Cost of Living in Palestine: For those who are visiting the West Bank, Palestine, Israel, or Studying in Palestine in the city of Hebron for the first time, it is important to estimate the cost of living in the West Bank. For the Study in Palestine’s participants, there might be a slight difference depending on whether they are staying with a host family or in our dormitory.
So, how much does it cost once you have arranged your placement and found your way to Study in Palestine? Below, we will briefly explain expenses for meals, daily necessities, groceries, alcohol and/or tobacco, Fitness centers and gyms, clothing, transportation, and leisure activities in the city of Hebron, West Bank, Palestine, and give you some advice.
Key Points: Cost of Living in Hebron, West Bank, and Israel
| Fast Food and Meals | Fast food costs range from 30 to 200 shekels per week. |
| Groceries | Costs depend on living proximity and taxi choices. A shared taxi within Hebron costs around 3 shekels per person. Details on intercity travel costs. |
| Healthcare | Good healthcare facilities in the West Bank with potentially high costs. Private practice visits approximately US$60 |
| Fitness Centers and Gyms | Various gyms in Hebron, with monthly fees of around 150 shekels. Separate facilities or timings for men and women. |
| Transportation Expenses | Non-essential costs include coffee, meals, souvenirs, and excursions, ranging from 5 to 80 shekels. |
| Free Time | The estimated minimum cost of living in Palestine is around 700 shekels ($200) per month. However, factors like staying with a host family and proximity can reduce costs. |
| Minimum Monthly Cost of Living | Estimated minimum cost of living in Palestine is around 700 shekels ($200) per month. Factors like staying with a host family and proximity can reduce costs. |
| Public Transportation in Palestine | Living in Israel is significantly more expensive, approximately NIS7,000 (US$1,500) monthly for international students. |
| Cost of Living in Israel | Living in Israel is significantly more expensive, approximately NIS7,000 (US$1,500) per month for international students. |
Table of Contents
Staying With A Host Family Versus In Our Dormitory
Foreign visitors to the West Bank who choose to stay with a Palestinian host family may be provided with some meals when they are at home, such as dinner or on weekends. Participants staying at Study in Palestine’s dormitory, another housing option, will have access to a kitchen and can easily find inexpensive groceries nearby. Our participants also often arrange to eat dinner together at a restaurant or cafe.
The exciting thing is that internationals can generally look forward to receiving a few dinner invitations from locals. Moreover, visitors to Palestine staying with a host family sometimes invite their friends from Study in Palestine to their home and eat together. Additionally, Study in Palestine’s staff organize a dinner to share with participants at our center from time to time, which gives all participants the chance to try home-cooked traditional Palestinian food.
Fast Food And Meal Costs
The average cost of fast food in Hebron, West Bank per week can range anywhere from 30 up to 200 shekels because there are food options for people of all budgets. How much you spend really depends on how many times you eat out, the type of meals you buy and if you purchase any drinks. The breakdown of that will be as follows.
- 0 shekels per breakfast (breakfast at our center is included in your program every day except Friday)
- 4-20 shekels per lunch (you can buy a delicious falafel, chips & salad sandwich for only 4 shekels in Hebron! Shawarma costs more.)
- 4-30 shekels per evening meal (depending if you buy falafel or eat at a restaurant)
- a free evening meal if you are invited by a family for dinner or are invited by your host family
Here you may find the average of Fast Food and Meal prices in Hebron:
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | ₪15.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | ₪100.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | ₪30.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | ₪9.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₪9.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | ₪5.05 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | ₪2.75 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | ₪2.00 |
Groceries
Average grocery prices in the West Bank in a major international retail store for 1kg apples is US$2.78, 1kg oranges US$2.26, 1 head of lettuce US$1.69, 1kg potatoes US$1.63, 1kg boneless, skinless chicken breast US$9.48, 1kg cheddar cheese US$8.10, 1 dozen large eggs US$3.89, 500g loaf white bread US$0.92, 1L full cream milk US$2.33, and 1.5L water US$1.04.
| Rice (white) (1kg) | ₪6.50 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | ₪2.67 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | ₪6.00 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | ₪10.50 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | ₪23.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | ₪23.00 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | ₪50.00 |
| Apples (1kg) | ₪6.50 |
| Banana (1kg) | ₪5.00 |
| Oranges (1kg) | ₪4.50 |
| Tomato (1kg) | ₪3.75 |
| Potato (1kg) | ₪3.00 |
| Onion (1kg) | ₪3.50 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | ₪4.50 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | ₪3.00 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | ₪10.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | ₪8.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₪12.00 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | ₪25.00 |
Cost Of Other Necessities
We recommend bringing daily necessities such as toiletries, razors, and feminine hygiene products from your country. Although you can buy them at a supermarket in Hebron as well, good quality products will not be cheaper than in your home country, and your favorite brand may be more expensive. Some things can be quite cheap in the West Bank, such as olive oil soap made in Nablus but available for purchase around the West Bank for a few shekels.
