Israel
Israel is a dynamic and complex nation located in the Middle Eastern region of Western Asia, specifically situated along the eastern Mediterranean coastline. Bordered by Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest,...
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With a safety index of 68/100, Israel offers good safety conditions for expats and their families.
Citizens of visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and most EU nations, can enter Israel for tourism or business without a traditional visa but must obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to travel.[1][2][3] Effective January 1, 2025, the ETA-IL is mandatory for all such travelers, costing NIS 25 (about $7 USD), with approvals typically issued within 24-72 hours via the official portal at israel-entry.piba.gov.il.[2][3][6] The ETA-IL is valid for multiple entries over two years or...
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71% above EU avg
Near EU average
10% above EU avg
85% above EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Jerusalem
Timezone
UTC+02:00
Area
20,770 km²
Population
9,216,900
Israel shows a purchasing power index of 129/100, indicating excellent economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$520.70B
HDI
0.9
Quality of Life
74/100
+31 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
54/100
+12 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Israel. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
CPI: 80.0 (NYC=100 baseline), indicating expensive living costs. Groceries: 74.7, Rent: 29.8, Restaurants: 90.6 with regional variations in major cities.
Housing Market
Property Price to Income Ratio: 12.1 years, making housing expensive. Rent Index: 29.8 offers some affordability, varying by location.
Average Income Levels
Purchasing Power Index: 125.6 indicates excellent buying power. GDP per capita around $58,000 in 2025 with strong high-tech sector salaries.
Tax System
Progressive income tax 10-50%, highest bracket 47-50% for high earners. VAT 17%, National Insurance 3.5-12%; clear but high for top incomes.
Business Environment
World-class startup ecosystem, high-tech innovation hub. Strong growth projected at 5.2% GDP in 2026 despite past conflicts; ranks high in resilience.
Social Security
Universal healthcare via public system, comprehensive pensions, unemployment benefits up to 80% salary. Strong family support and coverage for residents.
Israel features a predominantly Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, ideal for residents seeking abundant sunshine and outdoor lifestyles. The country spans about 22,000 km², exhibiting climate diversity from coastal areas to inland valleys, mountains, and the arid south.
4 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
82.6
Population
9,216,900
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Israel. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Israel's right-wing coalition government led by Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud remains in power as of early 2026 despite multiple party exits and rejoins amid the Gaza war and ceasefire fluctuations. The government faces judicial reform controversies and opposition unity efforts ahead of legislative elections by October 2026. The 2026 budget prioritizes tax cuts to shore up voter support for the coalition.
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Population
9,216,900
Currency
ILS
Timezone
UTC+02:00
Calling Code
+972
Week starts on
Sunday
Gini Coefficient
39 (2016)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.