Cost Of Living

A new study by the State Comptroller casts doubt on the assertion that Israel is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Among other things, the researchers found that the international price index pointed to Israel's disadvantage in the field of food prices, even though the OECD recorded an increase 3 times higher.

The major food chain has partnered with a non-profit organization to open a store in Rehovot for families in need, offering products at significantly discounted prices.

Saving 2,000 shekels on rent adds up to 24,000 shekels a year, but an extra 20 minutes each way can turn into about 15 hours a month per person and add about 300 shekels just for gas. Hybrid work can change the calculation, but when there are children, the distance to schools and daycare also enters the equation.

Asaf tried to be a carpenter but realized his passion is in cooking and today he works at a pizzeria. May teaches English mainly via Zoom and simultaneously acts in children's plays. They live in Tel Aviv, and to survive the cost of living in the city, they host friends at their home instead of going out to restaurants and compare prices online. "I will fast before I go into the red." The Tzurieli...

Deputy Chairman of the Mortgage Consultants Association, Avi Yusufov, explains what is behind the drop in the number of delinquencies and talks about the wave of refinancing sweeping the market: "More households have consolidated existing loans."

As the cost of living in Israel hits record highs, many Israelis are moving to Thailand, where luxury living is available for a fraction of the usual costs.

The Iranian blockade and Houthi threats have shifted cargo transport from sea routes to land routes through Jordan. Staffing shortages and reduced operating hours at the Jordan River Crossing are causing significant delays. Imports for companies like Sugat and ICL are being stalled, threatening consumer prices. The Israel Airports Authority attributes the congestion to current security...

International airlines are gradually returning to Israel, increasing air cargo capacity and driving down transport costs. However, despite these lower logistics expenses, consumer prices remain high, failing to reflect the market stabilization.

Professor Moshe Cohen-Eliya blames the "economic deep state" for the cost of living, but the address is elsewhere: the government is the one that holds the power to change reality – and it is the one that must be held accountable.

Business municipal tax (Arnona) in Israel is 40% higher than the OECD average, directly fueling the cost of living. The author argues that authorities must demonstrate efficiency before requesting further hikes.

Not a secret cartel and not a conspiracy: a system of regulation, entry barriers, centralization, and interest groups maintains the high cost of living in Israel. From supermarkets and banks to cars and housing — this is how the "economic deep state" operates.

Tel Aviv has secured the third spot in Deutsche Bank's cost of living index, trailing only Zurich and Geneva. While prices for goods and services remain high, data suggests that grocery costs relative to income are comparable to those in New York.

Heatwaves and drought in Europe are raising concerns about food prices, but the strengthening shekel and falling raw material costs suggest otherwise. Before climate becomes an excuse for another price hike, it is worth examining what actually impacts the Israeli consumer basket.

The average monthly expenditure of a household in Israel is 18,088 shekels, but a family with two children in the center can exceed 25 thousand.

Guy Lerer, who established the supermarket as part of the protest against the cost of living in Israel, summarized the opening event last night of the new branch in Harish. Attaching a picture of himself looking exhausted but satisfied, he wrote moving words.

Until now, you have heard about him mainly through videos on social networks. You may have even come across another video of his about the cost of living that exploded in your feed, or another attack on banks, monopolies, or politicians. But behind the videos and big promises is a person who is now asking for one thing — real political power.

The Israeli hamburger chain Burgeranch is launching a major summer campaign with an investment of approximately 3 million shekels, offering the 'Family Combina' meal at a special price of 149 shekels.

Behind the discourse on the cost of living hides a much heavier price, which is not measured in numbers. The Israeli reality exacts a deep emotional toll, and the struggle against it requires listening, responsibility, and the ability to identify distress before it is too late. A special column in memory of the late Asaf Dagan.

