Cost of living comparison

 Israel
compared to
 California, USA
California vs. Israel Cost of Living Summary

California is 42.3% more expensive than Israel overall.

Restaurants
pay 0.4% less in California
Groceries
pay 66.6% more in California
Transportation
pay 3.7% more in California
Housing
pay 2.1 times more in California
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more in California
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.2% more in California
Clothing
pay 23.7% less in California

The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, entertainment and sports, and transportation in California are more expensive than in Israel. Expenses including clothing and restaurants are lower in California. Notably, childcare and housing are significantly more expensive in California.

California vs. Israel Cost Breakdown

If you lived in California instead of Israel, you would:

pay 0.4% less for restaurants

 
Israel
California
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $18.92
₪70.37
$21.02
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$14.73
₪54.77
$11.52
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.61
₪9.70
$2.71
 

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pay 66.6% more for groceries

 
Israel
California
Bread
1 loaf
$2.24
₪8.34
$4.14
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.94
₪25.80
$6.95
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.77
₪25.16
$4.61
 

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pay 3.7% more for transportation

 
Israel
California
Gasoline (1 gallon) $7.15
₪26.57
$4.83
 
Monthly public transit pass $55.86
₪207.70
$62.05
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $38,349.49
₪142,597.52
$30,005.28
 

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pay 2.1 times more for housing

 
Israel
California
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$26.90
₪100.02
$68.54
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $996.96
₪3,707.07
$2,371.29
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $867.88
₪3,227.09
$2,055.18
 

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pay 2.3 times more for childcare

 
Israel
California
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $878.81
₪3,267.74
$1,682.51
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,812.07
₪43,921.63
$30,905.75
 

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pay 15.2% more for entertainment and sports

 
Israel
California
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.94
₪29.52
$7.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.67
₪13.65
$5.34
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.64
₪35.83
$10.91
 

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pay 23.7% less for clothing

 
Israel
California
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$83.32
₪309.81
$52.77
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$53.42
₪198.62
$40.15
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$112.69
₪419.02
$85.15
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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