Onward Intern Take 3: The Guide to Budgeting in Tel Aviv Part 2
In my last post regarding budgeting, I covered eating and drinking out as well as shopping, aka the more luxurious spending items. This time I want to go back to the basics! Supermarkets and transportation. Not so luxurious but important nonetheless!
Now while I personally prefer to walk my way through Tel Aviv there are many alternative modes of transportation that won’t leave your feet blistered and calloused. For short distances though walking is definitely the way to go, first of all, because it’s free but also because it’s the best way to familiarize yourself with the streets of Tel Aviv! But when your distance isn’t so walkable you can always bus, Gett or Lime!
Navigating the bus is made easy with the free app, Moovit, which lets you know where the nearest bus stop is, which bus to take to get to your destination and even tells you when to get off during your ride. When you get onto the bus you’ll see a small screen where you pay the small fee of 5.50 shekels or a little under 1.50 USD. But don’t forget to pay the fee or you could be fined the very un budget-friendly fine of 100 shekel or 27 USD. The characters and interactions you’ll witness on your bus rides will definitely make your time spent here memorable!
When you’re not feeling the bus and are willing to pay the price of convenience then Gett Taxi is the way to go. Gett is the Uber of Israel but is also more similar to taxis as you pay based on a running meter and while you can order and pay via the app you can also hail one off the street like a true Tel Avivian. The going rate is about 3 shekel or 85 cents per minute but ranges based on demand. If it’s a busier time of day it could be slightly more expensive and if you get caught in traffic forget about your budget for the day.
If you prefer to live on the wild side or just enjoy fresh air but don’t have the time to walk then taking a lime is for you! Limes are communal scooters you will see all over the streets of Tel Aviv. If you’re interested in riding you’ll need to first download the Lime app to unlock the scooter and pay. It is 5 shekel or 1.35 USD to unlock it and then an additional .5 shekel or 13 cents per minute you’re riding. Due to my lack of coordination, I steer clear of riding the scooters but definitely watch with envy as they zip by (and nearly hit pedestrians.)
Now onto the supermarket necessities! Depending on where you're staying, venturing off to the Shuk HaCarmel is the best place to not only get the freshest produce but the cheapest! Fruits and veggies come in big plastic bins and will only cost you on average about 10-30 shekel or about 2-12 USD per kilo.
When you go to the supermarket such as a.m p.m. or super yehuda they will be a little more expensive, the range being more like 15-40 shekel or 5-8 USD per kilo. Snacks here also tend to be on the pricier side especially if they are typical American snacks that need to be imported. A big bag of chips can be anywhere from 18-30 shekel or 4-8 USD. For the best meat I prefer to go to the supermarket tib tam which you can find all throughout Tel Aviv. Last time I went to get thinly sliced chicken breast I was able to get a package that fed 4 people for only 28 shekel or about 7 USD!
Overall nothing beats the free walk to the Shuk and the beautiful produce that's displayed throughout for prices you’d never find in the states. Enjoy the smells but try to avoid the mysterious drippidge that comes from above while you navigate the bustling crowd.
-Xoxo from Tel Aviv
Abi <3