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NEWS
Lowest Per Capita Spending in Bnei Brak
By G. Kleiman
The Central Bureau for Statistics released figures showing
monthly household expenditures were highest in Israel in Tel
Aviv. According to the data, which covered 13 major Israeli
cities during the year 2003, the average Tel Aviv household
spent 11,166 shekels ($2,481) per month. Bat Yam posted the
lowest expenses with NIS 7,655 ($1,700).
On a per capita basis, monthly consumption came to NIS 4,843
($1,076) in Tel Aviv, NIS 4,093 in Ramat Gan and NIS 3,435 in
Haifa, while the lowest average spending was in Bnei Brak
where only NIS 2,097 ($466) is spent, 43 percent of the
amount in Tel Aviv. In Ashkelon spending came to NIS 2,399
per person and NIS 2,551 ($569) in Jerusalem.
The 13 cities surveyed were Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa,
Rishon Letzion, Ramat Gan, Netanya, Holon, Bat Yam, Bnei
Brak, Petach Tikva, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon.
Housing accounted for the greatest portion of household
costs, representing 22.8 percent of expenses. In Tel Aviv
housing accounted for 28.3 percent of expenses compared to
just 16 percent in Be'er Sheva.
Average food costs represented 16.8 percent, although in
Ashkelon 20 percent of expenses went towards food compared to
14 percent in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. In Be'er Sheva the
percentage of household costs for furniture and household
accessories was 6.3 percent, twice the amount in Tel Aviv,
Haifa and Rishon Letzion. Bnei Brak posted the highest
spending on health care relative to total household expenses,
4.13 percent, compared to 2.3 percent in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile housing is most crowded in Bnei Brak with 1.26 per
room and least crowded in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Haifa with
0.8 people per room.
The most expensive apartments were found in Tel Aviv, where
the average apartment cost NIS 1,077,000 ($239,333), followed
by Ramat Gan where the average apartment went for NIS
1,061,000 and NIS 831,000 ($184,666) in Jerusalem. The least
expensive apartments were in Be'er Sheva (NIS 469,000) and
Ashkelon (NIS 467,000-$103,777). Average housing costs were
relatively high in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, which nonetheless
rank among Israel's poorest cities in terms of socioeconomic
conditions, due to the high demand for apartments in both
cities.
The highest property taxes were in Rishon Letzion, which
levied NIS 311 ($69) per month, compared to just NIS 132
($29) in Ashkelon. In Ashdod 74.6 percent of residents own
the apartment they live in, compared to 48.7 percent in Tel
Aviv.
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