Data from the Arlozorov-Yesodot Institute, a research body within the Histadrut, show that the reduction of customs duties on tuna was successful and lowered prices. However, this did not prevent it from publishing an opposite conclusion in the competing newspaper Calcalist. This is how the method of analytical bodies that try to fight opening the market to competition works - even when the...

The Keshet 12 host shared his surprising experiences from a two-week vacation abroad, explaining what made him feel like a rich man and what important lesson his country must learn from the place he visited.

The host of "HaTzinor" revealed that the consumer project "Super HaTzinor" is already operating in 3 branches, but now he is facing an unexpected challenge – his primary media career. Lehrer turned to his followers for ideas on how to scale the project without compromising its non-profit mission.

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Beyachad party, has launched a fierce attack on the food giant Tnuva. He vowed to dismantle the company's monopolies and reduce food prices by at least 30%.

Europe is already there, Israel is far behind: the Shufersal model or the Carrefour model, who will win? Does reducing the power of suppliers only increase the power of the chains themselves?

Since the outbreak of the war, public spending has been expanded, but the bulk of the addition was directed to emergency response, evacuation, compensation, and initial rehabilitation, rather than to strengthening broad, universal, and stable public services.

Despite the cost of living, overdrafts, and mortgages, Israelis continue to fly, eat, celebrate, and 'set the table'. From austerity to show-off, generosity has become a national trait that is hard to extinguish. This is how we became a people that spends and continues to redraw the red line.

Internet personality Maya Wertheimer revealed the truth behind her sponsored collaboration with a well-known premium brand and explained why she approached the management with an unprecedented demand to lower prices for parents in Israel.

In a report on Channel 12 that dealt with the cost of living and the question of how much it costs to grow old in Israel, Yossi, a pensioner in his 70s, revealed his monthly expenses which reached an especially high amount. In front of the cameras he admitted with pain: 'My daughter helps me with food containers, it is a shame' | All the details

Private kindergartens crossing the 10,000-shekel threshold, strollers priced like a used car, and the long-deflated “million shekels” myth: raising children in Israel in 2026 is an economic task that squeezes the middle class. A look at the numbers behind parenting—and why parents struggle to keep their heads above water, from the first diaper to the day of release from IDF service.

Food prices have risen by 15% since the government was sworn in. The Minister of Finance has not dismantled any monopolies despite his promises. Benjamin Netanyahu's pledge of free education for children aged zero to three remains unfulfilled, and Israel ranks second only to Switzerland in The Economist's Big Mac index.

The annual student survey reveals a young generation grappling with economic distress, burnout, and a loss of trust in the government. A majority of students state that the cost of living will determine their vote, and 28% are already considering emigration after graduation. The National Union of Students plans to demand that party leaders adopt a 'National Program for Israel’s Youth.'

As candidate lists for the Knesset are finalized, a lack of economic expertise among new candidates raises concerns about the next government's ability to address the cost of living crisis.

Rising cost of living in the United States is eroding the budgets of homeowners associations (HOA) and is leading to an increase in requests for home foreclosures. According to ATTOM, in the first quarter of 2026 these associations filed 6,376 foreclosure requests—nearly 40% more than in the corresponding period in 2024, and in 2025 they filed over 285,000 foreclosure requests, an 8.8% increase...

Israel has reached second place globally in The Economist's Big Mac Index, trailing only Switzerland. The 25% jump in dollar-denominated prices is driven by the strengthening of the shekel to 3 NIS per dollar.

Amid rising parking rates at Tel Aviv beach lots, journalist Anat Davidov has criticized Mayor Ron Huldai, highlighting the city's high cost of living and persistent infrastructure issues.

Israelis continue to feel the impact of the cost of living, which is reflected in their shopping habits. Data from StoreNext shows a decrease in the quantity of consumer goods purchased in the second quarter, as shoppers become more cautious with their expenses.

Even the world's wealthiest are not immune to economic shifts. A new report by Julius Baer reveals the rising costs of a luxury lifestyle and how global elites are adapting their financial habits.