Can you visit Israel on a budget? Israel is a super expensive country, but the answer is…. yes! I’ve visited Israel in less than $30 a day, it’s not easy and I’m not sure if I’ll be comfortable to go that low in budget again. But let me show you how I did it… with 3 other family members of mine!
1. Fly Low-Cost Airline from Europe
Don’t fly directly to Israel because it’s not easy to find cheap tickets to Israel. There are certain routes that are constantly on sale, for example, New York to a European destination for $400. Grab those tickets, spend time in Europe, and fly Wizzair, Ryanair, Easyjet to Israel for less than $100 round trip! Buy two one-way tickets, one leg to Tel Aviv, and the other to Eilat. It will be even cheaper!
If you are flying from Asia, the same logic. But you can also check the price for flying to Cairo, Egypt. New Delhi to Cairo is $500 round trip…. You can cross land border from Egypt to Tel Aviv.
2. Use Couchsurfing
Yes, couchsurfing still works, and it is a lot of fun couchsurfing in Israel. My biggest recommendation is that you use couch surfing while in Israel. Why? Besides saving money, you will learn how Israeli live and think. It’s hard to define who is a Jew, but you will find new lenses when you couchsurf. By the way, I find it much easier to find a couchsurfing host in Israel than in European countries. It’s harder to find a host in the south though, so stick to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa.
3. “Plan” what You’ll Eat
Food prices in Israel is insane. A plate of hummus is for $5? Shawarma is for $13? Well if you think in USD, it is fine. But if you are not from US or Europe, this price is not cheap at all!! Interesting enough, Israeli pack their own food too! They don’t eat out that often either.
It won’t be realistic to eat out for all of your meals, even if you plan on living by cofizz, cofix, or Eight burger. You have to cook, and prepare for your own lunches. So make sure your accommodation includes a kitchen. (If you are couchsurfing, there’s got to be a kitchen).
If you live by supermarket’s grocery food/local produce, you need a budget for $7-$10 a day!
4. Use “Annual Pass” for Israeli National Parks
If you compare Israel to Europe, you’ll be surpsied how attractions are either free or so cheap that can be considered free! In Europe, visiting a church or a castle can cost you minimum 3 euros to 20 euros. In Israel, visiting the western wall, Holy Sepulchre, Dead Sea is free….!
Israel is a country with lots of ancient archaeological sites, like Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Megiddo, Beersheva, Beit She’an, Nimrod castle, and Masada etc. These sites are managed by Israel National Parks. There are several money saving options, the best one being ….. the annual pass! You can have unlimited visits to 68 national parks for ₪181 (US$50), valid for a year!!! So worthwhile!
5. Get Rav-Kav, Buy Day Pass
You cannot save much on transportation, because it is not expensive to begin with. But make sure you get Rav-kav card to get 25% extra stored value, and you’ll be able to buy day pass for certain zones. You’ll save some money!
Israel is not a cheap country to visit, and even some Israeli live under poverty. Most Jewish people who make ‘Aliyah’ to Israel have sacrificed many things in life. They are not in Israel because it’s a nice place to be, but because this is the Jewish homeland.
Conclusion
If you are spendign 2 weeks in Israel, this is the minimum that you need (for a regular backpacker, because I’m not that hardcore)
- Couchsurfing $0
- Food $10×14 days= $140
- Tickets $100
- Bus $100
So the total is $340, excluding airfare. If you want to go even lower… consider helpx or WWOOFing (which is legal with B/2 visa for everyone, if you volunteer not more than 30 days). I think everybody can afford this budget. If you are determined to visit Israel, nothing can stop you!
