Israel
Ancient cities, beaches and desert in a country the size of New Jersey, at western European prices.
Flat. The exchange rate moved −1.2%; local prices rose +2.0%.
- Lean
- $103
- Comfort
- $480
Ranked 122 of 123.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Israel: costs for US-dollar travelers are about the same as a year ago in real terms (+0.2%). A mid-range day costs about $217 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 3 (reconsider travel). It ranks 122 of 123 on the Trip Arbitrage Index, with a score of 37 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 45
- Price floor ×0.30
- 1
- Safety ×0.20
- 38
- Ease ×0.14
- 90
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | +7.0% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +0.2% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | −1.2% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +2.0% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | −6.8% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 3 | Reconsider travel |
| Ease of travel | 4.6 / 5 | Effortless |
- Jerusalem's Old City
- Tel Aviv's food and beaches
- The Dead Sea and the Negev
Read the current advisory: the security situation changes fast and flights are canceled at short notice. Hotels and restaurants are expensive.
When to go
November is peak season- Janoff season
- Febshoulder season
- Marpeak season
- Aprpeak season
- Maypeak season
- Junshoulder season
- Juloff season
- Augoff season
- Seppeak season
- Octpeak season
- Novpeak season
- Decoff season
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 3: Reconsider travel · updated October 22, 2026
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Effortless · 4.6 / 5
Cities in Israel
- Tel Aviv$261a day
Head to head
- Israel vs United Arab Emirates$188a day there
- Israel vs Qatar$176a day there
- Israel vs Bahrain$143a day there
Booking a trip: Israel
Partner links- FlightsKiwi.com ↗Compare fares across airlines, including the low-cost carriers that booking sites often leave out.
- Places to stayBooking.com ↗Hotels, guesthouses and apartments, most with free cancellation.
- Mobile dataAiralo ↗An eSIM you install before you land, usually far cheaper than roaming.
- Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing ↗Worth having here: serious care may mean evacuation to another country.
- Spending moneyWise ↗A multi-currency card that converts at the mid-market rate, the one this index uses.
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide ↗Day trips, guides and entry tickets, bookable ahead with free cancellation on most.
These go to outside companies we think are useful for this trip. Nothing here affects a score or a ranking. How we make money
Israel, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Israel?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Israel costs about $103 on a lean budget, $217 mid-range and $480 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Israel cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- It is about the same. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved −1.2% for US-dollar holders while prices in Israel rose +2.0%, a net real change of +0.2% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Israel is 6.8% more expensive.
- Is Israel safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Israel at Level 3: Reconsider travel. Read the current advisory: the security situation changes fast and flights are canceled at short notice. Hotels and restaurants are expensive. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Israel?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are: February, June. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in: March, April, May, September, October, November. Right now (November) is peak season.
- How easy is Israel to travel around?
- Israel scores 4.6 out of 5 for ease of travel (effortless), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. Ancient cities, beaches and desert in a country the size of New Jersey, at western European prices.
Elsewhere in Middle East
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Israel reads +0.2% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $217. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.