What a renovation costs in Israel
Published 2025 and 2026 figures per square metre and per apartment, from cosmetic work to a full gut renovation.
Cosmetic work costs roughly 3,000 to 5,000 shekels per square metre in Jerusalem (Jewish Link, 2026), and a deep renovation of a 100 square metre apartment runs 300,000 to 450,000 shekels (Bizportal, 2025). Plumbing and electrical work and moving walls push a renovation budget from the first number to the second; flooring and painting alone stay near the low end.
Renovation cost per square metre in Jerusalem
Source: Jewish Link, October 2026, Jerusalem figures. The table below has the same numbers.
| Renovation | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic: kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, paint, no walls or systems | 3,000 to 5,000 per m² | Jewish Link, Oct 2026, Jerusalem |
| Standard full renovation, 150 m², Jerusalem | 5,092 per m² | Jewish Link, Oct 2026 |
| Premium full renovation, 150 m², Jerusalem | 10,686 per m² | Jewish Link, Oct 2026 |
| Super premium, 150 m², Jerusalem | 20,606 per m² | Jewish Link, Oct 2026 |
Cost for a 100 m² apartment
| Scope | Cost (shekels) |
|---|---|
| Cosmetic renovation | 80,000 to 120,000 |
| Medium renovation | 180,000 to 250,000 |
| Deep or gut renovation | 300,000 to 450,000 |
Source: Bizportal, April 2025 (Hebrew). The same report advises adding at least 20% to a once-a-decade renovation budget.
What drives the cost up
- Plumbing and electrical: replacing old pipes and wiring adds work behind every wall.
- Structural changes: moving or removing walls, and anything that needs an engineer.
- The kitchen: a custom kitchen is often one of the largest single items.
- Finishes: flooring, tiles, sanitary ware and light fixtures vary widely.
- Air conditioning: new units and ducts are easiest to add while walls are open.
- Changes on site: each change after work starts costs time and money.
“Never pay ahead of the work.”
How to keep the budget honest
- Ask every renovation contractor you talk to to price the same bill of quantities, line item by line item.
- Decide the design, with 3D renderings, before demolition.
- Tie each payment to a finished, checked stage.
- Keep a contingency, as the Bizportal report suggests.
Questions about renovation costs
Is VAT included in these figures?
The sources do not all say. Israeli VAT has been 18% since January 2025, so always ask whether a quote includes it.
Does the design fee come on top?
Yes. Designer and architect fees are separate from the contractor's price. See interior designer and architect fees in Israel.
To plan the renovation itself, see home renovation in Israel, designed and managed.