Cost of Living Comparison Between Tel Aviv-Yafo and Migdal HaEmek Cost of Living Comparison Between Tel Aviv-Yafo and Migdal HaEmek

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,654 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs $2,671 in Migdal HaEmek, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,372 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs $4,003 in Migdal HaEmek, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,090 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo vs $5,335 in Migdal HaEmek, rent included.

Tel Aviv-Yafo costs about 37% more than Migdal HaEmek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tel Aviv-Yafo and Migdal HaEmek sit above the global median – Tel Aviv-Yafo by 167%, Migdal HaEmek by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.71 ₪81.0

$26.37 ₪80.0

1.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$132 ₪401

$103 ₪312

28.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.97 ₪63.6

$18.05 ₪54.7

16.18%

Cappuccino

$5.35 ₪16.22

$4.61 ₪13.99

16.05%

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

$3.92 ₪11.88

$3.57 ₪10.83

9.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₪9.64

$2.68 ₪8.12

18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.99 ₪33.34

$10.84 ₪32.87

1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.17 ₪33.88

$10.19 ₪30.92

9.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 ₪8.02

$2.57 ₪7.81

2.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 ₪13.66

$3.61 ₪10.95

24.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 ₪11.26

$3.04 ₪9.23

22.04%

Eggs

$5.31 ₪16.11

$4.68 ₪14.18

13.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.66 ₪65.7

$12.98 ₪39.38

66.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.53 ₪50.1

$12.76 ₪38.69

29.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.09 ₪76.1

$22.79 ₪69.1

10.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 ₪14.54

$4.45 ₪13.50

7.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.99 ₪12.09

$2.93 ₪8.89

36.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 ₪7.39

$2.39 ₪7.25

2.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 ₪10.60

$2.49 ₪7.57

40.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₪5.69

$1.69 ₪5.12

10.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ₪5.81

$1.45 ₪4.40

32.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 ₪8.23

$2.43 ₪7.36

11.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 ₪7.95

$2.20 ₪6.67

19.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.52 ₪44.05

$10.16 ₪30.82

42.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.36 ₪49.63

$12.88 ₪39.06

27.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.68 ₪11.15

$3.21 ₪9.72

14.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 ₪15.04

$4.15 ₪12.59

19.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 ₪7.72

$2.51 ₪7.60

1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$104 ₪315

$78.2 ₪237

32.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.36 ₪13.22

$4.41 ₪13.38

-1.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 ₪3.35

$1.20 ₪3.65

-7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.41 ₪58.9

$36.83 ₪112

-47.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.60 ₪7.88

$2.64 ₪8.01

-1.52%

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

$57.6K ₪174.7K

$58.7K ₪178.0K

-1.88%

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

$56.0K ₪169.7K

$58.5K ₪177.3K

-4.26%

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

$457 ₪1,387

$197 ₪596

132.51%

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

$11.31 ₪34.30

$11.68 ₪35.43

-3.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.27 ₪107

$35.90 ₪109

-1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$111 ₪337

$66.5 ₪202

67.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.29 ₪70.6

Cinema Ticket

$15.75 ₪47.78

$15.53 ₪47.11

1.42%

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

$1,721 ₪5,220

$1,167 ₪3,539

47.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.8K ₪96.4K

$29.3K ₪89.0K

8.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$127 ₪384

$112 ₪341

12.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$88.4 ₪268

$64.9 ₪197

36.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$173 ₪525

$132 ₪399

31.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 ₪613

$155 ₪471

30.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 ₪6,618

$1,401 ₪4,250

55.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,643 ₪4,984

$1,051 ₪3,188

56.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,610 ₪10.9K

$2,163 ₪6,562

66.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 ₪8,201

$2,173 ₪6,590

24.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.4K ₪61.9K

$11.0K ₪33.4K

85.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.4K ₪40.6K

$8,482 ₪25.7K

57.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,158 ₪12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.03

5.05

-0.40%

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

Last update for Tel Aviv-Yafo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Migdal HaEmek: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,182 in Tel Aviv-Yafo versus $1,401 in Migdal HaEmek. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $132 in Tel Aviv-Yafo versus $103 in Migdal HaEmek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $518 vs $420 – making Migdal HaEmek 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 Migdal HaEmek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tel Aviv-Yafo costs about 37% more than Migdal HaEmek, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,480 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo and $4,006 in Migdal HaEmek. 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.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Migdal HaEmek. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,721 per month in Tel Aviv-Yafo and $1,167 in Migdal HaEmek. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,654 in Tel Aviv-Yafo and $2,671 in Migdal HaEmek. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Migdal HaEmek costs $2,671 versus $3,654 in Tel Aviv-Yafo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Tel Aviv-Yafo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.