Which place is cheaper, Haifa or Tel Aviv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tel Aviv or Haifa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tel Aviv or Haifa, 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: Tel Aviv or Haifa?
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.
Haifa
Located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is also a beautiful and strategically located city near the border with Lebanon. The population of Haifa, which is approximately 300,000, is surprisingly diverse. There are Jews, Muslim, and Christian Arabs throughout the city. While Haifa is an industrial city with a strong work ethic and a good job base, it is also a beautiful city with many gardens and a stunning coastline. Today the job base has increasingly become technology based with some large companies such as Google and Microsoft offering employment in the area. Haifa University is also the country's top technology university.
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 dayTel Aviv $138Haifa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Tel Aviv is $138, while the average daily cost in Haifa is $123. 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 Tel Aviv and Haifa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTel Aviv $85Haifa $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTel Aviv $170Haifa $148
Compare Hotels in Tel Aviv and Haifa
Looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv or Haifa? 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: Tel Aviv Hotel Prices and Haifa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tel Aviv $8.66Haifa $4.93
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:
- transfer from bengurion airport to Jerusalem : $200
- suv BG airport transfer to tlv 4 people: $85
- VIP transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $78
- VIP Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $78
- Transfer between Tel Aviv and Eilat: $90
- Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv: $52
- Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem: $91
- Private Airport Transfers to/from Hotel: $114
- Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- Tel Aviv Private Transfer To Dead Sea: $225
- Tel Aviv Private Transfer To Amman: $240
- Tel Aviv Airport TLV to Haifa hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haifa
Also for Haifa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV): $173
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv City: $173
- Transfers all over the Holyland: Haifa, TLV, Airport, JLM, Jordan: $195
Is it cheaper to fly into Tel Aviv or Haifa?
Prices for flights to both Haifa and Tel Aviv 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 dayTel Aviv $27Haifa $44
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
- Private Jaffa Flea Market Hapishpeshim Food Tour: $60
- Tel Aviv Skyline & Yaffo Guided food Tour & Shuk Hapishpishim: $90
Typical Food Prices in Haifa
For Haifa, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tel Aviv $23Haifa $5.68
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:
- Romantic Walking Tour In Tel Aviv for Couples: $240
- Self-guided Graffiti tour in Tel Aviv in your own time and your own pace: $24
- 1-Day Tour Jerusalem and the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv: $129
- All the Best of Tel Aviv Walking Tour: $28
- Best of Golan Heights Day Tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv: $190
- Best of Jerusalem Day Tour from Tel Aviv: $154
- Best of Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem: $189
- Best of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Walking Tour - 1 Day: $89
- Bethlehem and Jericho Day Biblical Tour from Tel Aviv: $190
- Bethlehem and Jerusalem Day Biblical Tour from Tel Aviv: $183
- Bethlehem, Jericho & Jordan River Tour from Tel Aviv: $109
- Caesarea, Haifa And Akko Tour: $99
Tours and Activities in Haifa
For Haifa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Haifa Port Shore Excursion: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port: $120
- Haifa Private Tour: $160
- Haifa, Acre & Rosh Anikra Grottos Haifa Port FullDay Shared Tour: $231
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port. Private Tour: $252
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2024 - Small Group: $255
- Romantic Walking Tour In Haifa for Couples: $289
- Full Day Tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: $290
- Christianity Day Tour: Haifa Port to Nazareth and Sea of Galilee : $295
- Haifa Port: Full-Day Christianity Cruise to Galilee: $394
- Haifa, Acre and Rosh Anikra for Cruises with Licensed Guide: $411
- Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra Private Day Tour: $697
- Wine private tour of Central Israel: $949
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTel Aviv $22Haifa $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour with Shots: $21
- Pub Crawl with Clubs, dance bars and free 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
- Wine Tour North of Israel from Tel Aviv: $959
When comparing the travel costs between Tel Aviv and Haifa, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Middle East, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tel Aviv Expensive? and Is Haifa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tel Aviv or Haifa?
Tel Aviv has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Haifa. When comparing the sizes of Tel Aviv and Haifa, 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.