Cost of Living Comparison Between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem Cost of Living Comparison Between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,283 per month in Maale Adumim vs $2,531 in Jerusalem, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,321 per month in Maale Adumim vs $3,714 in Jerusalem, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,359 per month in Maale Adumim vs $4,897 in Jerusalem, rent included.

Maale Adumim is about 10% cheaper than Jerusalem, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Maale Adumim and Jerusalem sit above the global median – Maale Adumim by 70%, Jerusalem by 89%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.65 ₪64.5
$22.83 ₪65.0
-0.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 ₪243
$85.5 ₪243
-0.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.31 ₪43.58
$15.26 ₪43.46
0.33%
Cappuccino
$3.64 ₪10.37
$4.23 ₪12.05
-13.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ₪7.63
$2.68 ₪7.62
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₪6.10
$2.12 ₪6.03
0.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.35 ₪23.79
$8.96 ₪25.50
-6.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.39 ₪23.90
$8.29 ₪23.61
1.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ₪5.58
$2.10 ₪5.99
-6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 ₪7.35
$2.42 ₪6.88
6.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 ₪6.81
$2.86 ₪8.15
-16.43%
Eggs
$4.08 ₪11.62
$4.08 ₪11.62
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.92 ₪39.65
$13.80 ₪39.28
0.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.17 ₪31.80
$11.45 ₪32.61
-2.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.39 ₪49.51
$17.44 ₪49.65
-0.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 ₪8.60
$3.25 ₪9.26
-7.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 ₪5.66
$1.98 ₪5.65
0.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 ₪4.91
$1.80 ₪5.12
-4.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 ₪5.41
$2.45 ₪6.97
-22.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 ₪4.09
$1.74 ₪4.97
-17.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ₪3.58
$1.50 ₪4.28
-16.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 ₪5.69
$2.02 ₪5.74
-0.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₪4.05
$1.42 ₪4.05
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.01 ₪28.51
$9.95 ₪28.33
0.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.92 ₪39.63
$16.64 ₪47.39
-16.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ₪7.13
$2.44 ₪6.96
2.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 ₪8.35
$2.76 ₪7.86
6.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 ₪4.70
$1.72 ₪4.90
-4.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.0 ₪185
$66.6 ₪190
-2.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 ₪10.40
$3.50 ₪9.97
4.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 ₪2.44
$0.92 ₪2.62
-6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.39 ₪95.1
$27.88 ₪79.4
19.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 ₪5.63
$1.99 ₪5.68
-0.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K ₪112.2K
$45.9K ₪130.5K
-14.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K ₪119.1K
$46.7K ₪132.8K
-10.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 ₪646
$231 ₪657
-1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.09 ₪31.56
$12.24 ₪34.84
-9.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.40 ₪83.7
$28.59 ₪81.4
2.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.0 ₪185
$87.1 ₪248
-25.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.46 ₪52.6
$29.76 ₪84.7
-37.97%
Cinema Ticket
$12.57 ₪35.80
$12.56 ₪35.75
0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$842 ₪2,396
$877 ₪2,497
-4.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,700 ₪13.4K
$21.1K ₪60.2K
-77.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 ₪302
$103 ₪293
2.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.8 ₪182
$63.8 ₪182
0.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₪359
$125 ₪355
1.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 ₪398
$117 ₪334
18.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,035 ₪2,948
$1,551 ₪4,417
-33.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$932 ₪2,654
$1,134 ₪3,229
-17.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,520 ₪4,329
$2,765 ₪7,872
-45.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,386 ₪3,947
$1,900 ₪5,410
-27.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,908 ₪16.8K
$21.3K ₪60.7K
-72.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,288 ₪17.9K
$9,585 ₪27.3K
-34.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maale Adumim
Jerusalem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,392 ₪9,659
$4,196 ₪11.9K
-19.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
6
-

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

Last update for Maale Adumim: June 2, 2026

Last update for Jerusalem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,035 in Maale Adumim versus $1,551 in Jerusalem. 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 24% 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 $85.0 in Maale Adumim versus $86.0 in Jerusalem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $356 – making Maale Adumim 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
Maale Adumim vs Jerusalem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Maale Adumim and Jerusalem compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,283 in Maale Adumim, $2,531 in Jerusalem – roughly 11% apart. Jerusalem costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Maale Adumim compared to Jerusalem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,424 per month in Maale Adumim and $3,796 in Jerusalem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maale Adumim, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Maale Adumim and $86.0 in Jerusalem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maale Adumim or Jerusalem?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,283 in Maale Adumim and $2,531 in Jerusalem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maale Adumim, where all-in costs run around $2,283, than in Jerusalem at $2,531. In Maale Adumim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jerusalem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Maale Adumim or Jerusalem?
Families tend to lean toward Maale Adumim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Maale Adumim or Jerusalem safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem?
If budget matters most, go with Maale Adumim. 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.

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