Cost of Living Comparison Between Migdal HaEmek and Jerusalem Cost of Living Comparison Between Migdal HaEmek and Jerusalem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,278 per month in Migdal HaEmek vs $2,531 in Jerusalem, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,343 per month in Migdal HaEmek vs $3,714 in Jerusalem, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,409 per month in Migdal HaEmek vs $4,897 in Jerusalem, rent included.

Migdal HaEmek is about 10% cheaper than Jerusalem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Migdal HaEmek and Jerusalem sit above the global median – Migdal HaEmek by 70%, Jerusalem by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.52 ₪61.3

$22.83 ₪65.0

-5.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.9 ₪236

$85.5 ₪243

-3.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.72 ₪44.77

$15.26 ₪43.46

3.01%

Cappuccino

$4.34 ₪12.36

$4.23 ₪12.05

2.60%

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

$2.94 ₪8.37

$2.68 ₪7.62

9.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₪6.47

$2.12 ₪6.03

7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.43 ₪24.01

$8.96 ₪25.50

-5.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.24 ₪23.46

$8.29 ₪23.61

-0.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₪5.57

$2.10 ₪5.99

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 ₪7.45

$2.42 ₪6.88

8.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 ₪8.12

$2.86 ₪8.15

-0.35%

Eggs

$4.11 ₪11.69

$4.08 ₪11.62

0.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.22 ₪49.04

$13.80 ₪39.28

24.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 ₪30.19

$11.45 ₪32.61

-7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.76 ₪62.0

$17.44 ₪49.65

24.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 ₪14.02

$3.25 ₪9.26

51.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 ₪6.93

$1.98 ₪5.65

22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 ₪6.67

$1.80 ₪5.12

30.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₪6.34

$2.45 ₪6.97

-8.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 ₪6.03

$1.74 ₪4.97

21.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ₪4.29

$1.50 ₪4.28

0.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ₪5.51

$2.02 ₪5.74

-3.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₪4.87

$1.42 ₪4.05

20.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 ₪30.79

$9.95 ₪28.33

8.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.91 ₪48.15

$16.64 ₪47.39

1.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₪8.04

$2.44 ₪6.96

15.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ₪10.15

$2.76 ₪7.86

29.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 ₪4.34

$1.72 ₪4.90

-11.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 ₪185

$66.6 ₪190

-2.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 ₪11.94

$3.50 ₪9.97

19.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 ₪2.33

$0.92 ₪2.62

-10.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.22 ₪91.7

$27.88 ₪79.4

15.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.10 ₪5.97

$1.99 ₪5.68

5.53%

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

$45.1K ₪128.4K

$45.9K ₪130.5K

-1.68%

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

$46.5K ₪132.5K

$46.7K ₪132.8K

-0.25%

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

$236 ₪673

$231 ₪657

2.35%

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

$12.49 ₪35.56

$12.24 ₪34.84

2.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.55 ₪84.1

$28.59 ₪81.4

3.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.94 ₪142

$87.1 ₪248

-42.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.63 ₪53.1

$29.76 ₪84.7

-37.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.57 ₪35.78

$12.56 ₪35.75

0.08%

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

$1,065 ₪3,033

$877 ₪2,497

21.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,935 ₪11.2K

$21.1K ₪60.2K

-81.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 ₪254

$103 ₪293

-13.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.8 ₪162

$63.8 ₪182

-10.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₪331

$125 ₪355

-6.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₪307

$117 ₪334

-8.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 ₪2,959

$1,551 ₪4,417

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 ₪2,604

$1,134 ₪3,229

-19.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 ₪4,274

$2,765 ₪7,872

-45.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,404 ₪3,999

$1,900 ₪5,410

-26.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.4K ₪29.5K

$21.3K ₪60.7K

-51.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,145 ₪23.2K

$9,585 ₪27.3K

-15.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,273 ₪6,472

$4,196 ₪11.9K

-45.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

-35.17%

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

Last update for Migdal HaEmek: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jerusalem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,039 in Migdal HaEmek 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 85% 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 $83.0 in Migdal HaEmek versus $86.0 in Jerusalem. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Migdal HaEmek vs $356 in Jerusalem – 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

Migdal HaEmek vs Jerusalem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,278 in Migdal HaEmek, $2,531 in Jerusalem – roughly 11% apart. Jerusalem costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,416 per month in Migdal HaEmek and $3,796 in Jerusalem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Migdal HaEmek, 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 $83.0 in Migdal HaEmek and $86.0 in Jerusalem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,278 in Migdal HaEmek and $2,531 in Jerusalem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Migdal HaEmek, where all-in costs run around $2,278, than in Jerusalem at $2,531. In Migdal HaEmek it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jerusalem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Migdal HaEmek – 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 Migdal HaEmek. 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.