Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Rishon Leziyyon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Rishon Leziyyon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,532 per month in Jerusalem vs $2,449 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,797 per month in Jerusalem vs $3,697 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,061 per month in Jerusalem vs $4,946 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent included.

Jerusalem costs about 3% more than Rishon Leziyyon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jerusalem and Rishon Leziyyon sit above the global median – Jerusalem by 90%, Rishon Leziyyon by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.32 ₪68.1

$22.33 ₪68.2

-0.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 ₪258

$69.7 ₪213

21.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.44 ₪47.13

$16.93 ₪51.7

-8.80%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ₪12.77

$4.08 ₪12.45

2.45%

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

$2.73 ₪8.34

$3.31 ₪10.11

-17.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₪6.66

$2.47 ₪7.54

-11.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.98 ₪27.40

$9.07 ₪27.68

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 ₪26.30

$8.51 ₪25.99

1.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₪6.27

$1.97 ₪6.01

4.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ₪7.23

$2.39 ₪7.29

-0.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 ₪8.68

$2.92 ₪8.92

-2.74%

Eggs

$4.18 ₪12.77

$4.12 ₪12.57

1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 ₪42.30

$18.92 ₪57.8

-26.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.21 ₪34.22

$14.09 ₪43.01

-20.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.63 ₪53.8

$19.72 ₪60.2

-10.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ₪9.89

$3.58 ₪10.93

-9.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₪6.00

$2.29 ₪6.98

-14.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ₪5.30

$2.17 ₪6.63

-20.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₪7.56

$3.35 ₪10.24

-25.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ₪5.16

$2.02 ₪6.16

-16.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 ₪4.75

$1.52 ₪4.64

2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 ₪6.36

$2.37 ₪7.24

-12.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₪4.35

$1.11 ₪3.39

28.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.63 ₪29.39

$11.15 ₪34.04

-13.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 ₪46.39

$15.25 ₪46.57

-0.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪7.44

$3.01 ₪9.19

-18.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₪8.61

$3.14 ₪9.58

-10.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 ₪5.09

$1.94 ₪5.91

-13.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 ₪205

$66.3 ₪202

1.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ₪10.67

$4.14 ₪12.64

-15.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ₪2.75

$0.80 ₪2.44

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.05 ₪85.6

$32.34 ₪98.7

-13.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 ₪6.20

$1.98 ₪6.04

2.53%

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

$47.0K ₪143.5K

$48.5K ₪147.9K

-2.99%

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

$46.9K ₪143.1K

$48.5K ₪148.0K

-3.28%

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

$230 ₪702

$253 ₪774

-9.29%

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

$12.65 ₪38.63

$10.36 ₪31.64

22.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.19 ₪89.1

$33.34 ₪102

-12.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.0 ₪265

$72.0 ₪220

20.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.74 ₪93.9

$11.10 ₪33.87

176.94%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 ₪38.85

$13.32 ₪40.67

-4.50%

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

$880 ₪2,687

$866 ₪2,643

1.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K ₪66.1K

$10.2K ₪31.1K

112.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ₪318

$100 ₪306

3.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 ₪193

$55.9 ₪171

13.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₪384

$119 ₪364

5.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪357

$147 ₪448

-20.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 ₪4,823

$1,164 ₪3,554

35.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 ₪3,552

$1,020 ₪3,114

14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,801 ₪8,552

$1,666 ₪5,085

68.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₪5,885

$1,762 ₪5,379

9.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.1K ₪61.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,924 ₪27.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 ₪12.1K

$3,098 ₪9,459

27.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

36.36%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: July 11, 2026

Last update for Rishon Leziyyon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,580 in Jerusalem versus $1,164 in Rishon Leziyyon. 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 27% higher in Jerusalem, 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 $84.0 in Jerusalem versus $70.0 in Rishon Leziyyon. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Jerusalem vs $399 in Rishon Leziyyon – so Jerusalem 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 Rishon Leziyyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,532 in Jerusalem, $2,449 in Rishon Leziyyon – roughly 3% apart. Jerusalem costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,798 per month in Jerusalem and $3,673 in Rishon Leziyyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rishon Leziyyon, 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 $84.0 in Jerusalem and $70.0 in Rishon Leziyyon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,532 in Jerusalem and $2,449 in Rishon Leziyyon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rishon Leziyyon, where all-in costs run around $2,449, than in Jerusalem at $2,532. In Rishon Leziyyon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jerusalem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rishon Leziyyon – 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 Rishon Leziyyon. 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.