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cost of living

Israel’s inflation hits lowest level since 2021 at 1.6% as home prices plunge

June consumer prices were unchanged, while apartment prices fell 1% over two months and 2% annually, though rents rose sharply for new tenants

Gad Lior, Hila Tsion | 07.15.26

The protest that failed: Israeli home prices surge 84% in 15 years

The average Israeli apartment has gained about 1.1 million shekels ($333,000) since the 2011 social justice protests, while wages rose more slowly and buyers now need over 164 monthly salaries to purchase a home

Hila Tsion | 07.14.26

Ministers to weigh VAT cut before election despite budget warnings

Proposal to lower the tax from 18% to 17% draws support from business groups, but Finance Ministry warns of nearly $3 billion budget hole

Gad Lior | 06.28.26

Dreaming of moving abroad? This city tops the list

A new ranking reveals the world’s best relocation cities — and where Tel Aviv stands among them

Lital Semet/Calcalist | 05.30.26

Desert life far from the city: young family bets on farming

In Tzofar in Israel's Arava, the Eldar family speaks candidly about raising children, making a living from agriculture and managing daily life in a place where quiet and isolation come together

Assi Haim | 04.11.26

This Passover, four questions about money matter most

With stress, fatigue and financial pressure driving many purchases, the holiday’s familiar framework offers a timely guide to smarter spending: Is it necessary, what is the right budget, how should it be paid for and did you shop around?

Gil Yahalom | 04.01.26

'There was a time when a fisherman earned more than a doctor'

In Acre’s Old City, the Halawani family describes how war and rising prices are making life harder in a city already battered by the collapse of tourism

Assi Haim | 03.21.26

Whiskey at 75% off as Israelis unite for premium deals

A community of alcohol enthusiasts is giving up convenience and fast delivery in exchange for discounts of up to 75% by buying directly from importers and collecting bottles from fellow members, pubs and even private homes

Gilad Rusek | 02.21.26

Consumer price index falls; inflation at lowest in nearly 5 years as housing prices rise

January CPI dropped 0.3%, beating forecasts, driven by sharp declines in clothing and transport; home prices rose 0.8% in Nov-Dec, with Tel Aviv leading gains, while annual housing increases remained modest

Gad Lior, Hila Tsion | 02.15.26

Falafel for 10 shekels: a rare find in central Israel

In a region where food prices keep climbing, a small falafel stand on Balfour Street in Bat Yam proves that a filling street food meal for 10 shekels still exists, offering fresh salads, green falafel balls and a refreshing break from Tel Aviv prices

Kobi Rubin | 02.07.26

Israel’s economy over past 20 years: not a collapse, not a miracle — stagnation

Opinion: Israel’s economy has grown and living standards have risen, but compared with other OECD countries it has failed to realize its full potential, falling behind peers due to policy choices and a lack of deep structural reforms

Esteban Klor | 01.23.26

Cost of living crushes Israel’s middle class as one-third of households fail to make ends meet

New survey finds 40% of households cannot handle an unexpected expense, 30% live in chronic overdraft and one in five homeowners face a real risk of losing their property amid the rising cost of living

Gad Lior | 01.18.26

נשים איראניות בכיכר עירונית במרכז העיר אספהאן

An Iranian woman on lost hope and poverty: ‘hunger has turned protest into a last resort’

Young Iranians are cutting electricity use, showering less, sharing clothes and buying bread on credit as inflation, joblessness and soaring rents push them to the brink; in first-person account, Tehran woman describes why protest has become last resort

Azita, Tehran | 01.13.26

New year price hikes drive up cost of living nationwide

From electricity and water to property taxes, food and electric vehicles, a broad wave of state-led price hikes takes effect on January 1, with tax relief promised only later if the 2026 budget is approved in March

Gad Lior | 01.01.26

From groceries to gas: Israelis face painful price hikes in 2026

Economists say price hikes, frozen tax brackets and benefit cuts taking effect Jan. 1 could cost Israeli families 800 to 1,200 shekels a month, offsetting limited tax relief and hitting middle- and lower-income households hardest

Gad Lior | 12.14.25