How hard is it financially to make it in Israel?

[yzj]

I can only talk from personal experience but this is what we encountered.  We made aliyah seven years ago with three teenagers (everyone said bad idea), no job (gave up a six figure job) and no place to live a month before moving (also a no no from all friends and family). Sold our modest house and all belongings and quit job so no turning back.  Made a committment to first year of ulpan and adult yeshiva.  Lived off of aliyah benefits and stuffing envelopes for a non profit ( for real, had whole family stuffing and working small jobs.  Also small savings.  Took a job as a kindergarten assistant maternity leave to get a foot in the door.  You do what you need to do, I was a 20 year teacher and university instructor in the states.  Within 3 years was principal.  Daughter went to university for four years, practically free and has two degrees.  Has more job offers than she has time for.  Not great salaries but jobs.  Son did elite army unit and yeshiva (yes it is possible) and completing  first college degree. 
 He Just got married to an Israeli  girl who doesn’t speak much English and they live in a very modest apartment and both work part time as she finishes her second academic degree and he finishes Yeshiva and first degree.  No, they do not get supported by parents, they make it on their own. We live in a modest apartment in Jerusalem with an ugly purple sofa that came with the apartment and no car.  Material wise we live very basically but fulfillment wise all of us couldn’t be happier. 
Is this for all Jews? I wish I could say yes, but know people have different priorities.  If you read this an say “he must be crazy” then that  is your answer.  Are there problems here, both financial and otherwise?  Of course.  Do all make the transition? No.  Who does it make the greatest impact on? The kids.  Kids here are on a whole different level as compared to kids in the states, which is an area for a different discussion.  And yes, our children are even more religious here.  They are living  and making Jewish history. Our  son’s commander’s course was packed with religious boys and our girls do national service. Feel  free to PM me if you have any questions that we can help with.

I would imagine that dati Leumi would find it easier to integrate than ultra orthodox.

[Proisrael]

I made aliyah 1.5 years ago. Cost of living is broken down for me as follows:

Cheaper:
Tuition
Healthcare
Food
Chol Hamoed trips
Public Transportation
Living outside of Jerusalem and RBS housing is very cheap where I live

More Expensive:

Owning a car
Utility Bills

Bottom line if you come with a job (Work from your computer) then living here is much much cheaper. My expenses have been cut by 50% and I have a car an apartment that is 3 times the size of what I had in the states. But the trade off is I do not live in Jerusalem I live in a less "American" city, but my kids adapted within their first month in school and all speak a fluent hebrew now BH!

 

[Emkay]

Is the cost of living more there?

Cost of living is less, cost of living on their previous American standards is usually more.

[sky121]

I made aliyah 1.5 years ago. Cost of living is broken down for me as follows:

Cheaper:
Tuition
Healthcare
Food
Chol Hamoed trips
Public Transportation
Living outside of Jerusalem and RBS housing is very cheap where I live

More Expensive:

Owning a car
Utility Bills

Bottom line if you come with a job (Work from your computer) then living here is much much cheaper. My expenses have been cut by 50% and I have a car an apartment that is 3 times the size of what I had in the states. But the trade off is I do not live in Jerusalem I live in a less "American" city, but my kids adapted within their first month in school and all speak a fluent hebrew now BH!

Do you work for an American company?
Also no need to tell us where you live exactly but curious as how much rent you pay or how much your house cost?

[Kabrams1618]

Interesting question about dati leumi vs. ultra orthodox integration.  For sure army service, especially combat and specialized units is the core for  social integration for men in the dati leumi community. For sure things are changing in the ultra orthodoc community.  Each year more and more men are serving in the army and more men are working rather than studying full time.  Anyone considering moving with small children should come with the expectation and knowledge that army and work will be the norm in the not too distant future.  I am not talking about the forced recruitment that the left is pushing but rather pressure within the ultra orthodox community for army and work.  Just my personal opinion but seems to be the future of the country. Financially all will need to work, there is just no country wide support for social benefits for full time study.  Just the way it is.  Not commenting on if it should or should not be that way.

[mercaz1]

how hard is it to transfer your American law or accounting degree to Israel?

[Dan]

I made aliyah 1.5 years ago. Cost of living is broken down for me as follows:

Cheaper:
Tuition
Healthcare
Food
Chol Hamoed trips
Public Transportation
Living outside of Jerusalem and RBS housing is very cheap where I live

More Expensive:

Owning a car
Utility Bills

Bottom line if you come with a job (Work from your computer) then living here is much much cheaper. My expenses have been cut by 50% and I have a car an apartment that is 3 times the size of what I had in the states. But the trade off is I do not live in Jerusalem I live in a less "American" city, but my kids adapted within their first month in school and all speak a fluent hebrew now BH!

