Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Petah Tikva Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Petah Tikva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,979 per month in Jerusalem vs $3,230 in Petah Tikva, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,389 per month in Jerusalem vs $4,670 in Petah Tikva, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,800 per month in Jerusalem vs $6,110 in Petah Tikva, rent included.

Jerusalem is about 8% cheaper than Petah Tikva, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Jerusalem and Petah Tikva sit above the global median – Jerusalem by 117%, Petah Tikva by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.63 ₪71.6

$27.19 ₪82.4

-13.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.9 ₪300

$117 ₪354

-15.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.74 ₪59.8

$19.68 ₪59.6

0.30%

Cappuccino

$5.11 ₪15.48

$5.12 ₪15.53

-0.20%

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

$3.52 ₪10.67

$3.74 ₪11.32

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₪8.71

$3.27 ₪9.91

-12.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.47 ₪25.65

$10.49 ₪31.77

-19.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.52 ₪31.87

$10.09 ₪30.58

4.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 ₪7.49

$2.66 ₪8.06

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 ₪10.54

$3.43 ₪10.39

1.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 ₪11.25

$3.86 ₪11.70

-3.89%

Eggs

$4.99 ₪15.12

$5.02 ₪15.21

-0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.52 ₪53.1

$17.91 ₪54.3

-2.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.76 ₪44.71

$15.11 ₪45.77

-2.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$35.85 ₪109

$26.04 ₪78.9

37.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₪13.75

$4.42 ₪13.39

2.71%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₪10.57

$3.35 ₪10.15

4.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₪8.41

$2.54 ₪7.69

9.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₪7.29

$2.74 ₪8.30

-12.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 ₪5.95

$1.92 ₪5.83

2.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 ₪5.33

$1.75 ₪5.30

0.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 ₪6.38

$2.08 ₪6.31

1.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₪5.69

$1.88 ₪5.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.66 ₪41.37

$14.32 ₪43.38

-4.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.74 ₪47.70

$16.90 ₪51.2

-6.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.89 ₪17.85

$3.92 ₪11.87

50.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 ₪18.49

$4.91 ₪14.86

24.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.60 ₪7.88

$2.60 ₪7.89

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.9 ₪212

$65.5 ₪199

6.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.04 ₪12.23

$4.28 ₪12.95

-5.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 ₪3.88

$1.18 ₪3.58

8.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.92 ₪78.5

$20.05 ₪60.7

29.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.76 ₪8.35

$2.65 ₪8.03

4.15%

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

$59.3K ₪179.7K

$59.4K ₪180.0K

-0.15%

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

$59.5K ₪180.1K

$59.9K ₪181.6K

-0.81%

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

$296 ₪898

$411 ₪1,244

-27.83%

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

$12.96 ₪39.25

$11.91 ₪36.08

8.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.62 ₪132

$42.46 ₪129

2.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.3 ₪225

$152 ₪460

-51.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.19 ₪55.1

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 ₪46.30

$15.26 ₪46.22

0.13%

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

$1,444 ₪4,375

$1,465 ₪4,437

-1.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K ₪89.8K

$29.2K ₪88.5K

1.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$120 ₪364

$122 ₪369

-1.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 ₪233

$90.4 ₪274

-15.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$158 ₪478

$178 ₪539

-11.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 ₪505

$165 ₪501

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 ₪5,835

$1,432 ₪4,338

34.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₪3,974

$1,345 ₪4,073

-2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,772 ₪11.4K

$2,365 ₪7,164

59.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,944 ₪5,891

$2,075 ₪6,286

-6.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.6K ₪62.4K

$10.1K ₪30.5K

104.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,202 ₪27.9K

$10.1K ₪30.5K

-8.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,778 ₪11.4K

$3,952 ₪12.0K

-4.39%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Petah Tikva: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,926 in Jerusalem versus $1,432 in Petah Tikva. 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 5% higher in Petah Tikva, 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 $99.0 in Jerusalem versus $117 in Petah Tikva. Groceries tell a different story – $509 in Jerusalem vs $473 in Petah Tikva – so Petah Tikva 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 Petah Tikva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,979 in Jerusalem, $3,230 in Petah Tikva – roughly 8% apart. Petah Tikva costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,469 per month in Jerusalem and $4,844 in Petah Tikva. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Jerusalem and $117 in Petah Tikva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,979 in Jerusalem and $3,230 in Petah Tikva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,979 in Jerusalem and $3,230 in Petah Tikva. 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, Petah Tikva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.