Cost: 7 Days in Jerusalem

We know that everyone spends differently, and a budget can be extremely variable; however, after leaving an area, we want to provide some perspective on the cost associated with staying there for anyone interested in doing a similar trip.  Our budget of $150/day (we started with a lower target range of $100 but we are obviously nowhere close to that!) is for 2 people and does not include the $10,000 round-the-world flights (plus trip insurance) already paid for.  The budget also does not account for the bills we are continuing to pay at home.  The bulk of our budget allows for low-to-mid-range lodging in hostels, budget hotels, or guesthouses for a target of $60/double; meals/drinks; use of public transportation; and cost to do some sightseeing and/or activities.  At $150/day, we have found we are not depriving ourselves from any experiences; except that, as foodies, we aren't as liberal with our budget on finding the best and trendiest restaurants (which we haven't missed at all).  An article titled, "Set Your Daily Number" by the veteran travel bloggers from Married With Luggage confirms that a daily average is a simple strategy for setting and meeting a budget.  We've got in the habit of taking a few minutes to record our daily expenditure so we can make small adjustments along the way.

Israel has the prettiest money!

7 DAYS IN JERUSALEM

Long ago when we decided to add Jerusalem to our RTW trip, we knew it would be a temporary budget-breaker, but we didn't care.  We wanted to experience the Holy City no matter.  

So, despite the up charge in our lodging due to Yom Kippur and Sukkot holidays, we came out only slightly scathed at $190/day ($1327 total).  

Currency: USD$1 = 3.86 Shekels

LODGING

At $110/night, our lodging was the most expensive to date in our RTW trip.  After searching for hotels in West Jerusalem, we quickly came to the conclusion that we couldn't find a hotel for less than $180-$200/night.  Yikes.  We turned to www.Airbnb.com and went with a studio apartment in the Bak'a neighborhood.  $110 for what we had would've been outrageous in any other situation, but this was the best deal we had going.  

TRANSPORTATION

$16/day ($109 total).  We did a lot of walking, too, but took advantage of the bus system at approximately $2/pp/ride.  Since we didn't know our way around by public transportation on our first day, we took the cab twice and cost us at least $15 per trip to get around town.  We quit taking the cab after that.  The Nesher Shurut shuttle service to/from the airport was a good deal at approximately $16/pp.  

MEALS

$43/day ($302 total).  Food at any decent restaurant was expensive in Jerusalem; or maybe we've just become accustomed to paying hardly anything in our trip!  Regardless, on most days, we ate a big falafel sandwich and drink from a stand for $7/pp, and cooked dinner in our apartment at least 3 or 4 nights.  Even after all that, our food cost was equivalent to eating out every meal in the Balkans or South America.  

DRINKS

$16/day ($112 total).  We were able to contain this cost only because we were hermits!  We bought bottles of wine at the store and enjoyed them in our apartment.  We did have some Goldstar beers at Mike's Place and a couple of other bars in West Jerusalem, but for the most part, we stayed in, partly because most of the businesses were closed for the holidays.

ATTRACTIONS/ADMISSIONS

$5/day ($32 total).  The good news is, the churches, synsgogues, and mosques that are built around the major sites do not charge admission to enter their place of worship.  So, our only expense here was for the Israel Museum and a donation to the free Yav Vashem Holocaust Museum.  

CLOTHING 

$13 for a new shirt.  

POSTAGE/POSTCARDS

$6/day ($41 total).  Postage for postcards were surprisingly expensive at almost $2/stamp.  

  

We incurred zero costs for laundry because we didn't see one single laundry service; no personal care costs for haircus and such, and no ATM fees.  

Basically, what we're saying is, Jerusalem is not for budget traveling.  However, it was definitely worth every penny for the experience we had seeing the holy sites and giving our parents an opportunity to vicariously experience it with us through pictures.