Tel Aviv-Yafo is Israel's coastal commercial and cultural capital, home to about 475,000 people in the city and about 4 million in the wider Gush Dan metro. It combines the Bauhaus-style White City (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), 14 km of Mediterranean beaches, the ancient port of Jaffa, the Carmel Market and a restaurant, cafe and nightlife scene that runs through the night, including on Friday evenings.
Local currency: Israeli new shekel (ILS); 1 USD is approx 3.05 ILS in this guide.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Tel Aviv.
- Mid-range
- 900 ILS/day (approx $295)
- Luxury
- 2,000+ ILS/day (approx $656+)
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- 160-250 ILS (approx $52-82) dorm bed
- Budget
- 450-700 ILS (approx $148-230) for a private room in a budget hotel
- Midrange
- 800-1,300 ILS (approx $262-426)
- Luxury
- 1,500-3,500 ILS (approx $492-1,148)
Food
- Street
- 25-40 ILS (approx $8-13) for falafel, shawarma or a sabich pita
- Local
- 50-80 ILS (approx $16-26) for a hummus plate with a drink or a Carmel Market counter meal
- Midrange
- 120-200 ILS (approx $39-66) per person at a sit-down restaurant
- Fine
- 300-600 ILS (approx $98-197) per person
Transport
- Bus
- About 6 ILS (approx $2) single ride on a bus or the Light Rail with a Rav-Kav card
- Taxi
- 35-70 ILS (approx $11-23) for a typical city ride by meter; more at night and on Shabbat
- Airport
- About 16 ILS (approx $5) by Israel Railways train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv HaShalom or Savidor Center; taxi 140-200 ILS (approx $46-66) by meter or fixed fare; Gett app 130-180 ILS (approx $43-59)
- Daytrip
- 20-60 ILS (approx $7-20) by train or intercity bus to Jerusalem, Caesarea, Haifa or Akko
Activities
- Museum
- 50-70 ILS (approx $16-23)
- Sites
- Free-60 ILS (approx $0-20); Old Jaffa, Carmel Market, the beach promenade and Bauhaus streets are free
- Tour
- Free walking tours run on tips; paid guided tours cost 120-250 ILS (approx $39-82)
- Excursion
- 300-500 ILS (approx $98-164) for a guided day trip to Jerusalem or Masada
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Tel Aviv costs end-to-end.
Weekend traveller
1,000-2,500 ILS (approx $328-820) depending on hotel level
One Week traveller
2,400-6,000 ILS (approx $787-1,967) for a week at budget to midrange
Two Weeks traveller
4,800-12,000 ILS (approx $1,574-3,934)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy a Rav-Kav card at Tel Aviv Savidor Center train station, a Light Rail ticket machine or Ben Gurion Airport and load it for city rides; transfers within 90 minutes are free
Lunch specials at weekday restaurants run 45-70 ILS (approx $15-23) with a drink; business lunches are the best-value hot meal in the city
Take the train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv HaShalom or Savidor Center (about 16 ILS / approx $5) instead of a taxi; it runs every 15-30 minutes and stops on Shabbat
Reach Jerusalem, Haifa or Caesarea by Israel Railways (rail.co.il) instead of a tour; confirm times on the Moovit app or the Rail app
Check each museum website for free-entry evenings or discounts for students and seniors
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Tel Aviv beaches and the Tayelet promenade
Old Jaffa and Jaffa Port
Carmel Market
White City Bauhaus walk along Rothschild Boulevard
Neve Tzedek
Yarkon Park
Jaffa Flea Market
Sarona Market district gardens