Moving to Israel from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Israel — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Israel, you would find that Israel is 3.5% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly ₪223,170 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Israel.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₪223,170
To maintain the same standard of living in Israel
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 11.4% more
Groceries
pay 17.8% less
Transportation
pay 21.9% more
Housing
pay 36.6% less
Childcare
pay 48.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.6% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Israel cost about 17% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Israel
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from California to Israel, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Israel · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Israel.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Israel performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Israel across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Israel leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Israel performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 58°/46°F (15°/8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 78°/60°F (25°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 68°/55°F (20°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Israel Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Israel. To live, work, or study long-term in Israel, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Israel's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Israel
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Israel passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Israel than California?
Costs in Israel and California are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Israel?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₪55,792 in Israel on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Israel?
Usually fine from major cities in Israel. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Israel compared to California?
Israel performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Israel compared to California?
The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Israel?
The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In California, the official language is English.
