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 $2,531 per month in Jerusalem vs $1,926 in Beit Shemesh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,714 per month in Jerusalem vs $3,047 in Beit Shemesh, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,897 per month in Jerusalem vs $4,168 in Beit Shemesh, rent included.

Jerusalem costs about 31% more than Beit Shemesh, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh sit above the global median – Jerusalem by 89%, Beit Shemesh by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.83 ₪65.0

$21.53 ₪61.3

6.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 ₪243

$85.6 ₪244

-0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.26 ₪43.46

$14.53 ₪41.36

5.02%

Cappuccino

$4.23 ₪12.05

$4.17 ₪11.88

1.44%

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

$2.68 ₪7.62

$2.86 ₪8.14

-6.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₪6.03

$2.32 ₪6.61

-8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.96 ₪25.50

$9.65 ₪27.48

-7.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 ₪23.61

$8.58 ₪24.43

-3.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₪5.99

$1.92 ₪5.46

9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₪6.88

$2.56 ₪7.30

-5.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 ₪8.15

$2.77 ₪7.88

3.25%

Eggs

$4.08 ₪11.62

$4.01 ₪11.43

1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.80 ₪39.28

$16.71 ₪47.58

-17.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 ₪32.61

$11.07 ₪31.52

3.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.44 ₪49.65

$19.83 ₪56.5

-12.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ₪9.26

$3.62 ₪10.30

-10.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₪5.65

$2.06 ₪5.87

-3.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₪5.12

$1.89 ₪5.38

-4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ₪6.97

$2.34 ₪6.67

4.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ₪4.97

$1.62 ₪4.61

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ₪4.28

$1.63 ₪4.65

-7.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₪5.74

$1.62 ₪4.62

24.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₪4.05

$0.89 ₪2.52

59.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 ₪28.33

$10.56 ₪30.07

-5.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.64 ₪47.39

$13.19 ₪37.55

26.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪6.96

$2.18 ₪6.21

11.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₪7.86

$2.67 ₪7.61

3.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 ₪4.90

$1.71 ₪4.86

0.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₪190

$28.29 ₪80.6

135.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₪9.97

$3.45 ₪9.82

1.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₪2.62

$0.59 ₪1.67

55.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.88 ₪79.4

$21.45 ₪61.1

29.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 ₪5.68

$2.00 ₪5.69

-0.50%

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

$45.9K ₪130.5K

$46.8K ₪133.2K

-2.00%

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

$46.7K ₪132.8K

$45.2K ₪128.8K

3.13%

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

$231 ₪657

$211 ₪600

9.56%

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

$12.24 ₪34.84

$11.90 ₪33.89

2.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.59 ₪81.4

$27.64 ₪78.7

3.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 ₪248

$66.1 ₪188

31.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.76 ₪84.7

$18.34 ₪52.2

62.27%

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 ₪35.75

$12.42 ₪35.38

1.13%

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

$877 ₪2,497

$930 ₪2,648

-5.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K ₪60.2K

$17.0K ₪48.5K

24.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₪293

$75.5 ₪215

36.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₪182

$59.4 ₪169

7.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₪355

$95.3 ₪271

30.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪334

$104 ₪295

13.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 ₪4,417

$818 ₪2,330

89.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 ₪3,229

$707 ₪2,014

60.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,765 ₪7,872

$1,437 ₪4,091

92.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 ₪5,410

$1,349 ₪3,840

40.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.3K ₪60.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,585 ₪27.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,196 ₪11.9K

$4,966 ₪14.1K

-15.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.75

118.18%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Beit Shemesh: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,551 in Jerusalem versus $818 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.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Beit Shemesh, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Jerusalem versus $86.0 in Beit Shemesh. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Jerusalem vs $354 in Beit Shemesh – so Beit Shemesh 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 Beit Shemesh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jerusalem is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,796 per month in Jerusalem and $2,888 in Beit Shemesh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 0% more in Jerusalem, 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 $86.0 in Jerusalem and $86.0 in Beit Shemesh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Beit Shemesh, where all-in costs run around $1,926, than in Jerusalem at $2,531. In Beit Shemesh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jerusalem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Beit Shemesh – 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 Beit Shemesh. 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.