Jerusalem is a hilltop city of about 1 million people in the Judean Mountains, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Its walled Old City holds the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) with the Dome of the Rock, while West Jerusalem offers the Mahane Yehuda market, Israel Museum and Yad Vashem, and East Jerusalem has Palestinian-run neighbourhoods, markets and the Mount of Olives.
Local currency: Israeli new shekel (NIS / ILS); 1 USD is approx 3.05 ILS in this guide.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Jerusalem.
- Mid-range
- NIS 750/day (approx USD 246)
- Luxury
- NIS 1,900+/day (approx USD 623+)
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- NIS 130-200 (approx USD 43-66) dorm bed
- Budget
- NIS 350-550 (approx USD 115-180)
- Midrange
- NIS 600-1,000 (approx USD 197-328)
- Luxury
- NIS 1,500-3,500 (approx USD 492-1,148)
Food
- Street
- NIS 20-35 (approx USD 7-11.50) for falafel, shawarma or a sabich pita
- Local
- NIS 45-80 (approx USD 15-26) for a hummus plate or Mahane Yehuda counter meal
- Midrange
- NIS 100-180 (approx USD 33-59) per person at a sit-down restaurant
- Fine
- NIS 300-600 (approx USD 98-197) per person
Transport
- Bus
- NIS 6 (approx USD 2) single ride on a bus or the Light Rail with a Rav-Kav card
- Taxi
- NIS 40-80 (approx USD 13-26) for a typical city ride by meter
- Airport
- NIS 20-25 (approx USD 6.50-8) by train from Ben Gurion; shared van about NIS 70 (approx USD 23); taxi NIS 250-300 (approx USD 82-98)
- Daytrip
- NIS 60-120 (approx USD 20-39) by public bus to the Dead Sea, Masada or Tel Aviv
Activities
- Museum
- NIS 50-65 (approx USD 16-21)
- Sites
- Free-NIS 60 (approx USD 0-20); the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Yad Vashem are free
- Tour
- NIS 150-300 (approx USD 49-98) for a guided Old City tour; free walking tours work on tips
- Excursion
- NIS 300-500 (approx USD 98-164) for a guided Masada and Dead Sea day
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Jerusalem costs end-to-end.
Weekend traveller
NIS 900-2,200 (approx USD 295-721) depending on hotel level
One Week traveller
NIS 2,100-5,250 (approx USD 689-1,721) for a week at budget to midrange
Two Weeks traveller
NIS 4,200-10,500 (approx USD 1,377-3,443)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy a Rav-Kav card at the Central Bus Station, a Light Rail kiosk or Ben Gurion Airport and load it for city rides; daily fare caps apply and transfers within 90 minutes are free
Lunch specials at Mahane Yehuda counters run NIS 35-60 (approx USD 11-20)
Take the train from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon station (about NIS 20-25) instead of a taxi; a shared van is about NIS 70
Reach the Dead Sea and Masada by public intercity bus from the Central Bus Station (Egged, egged.co.il) instead of a tour; confirm the route number on the Moovit app
Check each museum website for free-entry days or discounts for students and seniors
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Western Wall Plaza
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Yad Vashem
Mahane Yehuda Market
Mount of Olives viewpoint
Old City souks and Via Dolorosa
Mamilla and Ben Yehuda pedestrian walks
Teddy Park and the Old City walls from the outside