How Much Does a Trip to Jerusalem Cost? A Realistic Daily Budget

25 Sept 2026 · 3 min

Photo: Revital Salomon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jerusalem is not cheap, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Here is what a day really costs, from a backpacker's budget to a comfortable family trip.

Short answer: per person per day, sharing a room and before flights, expect roughly ₪350–500 on a tight budget (hostel or simple guesthouse, street food, public transport, free sites), ₪900–1,400 for a comfortable mid-range trip (a good hotel, a sit-down dinner, a couple of paid sights and the odd taxi), and ₪2,000 and up in the city's top hotels. Rooms are the biggest cost, and they roughly double over Sukkot, Pesach and the summer holidays.

Where to sleep

Hostels and simple guesthouses: the cheapest beds, mostly in the city centre and the Old City.
Mid-range hotels: the average hotel room in the city is around $170 a night, with plenty of options from about $100.
Luxury: the landmark hotels near Jaffa Gate and in the centre start around $300 and go well beyond at peak.
Apartments: good value for families and for Shabbat, with a kitchen. Book early for the chagim.

Foreign tourists are generally exempt from VAT on hotel rooms, so check the bill. Where to stay compares the neighbourhoods.

Food

Street food: falafel, sabich or a hummus plate from about ₪20–40.
Coffee: from a few shekels at the budget chains to ₪14–18 at a café.
Lunch: a sit-down lunch in the shuk or a café is ₪50–90.
Dinner: mains at a mid-range kosher restaurant run about ₪80–130, and ₪150–200 per person with a drink. Fine dining is ₪300 and up.
Groceries: a supermarket and the shuk keep costs down, especially for breakfast and Shabbat. Supermarkets explains the chains.
Shabbat meals: hotels charge extra for Friday dinner and Shabbat lunch; book ahead.

Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants, often added as a service charge for groups. Not expected in taxis.

Getting around

Light rail and city buses: ₪8 a ride with a Rav-Kav. The light rail guide explains paying.
Airport train: a few tens of shekels, against about ₪300–360 for a daytime taxi. Airport to Jerusalem has the options.
Taxis in town: short rides are usually ₪30–60, more at night and on Shabbat.

Sights: what they cost

Prices from our directory, adult / child, as last checked:

Free: the Western Wall, Yad Vashem, the Mount of Olives lookout, the Haas Promenade, the parks, Ein Kerem, and the daily free Old City walking tour (tips expected).
Old City: Western Wall Tunnels ₪38 / ₪25 (book ahead), City of David ₪31 / ₪16, Davidson Center ₪34 / ₪18, Ramparts Walk ₪25 / ₪15, Tower of David ₪55 / ₪35, the Night Spectacular ₪69 / ₪59.
Museums: Bible Lands Museum ₪44 / ₪22, Bloomfield Science Museum ₪65, Time Elevator ₪58.
Families: Biblical Zoo ₪79 / ₪64, Aquarium ₪73 / ₪39.
Day trips: Masada ₪37 / ₪21 (the cable car costs extra), Ein Gedi ₪31 / ₪16.

Hours, booking and parking for each are on our things-to-do page.

Ways to spend less

Travel outside the chagim and August if you can; rooms are much cheaper.
Eat a big lunch and a light dinner; lunch deals are common.
Buy an Israel Pass if you will visit several national parks (it doesn't cover the City of David).
Use the free sites; Jerusalem at night and for free lists them.
Stay near the light rail and skip the taxis.
Claim VAT back on goods at the airport on departure.

Security: check the Home Front Command's current guidance and your airline's updates before and during a trip. Our safety guide explains sirens, shelters and the app.