Compare
Compare cities
Pick up to four cities. Every figure links to its source; scores marked "judgment call" are our reading of those sources.
Choose cities (up to four)
Swipe the table sideways to see every city.
| City | Tel Aviv-Yafo | Givat Shmuel | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Tel Aviv area | Tel Aviv area | Jerusalem area |
| Population | 494,9002024 estimatesource ((opens in a new tab)) | 29,4052024 estimatesource ((opens in a new tab)) | 1,050,1532024 estimatesource ((opens in a new tab)) |
| English-speaking community | Large (4 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Large (4 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Very large (5 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) |
| French-speaking community | Unknownsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Small (2 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) |
| Russian-speaking community | Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Unknownsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Small (2 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) |
| Religious mix | Mostly secularMostly secular; Wikipedia describes a 'secular, liberal-minded' center and counts 544 active synagogues. NBN: all affiliations, some neighborhoods homogeneous.source ((opens in a new tab)) | MixedMixed: 'Demographics are mixed religious/secular.'source ((opens in a new tab)) | Mixed, leaning religiousMixed, leaning religious. Only 18% of Jewish residents are secular and Haredim are 35% of the adult Jewish population; Arab residents make up about 37% of the population.source ((opens in a new tab)) |
| Rent (family-size apartment) | NIS 8,872 – 11,348 a monthCBS averages, Apr-Jun 2026 (3.5-4 rooms to 4.5+ rooms)source ((opens in a new tab)) | No reliable figure found | NIS 6,180 – 7,748 a monthCBS averages, Apr-Jun 2026 (3.5-4 rooms to 4.5+ rooms)source ((opens in a new tab)) |
| To Tel Aviv | You would live in the city itself | About 17 min to Tel Aviv by busAbout 17 min by bus 70 to Tel Aviv Savidor, or about 10 min by taxi (Rome2rio estimates).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab)) | About 41 min to Tel Aviv by trainAbout 41 min by train from Yitzhak Navon to Tel Aviv Center, or about 48 min by bus (Rome2rio estimates).source ((opens in a new tab)) |
| To Jerusalem | About 41 min to Jerusalem by trainAbout 41 min by train between Tel Aviv Center and Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon, or about 48 min by bus (Rome2rio estimates, measured Jerusalem to Tel Aviv).source ((opens in a new tab)) | About 49 min to Jerusalem by busAbout 49 min by bus 400 (Rome2rio estimate).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab)) | You would live in the city itself |
| Train station | Yes | No | Yes |
| Light rail | Yes | No | Yes |
| For families | Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | High (4 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) |
| Quiet | Low (1 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) | Fairly low (2 out of 5)· judgment callsource ((opens in a new tab)) |
| Location note | |||
| City site | Tel Aviv-Yafo Local ((opens in a new tab)) | Givat Shmuel Local ((opens in a new tab)) | Jerusalem Local ((opens in a new tab)) |