Moving to Israel from Iowa
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iowa to Israel — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iowa to Israel, you would find that Israel is 24.8% more expensive than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly ₪321,941 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Jerusalem averages 72°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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 Iowa to Israel.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₪321,941
To maintain the same standard of living in Israel
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 35.1% more
Groceries
pay 9.0% more
Transportation
pay 72.4% more
Housing
pay 4.0% more
Childcare
pay 23.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.4% more
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 26% more than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Iowa 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 Iowa to Israel.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Israel performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Israel performs significantly better than Iowa 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
Iowa performs better than Israel across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Israel performs significantly better than Iowa 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 | Des Moines | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 58°/46°F (15°/8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 78°/60°F (25°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 68°/55°F (20°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
No — Israel is on average about 41% more expensive than Iowa. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Israel?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₪80,485 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 Iowa?
Israel performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Israel compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Israel?
The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In Iowa, the official language is English.
