Tel Avivians spend 3 times more than in Bnei Brak

Tel Avivians spend nearl

By RON FRIEDMAN
The average urban Israel household is made up of 3.3 people who live in 3.8 rooms and pay NIS 2,826 in housing expenses. Household spending is highest in Rishon Lezion, but Tel Aviv residents spend the most per capita. These and other statistics emerged from the Central Bureau of Statistics' recently released Household Expenditure Survey. The survey examined the monthly expenditures of the residents of the 14 largest cities in Israel and found, among other things, that Bnei Brak residents own the fewest DVD players but the most clothes dryers. The CBS survey examined the expenditures of five cities with more than 200,000 residents - Jerusalem Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rishon Lezion and Ashdod; and nine cites with between 100,000-200,000 residents - Ramat Gan, Netanya, Holon, Bat Yam, Beersheba, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Ashkelon and Rehovot. The average value of an urban dwelling is NIS 964,000. The survey found that Tel Aviv dwellings are most expensive at an average value of nearly NIS 1.3 million and Beer Sheba's are cheapest at NIS 505,000. Rishon Lezion households have the most expenditures, averaging NIS 13,972 per month, and Bat Yam households spend the least, averaging NIS 9,246. Tel Aviv came in second in household expenditures but first in personal consumption, at NIS 6,111 per month per person. In Bnei Brak, the average expenditure per person is NIS 2,224 per month with the national average standing at NIS 3,721. According to the survey, 69% of Israeli urbanites live in dwellings they own, while 25% are renters. Tel Aviv has the highest percentage of renters at 43% and Rishon Lezion the lowest, with 21.6%. Housing makes up the largest percentage of household expenditures at 23%, followed by food (17%) transportation and communication (19.7%) education, culture and entertainment (13%) dwelling and household maintenance (10%) health expenses (5%) furniture and equipment (3.8%) and clothing (3.5%). Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak are adjacent geographically, but in terms of technological savvy, the two are on opposite ends of the spectrum. While Ramat Gan leads the country in televisions and cell phones per 100 people (83 and 89, respectively), Bnei Brak comes in last with only 33% households that own a television and 64% of households with a cell phone. Bnei Brak is also last is the number of households who own microwaves, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and cars, but it leads in the ownership of deep freezers and stoves. The neighboring cities are also on opposite ends when it comes to household size, with Bnei Brak averaging 4.4 people per household and Ramat Gan 2.2. According to the survey, Rehovot leads the country in Internet use with 77.5% of households connected to an Internet provider. Rehovot also leads the way in ownership of more than two personal computers. At 30% it nearly doubles the national average of 17% and triples the rate of Holon and Bat Yam. Roughly half of all households own two or more television sets. Rishon Lezion and Ashkelon lead the list at 70% and Jerusalem and Bnei Brak are at the bottom with 26% and 6.5% respectively. Jerusalemites also own the fewest number of air conditioners on average, with only 36% of households having one compared to a 74% national average. Despite being usurped by DVD player, which is owned by 56% of households, the survey showed that nearly 41% of households still own a video-cassette recorder.