Cost of Living in Israel
Israel consistently ranks among the more expensive countries in the OECD. Groceries, dining out, and housing are all notably pricier than in most of Europe. But Israelis have developed a culture of discount-seeking that new olim can tap into immediately. Knowing where to shop, when to buy, and which apps to use can cut your monthly food and entertainment budget by 20-40%.
Supermarket Chains: Know the Price Difference
Not all Israeli supermarkets are equal in price. Here's the general hierarchy from cheapest to most expensive:
- Rami Levy (רמי לוי): Israel's budget champion. Prices are typically 15-30% lower than mid-market chains. The stores are no-frills and can be busy, but the savings are real. Check if there's a branch near you first.
- Victory (ויקטורי) / Yochananof (יוחננוף): Mid-range regional chains with competitive prices and good quality.
- Shufersal (שופרסל) Deal / Big: Shufersal's discount formats offer decent prices with the convenience of a large national chain.
- Shufersal Sheli / Mega: Mid-range, convenient but not the cheapest.
- AM:PM / Tiv Ta'am: Convenience and specialty stores. Much more expensive for daily staples.
Doing your main weekly shop at Rami Levy or a budget chain and supplementing with a local convenience store for top-ups can save 400-600 NIS per month for a family.
Supermarket Club Cards: Always Get One
Every major Israeli supermarket chain has a free club card (kluv) that unlocks member pricing. Without the club card, you pay full price. With it, most items drop to the advertised sale price. Sign up immediately — it takes two minutes in the store.
- Shufersal Club: significant discounts, free to join
- Rami Levy Club: additional discounts on top of already-low prices
- Victory Club, Yochananof Club: similar structure
Club memberships are typically set up through הוראת קבע (Hora'at Keva) for any associated monthly fee, though most basic cards are genuinely free.
Sale Days and Timing
Israeli supermarkets run deep weekly deals, usually publicized on their apps and websites. Shufersal's biggest sale day is typically Wednesday or Thursday. Rami Levy runs rotating promotions. Check the weekly flyer (עלון) on the chain's app before shopping to plan around discounts.
Food Delivery Apps: Deals Exist
Wolt and 10bis are the dominant food delivery platforms in Israel. Both regularly offer discount codes, cashback, and corporate meal allowance programs:
- 10bis: Primarily a corporate lunch benefit card — many Israeli employers load a monthly allowance (typically 300-600 NIS) onto a 10bis card for employee meals. Ask your employer if this is offered.
- Wolt: Consumer delivery app. Sign up for Wolt+ for a monthly fee that covers free delivery — worthwhile if you order more than once a week.
- Watch for first-order discount codes shared in WhatsApp olim groups — often 30-50 NIS off your first order.
Second-Hand Culture: Yad2 and Facebook Groups
Israel has a thriving second-hand market that olim often overlook. For furniture, appliances, baby gear, electronics, and clothing:
- Yad2 (יד2): Israel's Craigslist and Gumtree combined. Everything from sofas to cars. Essential for furnishing an apartment cheaply when you first arrive.
- Facebook Marketplace: Active in most Israeli cities. Many olim communities have dedicated groups ("Anglo olim selling/buying" groups in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, etc.).
- WhatsApp group freebies: Neighborhood WhatsApp groups (shchuna groups) regularly post free items — especially mattresses, baby items, and furniture from families who are moving.
When furnishing your first Israeli apartment, buying 80% second-hand and 20% new can save you 5,000-15,000 NIS compared to buying everything at IKEA or local furniture stores.
Other Daily Savings Tips
- Carrefour / Osher Ad: Worth visiting for bulk staples, cleaning products, and pantry items at lower prices.
- Shuk (market): Fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, and fish at the local market are typically fresher and cheaper than supermarkets. The Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem and Carmel Market in Tel Aviv are famous, but every city has its own shuk.
- Use אשראי (Ashrai) for Tashlumim: For larger purchases (appliances, electronics), always ask for interest-free installments rather than paying in full upfront. This preserves your cash flow at zero cost.
- Pharmacy chains vs. hospital pharmacies: Super-Pharm and Newpharma offer significant discounts on over-the-counter medications and supplements compared to hospital pharmacies. Sign up for their club cards too.
The Bigger Picture
Living affordably in Israel is a skill that takes a few months to develop. The olim who struggle with cost of living are usually those who shop like tourists — buying familiar imported brands, using convenience stores for daily shopping, and not leveraging the many discount systems that locals use automatically. Once you know the cheaper chains, have all your club cards, and know your local shuk, the cost of living becomes much more manageable.