Originally published at Aliya Today
Eilat attracts olim seeking escape from central israel's noise and cost. The average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre is $1,440, compared to $998 outside the centre. But with an estimated population of 51.9K, Eilat is the 32nd largest city in Israel. That scale shapes everything: your job search, your community, your financial reality. This guide cuts through the vacation-destination image to show you the actual absorption conditions olim face here in 2026.
The Real Cost: Rent Is Low, but Salaries Are Lower
Many prospective olim hear "Eilat is cheap" and assume their earnings will stretch further. The math doesn't work that way. Salary data indicates that the average salary in Eilat, Israel is ₪ 159,455 annually or an equivalent hourly rate of ₪ 77. That's roughly 1% below the national average, yet the job market is one-tenth the size.
Basic utilities in Eilat (including electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage for an 85m² apartment) cost an average of $193 per month. The isolation premium cuts both ways: cheaper rent, cheaper utilities—but fewer employers willing to offer competitive wages.
For context, the average monthly salary in Israel is 13,588 shekels, or about USD 3,723, and the median monthly income is ₪9,000 ($2,943.68 USD). In Eilat, expect to negotiate from a weaker position.
Why Does Eilat's Job Market Stay Small?
Eilat's economy rests on tourism, hospitality, and government services—not tech, not manufacturing, not the industries that hire English-speaking olim. Roles available in cities like Eilat and Jerusalem, especially in hotels, restaurants, and tourist services cluster in low-wage, seasonal work. That's not a judgment; it's structural. Unless you're seeking hospitality work or have remote employment already arranged, Eilat presents a real earnings bottleneck.
How Your 2026 Tax Benefits Actually Work in Eilat
Israel's 2026 tax reform for new olim is genuinely generous—on paper. Tax Benefit Rates for 2026 and 2027 will be up to 0%. For 2028, they will be up to 10%, for 2029 up to 20%, and for 2030: up to 30%. The reform will apply to annual income up to ₪1 million NIS.
But there's a critical catch for Eilat olim: The benefit does not apply to passive income, such as rental income, accrued interest, or dividends. And The tax exemption on foreign income is STILL INTACT. What changed is that you now MUST REPORT that income to the Israeli Tax Authority — even though you won't pay tax on it. That means your U.S. brokerage account, foreign pension, rental property back home—all reportable now, though still tax-exempt.
For olim earning Israeli-source salary in Eilat, zero tax is real. For those relying on foreign passive income to supplement a lower Eilat salary, the reporting burden now matters more than the tax break.
Who Really Qualifies for the 0% Tax Bene
Read the full article at Aliya Today
