Israel: cost of living

What is the poverty rate in Israel?

20.7% of people in Israel lived in poverty in 2024, about 2 million people, including 880,500 children, according to the National Insurance Institute poverty report for 2024. 28.0% of children and 20.0% of families were below the poverty line.

The Institute uses a relative measure: a household is poor if its net income per standard person is below half the median. By that line a couple with two children needed NIS 11,352 a month to be above it in 2024. The report adds a preliminary estimate for 2025 of 21.0% of people and 28.8% of children. The poverty rate among children rose from 27.6% in 2023.

Official sources: National Insurance Institute poverty report for 2024

How much have food prices risen in Israel?

Food prices in Israel, including fruit and vegetables, were 1.0% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics consumer price index. They fell 0.4% in the month.

Food rose less than the overall index, which was up 1.5% over the same year. The index measures the change in prices, not their level, so it does not say whether food is expensive compared with other countries. CBS publishes indices for each food group, for example beef, which was 5.0% dearer than a year earlier, and for fruit and vegetables, which were 0.9% dearer.

Official sources: Central Bureau of Statistics consumer price index

How much have petrol prices risen in Israel?

The price of vehicle fuel and oils in Israel's consumer price index was 12.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, and 7.2% higher than in July, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics consumer price index.

Petrol prices in Israel are capped by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, which updates the maximum pump price at the start of each month in line with world prices, the exchange rate and excise duty, so the index tends to move in steps. In the same month, the electricity component of the index was 0.4% higher than a year earlier.

Official sources: Central Bureau of Statistics consumer price index · electricity component

What is the average household income in Israel?

Israeli households had an average gross money income of NIS 26,330 a month in 2023 and a net income of NIS 21,606, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Survey, summarised in Israel in Figures 2025. Average consumption spending was NIS 18,088 a month.

Housing took 25.3% of spending, transport and communications 18.6% and food 17.9%. CBS notes a break in the income series in 2023, when it began to use administrative files, so these figures cannot be compared with earlier years. The survey is also used to set the weights in the consumer price index.

Official sources: Israel in Figures 2025

How fast are rents rising in Israel?

Rents in Israel were 3.1% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the rent component of the Central Bureau of Statistics consumer price index. They rose 0.4% in the month.

The index follows rents for the same dwellings over time, for both renewed and new leases, so it measures the change in rent rather than its level. The average rent was NIS 4,717 a month in 2024, according to Israel in Figures 2025, when the rent index rose 3.5%. Rent makes up a large part of the housing component of the index.

Official sources: Central Bureau of Statistics consumer price index · Israel in Figures 2025

What is Israel's inflation rate?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 3.0%. The peak was 4.5% in 2008 and the low -0.6% in 2015. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 1.9%, and Israel placed 6th highest of 18. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 83rd highest.

What is household spending per person in Israel?

In 2025, household consumption per person in Israel was $22,007, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at $22,015; its low point was 2005, at $16,091. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: $2,629; Israel is 1st highest of 11. World rank, highest first: 17th of 124.

What is the extreme poverty rate in Israel?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2022, is 0.4%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.3% (2011) to 0.9% (2005). It is 4th highest of 5 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 2.8%. Of 72 countries with 2022 data, 48th highest.

How unequal are incomes in Israel?

According to the World Bank, the Gini index in Israel was 38.3 in 2022. The peak was 42.6 in 2009 and the low 37.8 in 2020. It is 1st highest of 5 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 34.8. World rank, highest first: 22nd of 72.

How many people in Israel face food insecurity?

8.9%: that is moderate or severe food insecurity in Israel for 2024, according to the FAO. Since 2015 it has ranged from 7.2% (2022) to 12.7% (2018). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 24.2%, and Israel placed 12th highest of 13. Of 135 countries with 2024 data, 102nd highest.