Rehovot led as the highest spending city 2004 with at least one mobile phone per household

or in 2004 Rehovot led as the highest spending city

"Of Israel's 14 largest cities, Rishon Lezion spends the most money per household monthly, according to a survey released Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Averaging an expenditure of NIS 11,724, Rishon Lezion families spend more than those in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Rehovot, Ashkelon, Jerusalem, Holon, Petah Tikvah, Beersheba, Bat Yam, Netanya, Ashdod and Ramat Gan. The fourteen cities were surveyed over the past year by the Central Bureau of Statistics. CBS has conducted such a survey every five to seven years since the early 1950s, and yearly since 1997.

Of the cities, four have populations over 200,000: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Rishon Lezion, while the remaining 10 are home to 100,000-200,000 people.

The thriftiest of the cities was Bat Yam, spending an average NIS 7,512 per household monthly. Comparatively, in 2004 Rehovot led as the highest spending city, at NIS 10,957 per month. The survey also compared housing and found the most cramped living conditions in Bnei Brak, where houses accommodated the most residents per square meter.

The most expensive dwellings, on average, were in Ramat Gan, while the lowest average rents were in Beersheba. Tel Aviv residents paid the highest average rent, the survey found.

Despite the crowdedness of Bnei Brak, the highest percentage of households there owned freezers. The highest number of households in Petah Tikvah owned air conditioners, compared to the fewest in Jerusalem.

The most households owned at least one cellular phone in Rehovot, while in Holon the most households had cable television."

Source: Sari Cohen. Rishon Lezion households spend most monthly. www.JPost.com (5 September 2005) [FullText]