Alcohol And/Or Tobacco
The cost is very high for items such as beer, spirits, wine, and tobacco-related products such as cigarettes. It may be better to bring cigarettes from your home country (the duty-free allowance is 200 cigarettes). If you roll your own cigarettes, it is best to bring these from home as it can be challenging to find filters and papers for sale.
The average price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is US$17.41, domestic/local beer (500ml) US$3.12, imported/international beer (330ml) US$3.89, and a pack of 20 cigarettes is US$8.71. Note that in Hebron and Nablus, you will not be able to purchase or consume alcohol (it is not illegal but it is not socially acceptable).
Communication
Communication costs in the West Bank, Palestine, are average for items such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile service provider tariff, and data. A basket costing US$200 in New York costs US$180. The average price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is US$53, while the benchmark mobile tariff is USD $0.14 per minute.
It is also easy to buy Palestinian sim cards in the West Bank, just make sure you bring your passport with you. While mobile phone contracts may vary, for around 50 shekels per month, you can get a Palestinian sim card with plenty of data.
Clothing
The average price for an international brand of men’s jeans in the West Bank is 178.33 ₪ (US$62), a quality international brand of running shoes is 375.00 (US$90), men’s leather shoes suitable for office wear are US$67, and a medium-size international summer dress from a global chain store is US$74.
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | ₪178.33 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) | ₪200.00 |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | ₪375.00 |
| 1 Pair of Men’s Leather Business Shoes | ₪175.00 |
Healthcare
Healthcare facilities in the West Bank are good but can be expensive. Hospitals may insist on payment and may delay departure until bills are met.
The average healthcare cost in the West Bank for a private practice doctor’s visit to an uninsured patient is US$60, and a private hospital stay per day, including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs, is US$1,842.
Fitness Centers And Gyms
Hebron has many gyms scattered around the city. Some generic gyms, like Prestige Gym, Hebron University Gym, and Sama Al-Khalil, offer personal trainers and quality equipment. Specialized gyms are also available if you have specific fitness goals or needs—for example, there are entire gyms dedicated to pilates, yoga, and intense muscle training in Hebron. Many gyms are open 12 hours a day, making them very accessible.
In Hebron, gyms are either divided into separate female and male gyms or have separate times for men and women. In the case of separate times, the gym is usually for women from the morning until the afternoon, and for men in the evening and at night.
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | ₪150.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | ₪35.00 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | ₪25.00 |
Transportation Expenses
You can save on transportation costs if you live within walking distance of the Center for Study in Palestine. However, if you choose to take a taxi by necessity or choice, it will cost about 15-30 shekels per week, assuming you use a shared taxi. When traveling between cities, a shared taxi (“servees” in Arabic) is a small van transportation for a maximum of 7 passengers. When traveling within a city in the West Bank, regular-sized taxis can usually be shared if passengers are going in the same direction. A shared taxi ride within the city of Hebron costs 3 shekels per person.
There is no timetable for shared taxis between cities, and they will depart when all 7 seats are full.
The fare is fixed depending on the destination. However, the other passengers must pay for the vacant seat if the shared taxi departs with fewer than 7 passengers.
How To Use A Shared Taxi:
- Go to the bus terminal (this is where the taxis depart from)
- Tell the drivers where you wish to go, they will tell you which shared taxi to take.
- Get into the taxi. It will depart once it is full. It is possible to leave before the seats are all taken, but the passengers will have to cover the cost of the empty seats.
- When you enter the taxi, ask the driver or your fellow passengers about the fare for the journey. Generally, passengers will make their payment along the journey, and the driver will ask in case you forget. If you can reach the driver, you can pass them your payment, but if you are in the back of the van, ask the passenger in front of you to hand the driver your money. Any change due will then be passed back.
- Passengers usually disembark from the taxi at a terminal or designated parking place. If you wish to be dropped off at a different point along the way, you can ask the driver to do so.
