$1,758 ₪5,326

-19.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.4K ₪89.2K

$31.2K ₪94.4K

-5.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$121 ₪367

$129 ₪390

-6.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.5 ₪238

$90.1 ₪273

-12.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 ₪467

$177 ₪537

-13.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 ₪507

$205 ₪621

-18.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 ₪5,656

$1,646 ₪4,988

13.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 ₪3,978

$1,306 ₪3,959

0.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,814 ₪11.6K

$2,306 ₪6,989

65.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,895 ₪5,744

$2,196 ₪6,656

-13.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.3K ₪61.4K

$8,542 ₪25.9K

137.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,233 ₪28.0K

$8,308 ₪25.2K

11.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,825 ₪11.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.99

5.03

-0.80%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: September 8, 2026

Last update for Beit Shemesh: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,866 in Jerusalem versus $1,646 in Beit Shemesh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Jerusalem versus $135 in Beit Shemesh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $503 vs $524 – making Jerusalem 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 Beit Shemesh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beit Shemesh is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,383 per month in Jerusalem and $4,715 in Beit Shemesh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jerusalem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Beit Shemesh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Jerusalem and $135 in Beit Shemesh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,922 in Jerusalem and $3,143 in Beit Shemesh. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Jerusalem – 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 Jerusalem. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beit Shemesh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.