Is the free healthcare good though?
Is food actually cheaper? Other than a felafel it always seemed more to me.
Chol Hamoed trips should always be free
Living I'm guessing is cheaper vs NYC, but more than the midwest.

[Proisrael]

Is the free healthcare good though?
Is food actually cheaper? Other than a felafel it always seemed more to me.
Chol Hamoed trips should always be free
Living I'm guessing is cheaper vs NYC, but more than the midwest.

For me the free healthcare has been amazing, unfortunately I have needed way more then I ever did in the States. Fresh meat/chicken/shnitzel is way cheaper here then it was for me back in the States.

[Proisrael]

Do you work for an American company?
Also no need to tell us where you live exactly but curious as how much rent you pay or how much your house cost?

Yes I do

I live in the Kryaot a little north of Haifa. I have 24 hour train service 4 trains an hour from 6AM-10PM. Community is closed on Shabbos.

I have a penthouse apartment with 4 bedrooms and a Marpesset 100 Sqm for 4400 sheqel a month.

Houses in my area go for around 2million sheqel for a real house 5 bedrooms and a yard.

[Proisrael]

how hard is it to transfer your American law or accounting degree to Israel?

There has been an amazing amount of headway in this regard. If you are considering a move you should do a little research.

[Emkay]

Is the free healthcare good though?
Is food actually cheaper? Other than a felafel it always seemed more to me.
Chol Hamoed trips should always be free
Living I'm guessing is cheaper vs NYC, but more than the midwest.

Healthcare: Good medical care but standard cons of socialized medicine.
Food: Sure, there are plenty that are significantly more expensive like the cheapest bag of chips at roughly $1. But overall basics and necessities all came out cheaper for me.
Comparing Jerusalem to NYC and in middle of the Golan or Negev to the Midwest.

[chevron]

Food cost more, unless you go to the source etc
Taxes / bituach leumi are high
Health care sucks

Israeli bureaucracy is hell, whether gov or industry. When I moved to Kiryat arba  it took bezek one month to install my internet.

I love eretz yisrael but I detest israeli's, I dunno thats just me. I am at home in Yehuda, Shomron and jerusalem.

[chevron]

I live in Miami so yeah.

[Proisrael]

Food cost more, unless you go to the source etc
Taxes / bituach leumi are high
Health care sucks

Israeli bureaucracy is hell, whether gov or industry. When I moved to Kiryat arba  it took bezek one month to install my internet.

I love eretz yisrael but I detest israeli's, I dunno thats just me. I am at home in Yehuda, Shomron and jerusalem.

Taxes are high but coming from the NorthEast it is nothing crazy
Healthcare I have been absolutely amazed and the care is amazing here in Haifa (Rambam)
Not sure the issue you had with the internet but here as soon as I ordered they were there. When I switched providers it took a day or two thats it.

[aygart]

Fresh meat/chicken/shnitzel is way cheaper here then it was for me back in the States.

This tells us very clearly that you are okay with hechsherim that many here will not be and that their experience will therefore not be the same.

[Dan]

This tells us very clearly that you are okay with hechsherim that many here will not be and that their experience will therefore not be the same.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used to start a religious discussion.

[Dan]

Healthcare: Good medical care but standard cons of socialized medicine.
Food: Sure, there are plenty that are significantly more expensive like the cheapest bag of chips at roughly $1. But overall basics and necessities all came out cheaper for me.
Comparing Jerusalem to NYC and in middle of the Golan or Negev to the Midwest.

LOL.
Is the entire Jerusalem also flocking to the Negev for tuition vouchers?

[Proisrael]

This tells us very clearly that you are okay with hechsherim that many here will not be and that their experience will therefore not be the same.

I buy a hechsher called Hrav Mutzafi which I was told is a top notch hechsher. My FIL is a Shochet and tells me that it is a very good hechsher so I trust him.

[Emkay]

LOL.
Is the entire Jerusalem also flocking to the Negev for tuition vouchers?

No, because it's free. But they are trying to convince the rest of the country that they live in the best possible location and everyone else is doing it wrong while they live in Eden. So it's pretty close to CLE.

[aygart]

I buy a hechsher called Hrav Mutzafi which I was told is a top notch hechsher. My FIL is a Shochet and tells me that it is a very good hechsher so I trust him.

I did not say that in judgement of your standards but rather that the facts are that many here will only rely on certain hechsherim and the facts are that those hechsherim will cost much more than the meat bought in the states.