Which place is cheaper, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, as well as one of the most historically rich cities in the world. It is also the largest city in the country. While Tel Aviv holds many of the responsibilities of a capital city, officially, Jerusalem is still considered the capital. It is important to note that most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv, not in Jerusalem.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Israel, The Best Budget Tours to Israel, The Best Tours for Seniors to Israel, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJerusalem $107Tel Aviv $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Jerusalem is $107, while the average daily cost in Tel Aviv is $138. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJerusalem $63Tel Aviv $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJerusalem $126Tel Aviv $170
Compare Hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Looking for a hotel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Jerusalem Hotel Prices and Tel Aviv Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jerusalem $6.64Tel Aviv $8.66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Local Bus$3.13
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Light Rail Jerusalem$9.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jerusalem
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jerusalem:
- Allenby Bridge to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv Private Transfer: $170
- Jerusalem Private Transfer To Petra: $290
- Jerusalem to Allenby Bridge Private Transfer: $150
- Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) - Departure Private Transfer: $77
- Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $70
- Private Airport Transfers to/from Hotel: $146
- Private Intercity Transfer - from your Jerusalem hotel to your Tel Aviv hotel: $90
- Private Jerusalem Departure Transfer - Hotel/Accommodation to Tel Aviv Airport: $48
- Private Transfer from Dead Sea Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $160
- Private Transfer from Jerusalem to Herzlia: $247
- Private Transfer from Tel Aviv hotels to Haifa Cruise Port: $189
- Private Transfer: From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv: $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:
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Local Bus to Central Bus Station$1.56
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Taxi to Airport$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:
- Private Airport Transfer - Tel Aviv (TLV) Airport from or to Tel Aviv City: $34
- Private Transfer Between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $40
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer to Jerusalem to your Hotel/Accommodation: $47
- Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
- Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $52
- Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
- Private Jerusalem Arrival Transfer - Airport to Hotel/Accommodation: $68
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to Multi Destination: $75
- Tel Aviv Airport TLV to Jerusalem city - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
- VIP Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $78
- Private Intercity Transfer - from your Tel Aviv Hotel to your Jerusalem Hotel: $80
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
Prices for flights to both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayJerusalem $31Tel Aviv $27
Typical Food Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of dining costs in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Orange Juice$2.65
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Watermelon$3.98
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Lunch$12
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Food at Market$15
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Juice$2.65
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Bagels$7.96
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Lunch for 2$14
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Snacks$5.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jerusalem
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jerusalem.
- Food Tour in Jerusalem with a Local : $72
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant from Dead Sea: $96
- Mahane Yehuda Market food tour jerusalem: $99
- Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Dead Sea: $115
- The Best Food Tour in Jerusalem--Perfect for Viral Travel Content: $117
- Christmas Eve in Israel: Jerusalem Sightseeing Tour with Dinner and Midnight Mass Viewing in Bethlehem: $125
- Experience Shabbat With Dinner In Jerusalem: $169
Typical Food Prices in Tel Aviv
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:
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Dinner for Two$22
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Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka$129
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Lunch at Segev Sarona$34
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Aroma Iced Coffee$3.71
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Lunch at the airport$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tel Aviv
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tel Aviv.
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $45
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $49
- Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jerusalem $8.43Tel Aviv $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Cooking Classes for 2$33
Tours and Activities in Jerusalem
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Jerusalem are as follows:
- 360 Virtual Tour of Ancient Jerusalem: $6.00
- In The Footsteps of Jesus Day Tour - Dguide Self Guiding App: $7.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line:1.5Hour AudioTour - Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center Ticket: $11
- Bethlehem Christian Guided Tour: $20
- Independent graffiti tour in Jerusalem at your own time and pace: $22
- Bethlehem Half Day Guided Group Tour : $24
- Self-Guided Tour at Machne Yehuda Market with Chef Tali Fridman: $25
- Old City Shabbat Experience and Walking Tour: $28
- Guided Walking Tour of the Old City: $30
- Guided Shabbat Experience in Jerusalem: $30
- Old City of Jerusalem Guided Walking Tour: $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv
Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Masada tour from Tel Aviv$78
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Etzel museum$3.98
Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv
Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Story of Gan HaHashmal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- The Trail of Independence: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Tel Aviv: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Self-guided Graffiti tour in Tel Aviv in your own time and your own pace: $24
- All the Best of Tel Aviv Walking Tour: $28
- Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
- Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port & the Flea Market: $35
- Jaffa and Neve Tzedek Neighborhoods Walking Tour: $39
- Jaffa and Neve Tzedek walking tour: $39
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour: $39
- Tel Aviv Street Art Tour: $39
- Exclusive Private Tour in The Israel Diamond Exchange: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJerusalem $16Tel Aviv $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Beer$4.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Pub Crawl with Clubs, dance bars and free shots: $21
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour with Shots: $21
- Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $24
- Pub Crawl with 4 Stops and Free Shots: $30
- Tel Aviv Craft Beers Pub Crawl: $42
- Bar Crawl tour with local in Tel-Aviv: $150
- Wine Tour North of Israel from Tel Aviv: $959
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. And not only is Jerusalem much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jerusalem would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jerusalem and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tel Aviv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tel Aviv than you might in Jerusalem.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jerusalem Expensive? and Is Tel Aviv Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
Jerusalem has a larger population, and is about 89% larger than the population of Tel Aviv. When comparing the sizes of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.