Israel on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Israel is hard on a budget but doable with hostels, market food and public transport. A realistic minimum is about ₪340 per person per day: bed ₪150, food ₪120, sights ₪40 and transport ₪30.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₪150 | ₪400 | ₪900 |
| Food & drink | ₪120 | ₪250 | ₪450 |
| Sights & tickets | ₪40 | ₪90 | ₪180 |
| Local transport | ₪30 | ₪100 | ₪200 |
| Per person, per day | ₪340 | ₪840 | ₪1,730 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Israel day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Tel Aviv beach promenade from the port to Jaffa
- The Western Wall in Jerusalem, open 24 hours
- Walking the Old City lanes and the four quarters
- Free tours of the Bahá'í Gardens in Haifa (check times)
- The Bauhaus buildings of the White City along Rothschild Boulevard
- Carmel Market and Mahane Yehuda Market
Cheap eats
- Falafel in pita: about ₪20-30
- Hummus plate with pita: about ₪30-45
- Sabich (aubergine and egg pita): about ₪25-35
- Burekas from a bakery: a few shekels each
- Shakshuka breakfast in a simple cafe: about ₪45-60
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in Tel Aviv's Florentin and Jerusalem's city centre, many with kitchens and rooftop bars; private rooms cost ₪250-400, and dorm beds less. Galilee has kibbutz guesthouses and hostels.
Getting around cheaply
Trains link the airport, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Akko and Jerusalem cheaply (Tel Aviv to Jerusalem about ₪20). Use a Rav-Kav card or the Moovit app for buses and the Jerusalem light rail. Plan around Shabbat, when most public transport stops.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk the promenade to Old Jaffa and the flea market (free)
- Lunch: falafel or sabich at Carmel Market (about ₪30)
- Afternoon: Neve Tzedek and the White City buildings on Rothschild (free)
- Evening: sunset on Gordon beach and supermarket picnic dinner (about ₪50)
- Total: about ₪340 including a hostel bed
More ways to save
- Buy Friday food before shops close for Shabbat; prices and choice drop later.
- Take the train from the airport instead of a taxi.
- Visit Mahane Yehuda just before Shabbat closing, when vendors cut prices.
- Choose a hostel with free breakfast or a kitchen.
- Combine Caesarea, Haifa and Akko on one rental-car day rather than separate tours.
- Drink tap water instead of buying bottles.
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Common questions
Can I visit Israel on a budget?
Yes, at about ₪340 a day with hostels, market food and trains, though it is still pricier than its neighbours.
Does public transport run on Shabbat?
Mostly not: trains and most buses stop from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. Haifa buses and some sherut routes run.
What are the best free things to do in Israel?
The Western Wall, Jerusalem's Old City lanes, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa promenade, the Bahá'í Gardens tours and the markets.