Essentials
- City
- Rishon LeZion, Central District, Israel
- Population
- 260,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber available widely by Bezeq and Partner)
- Currency & Banking
- Israeli New Shekel (ILS). 1 USD ≈ 3.65 ILS, 1 EUR ≈ 3.95 ILS
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/H sockets
- SIM Card
- Partner, Cellcom, Hot Mobile (approx. 50 ILS for 100GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, and digital banks like One Zero
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Yad2, and Facebook groups (Rishonim/Apartments Rishon)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (approx. 450-700 ILS per night), Sublet groups
- Budget Accommodation
- Orlov Hotel (approx. 350 ILS/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Rishon West (near the beach) or City Center
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Neve Yam or Kiryat Rishon (modern, quiet, near tech hubs)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- BE ALL Rishon LeZion (Yalag St 7) - approx. 1,200 ILS/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Landwer Cafe (Cinema City G Mall) - spacious with reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Meetups at the 'Yes Planet' business lounge and local tech accelerators
- Social Events for Expats
- Secret Rishon LeZion Facebook Group; English speakers meetups at SoHo
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gett (GetTaxi), Uber, and Yango
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Lime and Bird (widely available via apps)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Hof Rishon (Rishon LeZion Beach), blue flag status
- Top Regional Airline
- Arkia, Israir
- Top International Airline
- EL AL (Hub at nearby Ben Gurion Airport)
- Highway Access
- Highway 431, Highway 4, and Ayalon Highway (Road 20)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Rishon LeZion Moshe Dayan Station (West) and Rishonim Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Rav-Kav card or 'Moovit'/'Pango' apps for payment
- Regional Travel
- Israel Railways (15 mins to Tel Aviv, 12 ILS)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) - Be'er Ya'akov
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Prana Yoga (Rothschild 60) - 80 ILS per drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Holmes Place Premium (G-Center) - approx. 350-450 ILS/month
- Laundry Services
- Mishlav Cleaners (Herzl 70)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and 10bis
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Malabi at local stalls or Hummus at Hummus Abu Adham
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tenat (Ethopian Vegan) - Moshe Dayan 4
- Best Dessert Spots
- Golda (Gelato) - various locations; Boutique Central
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Rishon Market (Shuk) for fresh produce at low prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- KSP (electronics), Terminal X (fashion)
- Grocery Delivery
- Shufersal Online, Quik
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rothschild Street (Center) and the Beach Promenade
- Local Brewery
- Herzog Brewery (Microbrewery nearby)
- Wine Bars
- Baron Wine Bar (near the historic winery)
- Street Food Stalls
- Falafel Gabay (Herzl St)
- Popular International Cuisine
- SoHo (Asian Fusion/Sushi) - highly popular upscale spot
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Singing Fountains, The Great Synagogue
- Museums & Art Venues
- Yaacov Agam Museum of Art (40 ILS entry)
- Historical Sites
- The Rishon LeZion Museum (Founding fathers of Zionism)
- Religious Sites
- Great Synagogue of Rishon LeZion (Est. 1885)
- Annual Events
- The Wine Festival (Succot holiday)
- Cultural Districts
- Founders' Quarter (Historic Center)
- Theater Venues
- Heichal HaTarbut Rishon LeZion
- Local Markets
- The Old Market (Mifratz Shlomo St)
- Music Scene
- Live concerts at Live Park Rishon LeZion
- Street Art
- Murals around the Cinema City complex
- Cooking Classes
- Bulthaup Culinary School (nearby in Tel Aviv area)
- Art Galleries
- The Artists House (Gabrielov St)
- Historic Buildings
- Carmel Mizrahi Winery (Historic building)
- Local Heritage
- The first Hebrew-speaking kindergarten/school in Israel
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- The Lake Park (Agamim) - next to Superland
- National Parks Nearby
- Palmachim Beach National Park (15 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The promenade from Rishon Beach to Bat Yam
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The 1000 District observation points
- Birdwatching Locations
- Agamon Rishon (artificial lake ecosystem)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated areas in more remote sections of Palmachim
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Israel Post (Doar), UPS, DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- DCS (Apple Authorized), iDigital
- Table Tennis Spots
- Maccabi Rishon LeZion Sports Club
- Language Classes
- Ulpan Rishon (Hebrew for foreigners)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- The Kotar Rishon Library
- Community Centers
- Matnas centers in Neve Eliyahu
- Gaming Lounges
- Hype Gaming Lounge (Cinema City)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Illegal in Israel, only Sports betting via Toto/Lotto)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 35,000 ILS per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 1,225,000 ILS)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 28,000 ILS per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 980,000 ILS)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 32,000 ILS per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,920,000 ILS)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 26,000 ILS per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,560,000 ILS)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 30,000 ILS per m² (e.g., 85 m² = 2,550,000 ILS)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 24,000 ILS per m² (e.g., 85 m² = 2,040,000 ILS)
- Corporate Tax
- 23%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% - 30%
- Tax System
- Personal tax based on residency (Center of Life test)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 50% (including 3% surtax on high earners)
- VAT
- 17%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, comprehensive regulations apply
- Property Tax
- Arnona (calculated by size and zone, approx. 40-70 ILS per m² annually)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Purchase Tax (Mas Rechisha) tiered from 0% up to 10% for residents
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New residents (Olim/Returning) get 10-year tax holiday on foreign income