Following on from my other thread, I thought it would be interesting to compare the cost of living in several different countries (especially Israel), so that potential olim can compare prices of things that they pay in the diaspora and what they will pay in Israel.

I live in London, UK.

Here are some average prices.

Cost of semi-skimmed milk, 4 pints from big supermarket: £1.34

Loaf of white bread: £0.59p

Nappies (pack of 32): £3.97

Bus fare (one journey): £0.90p (in London)

Average daycare/nursery cost per day: £50-£100 (and you have to bring your own diapers)

Fiction paperback book: approx £6.99

Renting an apartment: we pay £1,050 for a 2 bed flat in north London. This does not include bills. The apartment is very standard, does not have double glazed windows, has central heating, no lift to 2nd floor.

Electricity: approx £30 per month

Gas: approx £50 per month going up in winter and down in summer

Water: approx £25 per month

We also have to pay council (local) tax which is £200 per month and this pays for things like street lighting, police, rubbish collection once per week etc but in my opinion is a complete waste of money.

The average wage here in London is: £30,000 before tax per year.

Would love to know what people pay in Israel, US, Europe etc.

London is a very expensive city to live in and (in my opinion) not good value for money at all. The roads are dirty and full of litter even though we pay premium tax rates (see above).

I live in London, UK.
I live in Jerusalm Israel.
Here are some average prices.

Cost of semi-skimmed milk, 4 pints from big supermarket: £1.34
Cost of Milk, in 1 liter caton, 3% - 6 NIS

Loaf of white bread: £0.59p
Loaf of White Bread (I almost never buy this) - 5 NIS Fresh Hallah 5 NIS - Fancy Grained Breads - 10-15 NIS

Nappies (pack of 32): £3.97
Huggies #2 72 pack - 65 NIS

Bus fare (one journey): £0.90p (in London)
Bus Fare (one trip) - 5.7 nis (In Jerusalem) I think - I can walk almost anywhere in town in under 30 minutes.

Average daycare/nursery cost per day: £50-£100 (and you have to bring your own diapers)
???

Fiction paperback book: approx £6.99
Fiction paperback book: I have read 2 books a month and never bought one new. Generally there are sales for new books 4 for 100 NIS, and sales every year during National Book Week.

Renting an apartment: we pay £1,050 for a 2 bed flat in north London. This does not include bills. The apartment is very standard, does not have double glazed windows, has central heating, no lift to 2nd floor.
Renting an apartment: we pay 650 USD (Transfered to NIS according to the exchange rate OR the rate on the day we signed the contract, whichever is higher) for a 2 room (Bedroom and Salon, Galley Kitchen and full bath) in a 100 year old building. The apartment was rented "as is" and we invested about 2000 nis plus time to re-paint, put up screens, clean it up.

Electricity: approx £30 per month
Electricity: 200 to 500 NIS for 2 months (more in winter due to electric hot water and electric heat

Gas: approx £50 per month going up in winter and down in summer
Gas: 110 NIS for a 12 Kilo tank that lasts about 3 months (we only use gas for the range)

Water: approx £25 per month
Water: appx 165 nis for 2 months

We also have to pay council (local) tax which is £200 per month and this pays for things like street lighting, police, rubbish collection once per week etc but in my opinion is a complete waste of money.
Arnona (based on the size of the apartment) - 2200 NIS per year

The average wage here in London is: £30,000 before tax per year.
The average salary here in Israel is 7813 nis per month before tax.

Thank you Ed from Nachlaot!!!