Free Time
As for non-essential costs, Arabic coffee in a cafe usually costs 5-10 shekels, a cappuccino 6-10 shekels, an iced coffee 8-15 shekels, and smoothies usually 10-15 shekels, depending on the cafe. A cake or doughnut in a cafe can cost anywhere between 5-20 shekels. A meal in a nice restaurant costs around 30-80 shekels. If you want to visit various places in your free time, it will cost more for a taxi and for a hostel or hotel if you stay overnight.
A barber charges 20 shekels for a man’s haircut. The gym or swimming pool at Hebron University is a great place to exercise, costing 50 shekels for one session as a guest.
Minimum Monthly Cost Of Living In Palestine
To sum up, you can estimate that the minimum cost of living in Palestine will be no more than around 500 shekels ($150) per month if you are conserving your money. You can cut even more costs if you stay with a host family and within walking distance of our center. It is possible to live comfortably on a limited budget. However, if you have a larger budget, there are plenty of enjoyable ways to spend your money in Hebron or Palestine.
Additional Information: Public Transportation In Palestine
Palestine does not have a train or bus service, so the only means of transportation here is by private or shared taxi. Intercity shared taxi services are relatively convenient, so you don’t need to worry about it. Many cabs leave the central bus stations frequently. Prices for shared taxi service from Hebron are as follows per person:
- Ramallah – 28 shekels
- Nablus (via Ramallah) – around 50 shekels
- Bethlehem – 10 shekels
- Jerusalem – 25 shekels
- Jericho – 50 shekels
Cost Of Living In Israel Compared To The West Bank
Israel is quite expensive. General monthly living expenses for an international student are approximately NIS7,000 (US$1,500).
It is at least two to three times more expensive than living in the West Bank. Room rent per week, bus fare, meals, and coffee are double the price or even more than in Hebron. For example, a falafel sandwich in Israel costs around 20 NIS (around US$5), whereas a falafel sandwich in Hebron costs 4 NIS (US$1). Salaries and wages in Israel are double those in the West Bank, and the standard of living is much higher in Israel than in Palestine.
Additional Information: Public Transportation In Israel
Coach travel is an affordable and efficient method of transport in Israel. Each bus route with its fare and some time estimations are as follows:
| Route | Fare | Time |
| Ein Gedi (Dead Sea) – Eilat | 24.2 USD (80 ILS) | |
| Tel-Aviv – Haifa (bus 26) | 9.0 USD (30 ILS) | |
| Haifa – Nazareth (bus 331) | 5.2 USD (17.2 ILS) | |
| Haifa – Yardenit (bus 431) | 5.8 USD (19 ILS) | 1 hour |
| Tiberias – Jerusalem (bus 961) | 12.1 USD (40 ILS) | 2.5 hours |
| Jerusalem – Ein Gedi nature reserve | 10.9 USD (36 ILS) | 1.5 hours |
| Ein Gedi (dead sea) – Eilat | 13.6 USD (45 ILS) | 3 hours |
| Ein Gedi – Masada | 6.0 USD (20 ILS) |
Souvenirs And Sight-Seeing
Other things you may wish to spend money on are souvenirs and entrance tickets to popular tourist spots. Depending on the taste of your friends/family, there are a variety of things you can buy cheaply in Hebron that would make nice gifts, such as dates, ornaments, pottery, glassware, clothing, scarves, bags, accessories, and prayer mats.
Hebron is home to the Hirbawi textile factory—the last remaining factory in Palestine to produce keffiyehs. You can also find pottery and glassware factories in Hebron. You may even be lucky enough to see some items being made right in front of you. It is very interesting to see the craftsmen at work.
Final Remarks
The cost of living in the West Bank varies and depends mainly on which city in Palestine. For example, Ramallah tends to be more expensive than Hebron. You will find that some items are cheaper than in your country of origin while others are more expensive.
If you want to try to save money, it is possible to live, eat, and travel at a low expense and in basic comfort. You might even find that you have more interesting experiences this way. Howeve,r if you want a higher level of luxury and some home comforts, this will cost a little more. Whatever you choose, you are guaranteed a warm welcome and a great experience here at Study in Palestine and throughout the West Bank, Palestine.
It is also worth mentioning that living in Israel is much more expensive than living in any city in the West Bank. If you are traveling to both Palestine and Israel, consider this point.
NB: At the time of writing, the exchange rate is 4.2 shekels ＝1.00 UK pound, 3.6 Shekels ＝ 1.00 Euro, and 3.1 shekels ＝ 1.00 US dollar.
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