Money and costs

The Israeli currency is the Shekel (ILS). There are ATMs in the main cities and towns and credit card payments are possible in the most sophisticated establishments. Israel is the country in the Middle East with the highest cost of living, comparable to that of Western Europe and the United States. Get ready to easily spend a minimum of €80 per day, relatively more if you rent a car or take longer journeys on public transport.

ACCOMMODATION

As a country that “exports” its spare backpackers all over the world, Israel has its guest houses and alternative hostels at controlled prices. Expect to pay from €30 a night. For visitors used to more comfort and refinement, there is also no lack of sophisticated and expensive hotels and resorts across the country, with exorbitant rates.

FOOD

A full meal in a restaurant with some sophistication can easily cost €40 to €50. If you have to spend significantly less, opt for bars that serve traditional ready-to-eat snacks like falafel in pita bread, or shwarma in lafa. Accompanied by a drink, they cost around €9.

INTERNET

It is fast and stable and almost always included in hostel and hotel rates. Bars and cafes with free access inside and terraces are common. Anyway, if you need to go to an internet cafe, expect to pay around €3,50 per hour of browsing. The entire center of Jerusalem is considered a free Wi-fi area. The Israeli government plans to extend the offer to more parts of the city and to other cities.