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Jerusalem on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Jerusalem is pricey but workable on a budget, because many of its most important sights are free and street food is good. A realistic daily minimum is about ₪315 (roughly €80) per person sharing a room.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₪150 | ₪400 | ₪1,000 |
| Food & drink | ₪120 | ₪220 | ₪400 |
| Sights & tickets | ₪30 | ₪100 | ₪200 |
| Local transport | ₪15 | ₪40 | ₪120 |
| Per person, per day | ₪315 | ₪760 | ₪1,720 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Jerusalem day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Western Wall, open day and night
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center (book a free slot)
- The view from the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane
- Walking the Via Dolorosa and the Old City's four quarters
- Mahane Yehuda market by day and its bar scene at night
Cheap eats
- Falafel, roughly ₪15-25
- Hummus at places such as Lina near the Holy Sepulchre, roughly ₪25-40
- Jerusalem sesame bread (ka'ak), roughly ₪5-10
- Knafeh, roughly ₪15-25 a portion
- Jerusalem mixed grill on Agripas Street, roughly ₪40-60
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels inside the Old City walls or along Jaffa Road near the light rail, about ₪300-500 for a double, with dorm beds cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
The Old City is walk-only. The light rail Red Line costs about ₪6 a ride with a Rav-Kav card or contactless card. From Ben Gurion Airport, the train to Yitzhak Navon station costs about ₪20; a shared sherut is about ₪70.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Holy Sepulchre at opening and the Via Dolorosa (free)
- Lunch: hummus and ka'ak in the Old City, about ₪40
- Afternoon: Western Wall (free), then the Mount of Olives viewpoint on foot
- Evening: falafel and a drink at Mahane Yehuda, about ₪60
- Total: about ₪315 including a shared hostel room
More ways to save
- Plan around Shabbat: buy food on Friday morning, since many places close until Saturday evening.
- Book Yad Vashem's free slot and the Western Wall Tunnels in advance.
- Walk the Mount of Olives down rather than up, taking a taxi to the top if needed.
- Ask prices before ordering at Old City juice and spice stalls.
- Use East Jerusalem shops and eateries, which stay open on Saturdays.
- Carry a refillable bottle; tap water is safe.
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Common questions
Can you visit Jerusalem on a budget?
Yes. Hostels, street food and free sites keep costs to about ₪315 per person a day.
What is free in Jerusalem?
The Western Wall, the Holy Sepulchre, Yad Vashem, the Mount of Olives and walks through the Old City quarters.
Does public transport run on Shabbat?
Mostly not. Buses and the light rail stop from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening; taxis and some Arab-run buses operate.