Essentials
- City
- Tel Aviv-Yafo, Gush Dan, Israel
- Population
- 467,000 (Central city), 4 million (Metro)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-500 Mbps; Fiber optic widely available via Bezeq or Cellcom
- Currency & Banking
- Israeli New Shekel (ILS). 1 USD ≈ 3.65 ILS, 1 EUR ≈ 3.95 ILS
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, though many locals use 'Tami4' filtration systems due to mineral taste
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/H sockets (Type H is specific to Israel but fits Type C)
- SIM Card
- Partner, Cellcom, or Hot Mobile. 50GB data plans approx. 50 ILS ($14) per month
- Banking for Expats
- Bank Leumi and Bank Hapoalim are largest. Digital bank 'One Zero' is popular for English speakers
- Accommodation
- High demand. Use Facebook groups like 'Apartments/roommates in Tel Aviv' or 'Secret Tel Aviv'
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely. Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted everywhere from boutiques to market stalls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (Avg. $150/night), Abraham Hostel, or Spot Apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- The Post Hostel or Selina Neve Tzedek (approx. 100-150 ILS for a dorm bed)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kerem HaTeimanim (near Carmel Market) and the Beachfront Promenade
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Florentin (artsy, hipster vibe) or Lev HaIr (central, near Rothschild Blvd)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Mindspace (Rothschild 45) or WeWork (HaZerem 10). Daily rates approx. 100-120 ILS
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cafe Xoho (Gordon 17) or Tola'at Sfarim (Maze 7). Both offer great Wi-Fi and laptop-friendly tables
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Tel Aviv and monthly meetups at Google for Startups Campus
- Social Events for Expats
- Secret Tel Aviv events and 'Kerem House' community dinners
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gett (predominant for taxis) and Uber (licensed taxis only in Israel)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tel-O-Fun (bikes) and Bird, Lime, or Wind (electric scooters). Cost approx. 1 ILS per minute
- Best Beach Nearby
- Hilton Beach (social/LGBTQ friendly) and Geula Beach (relaxed local vibe)
- Top Regional Airline
- Arkia and Israir for flights to Eilat or Cyprus
- Top International Airline
- EL AL (National carrier) and United Airlines
- Highway Access
- Highway 20 (Ayalon Highway) bisects the city north to south
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tel Aviv Savidor Mercaz (Central Station) for nationwide connections
- Public Transport Passes
- Rav-Kav card or 'Moovit'/'Pango' apps for payment. Daily pass approx. 15-40 ILS
- Regional Travel
- High-speed train to Jerusalem (35 mins) or bus to Haifa (1 hour 20 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), Weizmann St 6
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Prana Yoga (Ben Benisti 3) and Naim Studio (multiple locations in Florentin/Jaffa)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Space Gym (Shenkin) or Holmes Place (Dizengoff Center). Monthly approx. 300-400 ILS
- Laundry Services
- Yaffo Laundry (Yefet St) or laundromat 'The Bubble' on King George
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt (dominant) and HaYamish
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hummus at Abu Hassan (Ha-Dolfin St, Jaffa) or Sabich at Frishman Sabich
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- 416 (Ha'arba'a St) and Anastasia (Frishman St). Tel Aviv is the 'Vegan Capital of the World'
- Best Dessert Spots
- Anita Gelato (Neve Tzedek) and Milk Bakery (Jaffa)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Shuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market) for fresh produce; Shuk Levinsky for spices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- KSP (electronics), Terminal X (fashion), and Amazon.ae (frequent free shipping to Israel)
- Grocery Delivery
- Shufersal Online or AM:PM app (24/7 delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rothschild Boulevard (upscale) and Herzl/Lilienblum St (clubs/dive bars)
- Local Brewery
- Dancing Camel (Hata'asiya 12) - Israel's first craft brewery
- Wine Bars
- Chateau Shual (Malchei Yisrael 19) and Giaconda Gin & Wine Bar
- Street Food Stalls
- Miznon by Eyal Shani (King George 30) for gourmet pitas
- Popular International Cuisine
- Taizu (Asian Fusion) and Moon (Sushi on Bograshov)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Old Jaffa Port and the White City (Bauhaus architecture)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tel Aviv Museum of Art (Sderot Sha'ul HaMelech 27)
- Historical Sites
- Independence Hall (Rothschild 16) where Israel was declared a state
- Religious Sites
- Immanuel Church (Jaffa) and Great Synagogue (Allenby St)
- Annual Events
- Tel Aviv Pride (June) and White Night (Laila Lavan) in late June
- Cultural Districts
- Neve Tzedek - the first neighborhood built outside Jaffa
- Theater Venues
- Habima National Theatre and Cameri Theatre
- Local Markets
- Nahalat Binyamin Craft Market (Tuesday and Friday)
- Music Scene
- Levontin 7 (Indie/Jazz) and Barby (Live Rock/Electronic)
- Street Art
- Florentin neighborhood - especially the 'Mural of the 27 Club'
- Cooking Classes
- Danon Culinary Academy or workshops at Carmel Market
- Art Galleries
- Sommer Contemporary Art and Alon Segev Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Pagoda House and the various UNESCO-listed Bauhaus buildings on Bialik St
- Local Heritage
- The 'Sabra' culture—rough on the outside, sweet on the inside
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Yarkon Park (Ganei Yehoshua) - the 'Central Park' of Tel Aviv
- National Parks Nearby
- Apollonia National Park (Herzliya) - Crusader ruins 20 mins away
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Tayelet (Beach Promenade) stretching from Herzliya to Bat Yam
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Old Jaffa Hill overlooking the Tel Aviv skyline
- Birdwatching Locations
- Rosh Tzippor Birdwatching Center in Yarkon Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Palmachim Beach (25 mins drive south) - designated areas only
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Israel Post (Doar Yisrael) and DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- iDigital (Apple Premium Reseller) or independent shops on Allenby St
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Independence Park and various spots in Yarkon Park
- Language Classes
- Ulpan Gordon (state-run) or Citizen Café (modern/conversational)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Beit Ariela Public Library (Sha'ul HaMelech 25)
- Community Centers
- Mazeh 9 - Municipal center for young adults
- Gaming Lounges
- Hype Gaming Lounge (Dizengoff Center)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Israel; locals travel to Rhodes or Taba (Egypt) for gambling
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₪55,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² ≈ ₪1,925,000 / $527,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₪38,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² ≈ ₪1,330,000 / $365,000 in Holon/Bat Yam)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₪52,000 per m² (e.g., 55 m² ≈ ₪2,860,000 / $783,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₪35,000 per m² (e.g., 55 m² ≈ ₪1,925,000 / $527,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₪50,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² ≈ ₪4,000,000 / $1.1M)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₪32,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² ≈ ₪2,560,000 / $701,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 23% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% to 30% for substantial shareholders
- Tax System
- Personal personal tax on worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 50% (on income exceeding ₪721,560 per year)
- VAT
- 17% (Eilat is VAT-free)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, taxation applies to undistributed profits of foreign companies controlled by Israelis
- Property Tax
- Arnona - calculated by municipality based on size and location, paid bimonthly
- Property Transaction Tax
- Purchase Tax (Mas Rechisha) - tiered from 0% to 10% depending on if it is a primary residence
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but B/2 tourist visa allow 3-month stays. New immigrants (Olim) get a 10-year tax holiday on foreign income