Cost of Living Comparison Between Tel Aviv-Yafo and Arad Cost of Living Comparison Between Tel Aviv-Yafo and Arad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,662 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs $2,261 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,114 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs $3,253 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,565 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs $4,244 in Arad, rent included.

Tel Aviv-Yafo costs about 18% more than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tel Aviv-Yafo and Arad sit above the global median – Tel Aviv-Yafo by 98%, Arad by 68%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.33 ₪65.1
$18.08 ₪52.7
23.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114 ₪332
$60.0 ₪175
89.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.76 ₪48.88
$15.35 ₪44.77
9.19%
Cappuccino
$4.08 ₪11.90
$2.78 ₪8.11
46.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ₪9.33
$2.75 ₪8.00
16.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₪7.23
$2.05 ₪5.98
20.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.90 ₪25.97
$4.23 ₪12.35
110.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.53 ₪24.86
$8.62 ₪25.12
-1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₪6.02
$1.77 ₪5.15
16.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 ₪8.70
$2.59 ₪7.54
15.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 ₪9.36
$2.42 ₪7.06
32.64%
Eggs
$4.01 ₪11.70
$4.13 ₪12.05
-2.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 ₪46.65
$18.69 ₪54.5
-14.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.64 ₪36.85
$11.17 ₪32.58
13.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.58 ₪62.9
$17.79 ₪51.9
21.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.23 ₪12.33
$3.03 ₪8.83
39.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 ₪7.66
$1.99 ₪5.79
32.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 ₪6.66
$1.87 ₪5.45
21.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 ₪9.91
$1.94 ₪5.67
75.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 ₪5.33
$1.39 ₪4.05
31.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 ₪5.59
$1.20 ₪3.51
60.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 ₪6.54
$1.99 ₪5.79
12.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₪4.21
$1.34 ₪3.91
7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.25 ₪32.81
$11.15 ₪32.50
0.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.31 ₪50.5
$13.84 ₪40.34
25.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 ₪8.70
$2.39 ₪6.96
24.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 ₪9.83
$2.95 ₪8.60
14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 ₪6.62
$1.57 ₪4.58
44.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.4 ₪208
$64.9 ₪189
10.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 ₪11.56
$5.85 ₪17.06
-32.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 ₪1.57
$1.70 ₪4.96
-68.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.65 ₪98.1
$44.12 ₪129
-23.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 ₪5.96
$2.04 ₪5.95
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.9K ₪139.8K
$40.2K ₪117.3K
19.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.8K ₪133.6K
$42.0K ₪122.5K
9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$269 ₪786
$255 ₪743
5.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.75 ₪31.33
$10.95 ₪31.92
-1.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.37 ₪88.6
$32.31 ₪94.2
-6.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.6 ₪232
$67.3 ₪196
18.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 ₪57.3
$18.00 ₪52.5
9.22%
Cinema Ticket
$13.42 ₪39.13
$12.37 ₪36.08
8.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,322 ₪3,854
$837 ₪2,441
57.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.8K ₪72.4K
$11.6K ₪33.9K
113.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 ₪314
$115 ₪335
-6.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3 ₪182
$53.8 ₪157
15.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 ₪391
$125 ₪364
7.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 ₪437
$197 ₪573
-23.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,687 ₪4,919
$705 ₪2,056
139.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 ₪3,560
$937 ₪2,734
30.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,111 ₪9,070
$1,119 ₪3,263
177.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,258 ₪6,585
$1,429 ₪4,166
58.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.4K ₪62.5K
$9,335 ₪27.2K
129.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.6K ₪39.6K
$7,403 ₪21.6K
83.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Arad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,401 ₪12.8K
$2,761 ₪8,052
59.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.46
3.5
56.00%

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

Last update for Tel Aviv-Yafo: June 7, 2026

Last update for Arad: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,687 in Tel Aviv-Yafo versus $705 in Arad. 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 59% higher in Tel Aviv-Yafo, 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 $114 in Tel Aviv-Yafo versus $60.0 in Arad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $355 – making Arad 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
Tel Aviv-Yafo vs Arad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tel Aviv-Yafo or Arad?
Tel Aviv-Yafo costs about 18% more than Arad, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs Arad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,993 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo and $3,392 in Arad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tel Aviv-Yafo or Arad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Tel Aviv-Yafo compared to Arad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,662 in Tel Aviv-Yafo and $2,261 in Arad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs Arad?
Public transport costs about 10% less in Arad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tel Aviv-Yafo or Arad?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arad, where all-in costs run around $2,261, than in Tel Aviv-Yafo at $2,662. In Arad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tel Aviv-Yafo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tel Aviv-Yafo or Arad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arad costs $2,261 versus $2,662 in Tel Aviv-Yafo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tel Aviv-Yafo compared to Arad?
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.
Should I move to Tel Aviv-Yafo or Arad?
If budget matters most, go with Arad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tel Aviv-Yafo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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