The Central Bureau of Statistics Data Reveal Rehovot is An Expensive City

The Central Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Survey for 2006 shows that expenditure was highest in Rishon Lezion, with an average housing spending of NIS 13,076 per month. Bat Yam had the lowest average housing spending, at NIS 8,251. The survey covered Israel's 14 largest cities with more than 100,000 residents. Tel Aviv had the highest spending per capita (NIS 5,737 per month), and Bnei Brak had the lowest (NIS 2,035 per month). Tel Aviv had the second highest average housing spending (NIS 12,456), followed by Rehovot (NIS 11,742); Beersheva (NIS 11,249) and Ramat Gan (NIS 11,330).

The survey also found that Ashkelon had the highest proportion of home ownership at 80.5% of all households, while Tel Aviv had the highest proportion of rentals, at 45.7% of all households in the city. Rishon Lezion, Rehovot, and Ashdod have the largest average apartment size, at 3.8 rooms per apartment. Bnei Brak has the smallest average apartment size, at three rooms per apartment. Bnei Brak also has the highest density, with an average of 4.3 persons per apartment. (“Rishon Lezion Families Spend Most in Israel,” Central Bureau of Statistics, September 6, 2007).