Spending patterns abroad: Where and on what Israelis spend their money

The leading brands favored by Israelis abroad are Japanese convenience store chains and public transport systems. According to data from Laya by Altschuler Shaham, provided to N12, shopping and retail account for 33.8% of all Israeli spending, surpassing expenditures on restaurants and food (27.8%). However, in practice, more Israelis dine at restaurants abroad than shop in retail stores.

The study, based on credit card transactions and cash withdrawals in July 2026, highlights the following trends:

1. Top merchants by transaction volume: Japanese convenience stores Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart, New York's public transport (MTA), duty-free shops, the Lawson chain, brands like Zara and Uniqlo, and London's public transport services (TfL).

2. Popularity versus spending: Thailand is the most popular destination, with 18% of travelers making a transaction there, yet it ranks only 5th-6th in expenditure per traveler. Japan, while only the seventh most popular destination, ranks 2nd-3rd in spending, with approximately 4,302 NIS per traveler — the highest figure globally.

3. UAE as a stopover: The average single transaction amount in the UAE is the highest in the world at 160 NIS, but total expenditure per traveler is the lowest in the table.

Currency dominance and cash usage:

"70.4% of currency conversions by Israelis abroad are into US dollars, which often serves as an intermediary currency in countries without traded currencies," the report notes.

The Euro follows at 9%, the Thai Baht at 6%, the Japanese Yen at 2.5%, and the British Pound at 1.4%. Thailand remains the "cash capital" for Israelis abroad, with over a third of their spending conducted in cash. Conversely, in Europe — specifically Greece, Italy, and Hungary — cash usage accounts for less than 3.5% of total spending.