Moving to Tel Aviv
Moving to another country is an incredibly challenging experience, even for the most resilient individuals. After all, you’re uprooting your life and leaving your family, friends, and established routines behind. Plus, if Israel is your new home, you might have to adjust to a new culture, way of life, and language.
But it’s not all bad. The advantages of living in Israel will make any effort worth it, especially if your city of choice is Tel Aviv.
Moving to Tel Aviv means moving to an energetic city that never sleeps, a thriving tech hub that can rival Silicon Valley, and a Mediterranean sea shore with seemingly endless sandy beaches.
But before arriving in the “White City” and joining its flourishing expat community, you should know a few things. Lucky for you, you can find all of them in our guide.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll feel right at home in Tel Aviv in no time.
What Do You Need to Move to Tel Aviv?
Moving to Tel Aviv has slightly different requirements depending on your specific situation.
If you’re making Aliyah, you should have no issues obtaining a resident visa, thanks to the Right of Return. This law is incredibly favorable to people of Jewish heritage returning to their homeland. The same goes for their family members.
But you don’t need this guide to tell you how welcoming Israel is to those moving to the country. One look at the Israeli government’s website and its detailed services and instructions, and it becomes clear you’ll be met with open arms.
If you’re not making Aliyah, don’t worry. There are still several ways to live in Tel Aviv. For instance, you can become a resident via a work or student visa.
Where to Live in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is a great place to live in as a whole. Each neighborhood in the city has its own unique character and provides a different experience for its residents. Still, choosing your new home’s location randomly isn’t prudent, especially if you’re an Anglo.
How to Choose a Neighborhood in Tel Aviv
Choosing where to live in Tel Aviv is no easy task for an Anglo. Sure, you should consider which neighborhood you like the best and which would make you the happiest in which to live. However, there are also some “technical” considerations you should keep in mind to ensure a seamless transition to life in Tel Aviv and Israel in general.
The best way to go about this choice is to make a list of your priorities. Then, it’s just a matter of finding a Tel Aviv neighborhood that checks most or, if you’re lucky, all of the boxes.
The Anglo Community
Living in a neighborhood with a strong Anglo community can be a blessing, especially if you don’t speak Hebrew. It will allow you to get out of your comfort zone gradually. Then again, there are advantages to living in a predominantly Hebrew-speaking community if you’re a fan of the “learning to swim by jumping into the deep water” approach. After all, Israelis have obviously lived longer in Tel Aviv, know the system better, and can help you learn Hebrew faster.
An Aliyah Coordinator
As part of its efforts to encourage Aliyah, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration offers services of local Aliyah Coordinators to new immigrants or Olim Chadashim. Having an Aliyah coordinator in your neighborhood is incredibly helpful, as they can help you with numerous things, such as:
- Setting up utilities
- Registering for an ulpan
- Explaining how to interact with local authorities
Best of all, they’ll do all of this in English, and their work isn’t done until you’re fully integrated with your Tel Aviv community.
The Level of Observance
In Israel, our level of observance can strongly affect how people perceive us. That’s why you’ll probably want to surround yourself with people of similar religious affiliations. The good news is that as a cosmopolitan city, Tel Aviv is more welcoming to mixed secular-religious populations.
Transportation in Tel Aviv
If you don’t plan on having a car, Tel Aviv has great public transportation options. For most lines, buses run every five minutes (pending delays). You can read more about public transportation options on the Tel Aviv government website.
An Easy Commute to Work
Let’s say you’re moving to Tel Aviv to work for an international company. In that case, you’ll probably live in your company’s apartments and won’t need to worry about a long commute. But if you’ve yet to find employment in Tel Aviv, make sure your eventual workplace and home aren’t too far apart.
An Easy Commute to an Ulpan
Living close to an ulpan is a must for those still struggling with Hebrew. After all, you’ll spend much of your first five months in Tel Aviv there.
An Easy Commute to a School
If you have children, you must also take their education into consideration. Ideally, their school in Tel Aviv will have a larger Anglo population, making the transition easier for them. If your children are of different ages, look for a Tel Aviv neighborhood with a broader range of schools. In just about every instance, you can rely on public transportation to take you to where you need with minimal walking.
The Cost of Living
Let’s not sugarcoat it – the cost of living in Tel Aviv is rather high. Still, you can find more affordable neighborhoods in Tel Aviv’s periphery. The more you move toward the city center, the more expensive it gets to live there.
Activities
This is where your personal preferences come into play. Do you want to live close to the water, so you can enjoy Tel Aviv’s vibrant beach culture? Is having a lively nightlife in your community important to you? Or do you want to be able to frequently visit religious lectures at a yeshiva? Whatever the case, your chosen neighborhood should match your preferences.
The Best Tel Aviv Neighborhoods for Anglos
Now that you know how to choose the best Tel Aviv neighborhood, it’s time to get down to research. To help you jumpstart this research, we’ve selected several Tel Aviv neighborhoods that have proven to be excellent places for Anglos to live. These include:
Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek has recently become one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Tel Aviv. Boasting a rich 140-year history, this neighborhood perfectly blends old-city charm and urban sophistication.
While walking through the narrow cobblestone streets of Neve Tzedek, you’ll feel like you’re in Paris or Barcelona. You’ll be met with aesthetically pleasing pastel homes, trendy cafés and bars, and a diverse cultural scene. And after a short walk (five minutes or less), you’ll also be met by the beautiful sea.
This charming neighborhood has a strong Anglo community which is constantly growing.
Davening in Neve Tzedek
If you pray or are interested in praying, Neve Tzedek has a great Anglo-friendly synagogue.
Week Day Minyan and Shabbat Afternoon - Yehuda ha-Levi St 15, Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Shabbat Minyan
Kabbalat Shabbat friday sunset & Shabbat Shacharit at 8:45 am
Address: Lilienblum St 7.
Florentin
Florentin, a neighborhood in south Tel Aviv, is a bohemian dream come true. Nicknamed “the home of the hipsters,” this fascinating neighborhood boasts a youthful and artsy population.
Take a stroll in Florentin, and you’ll see countless artisan shops, art studios, and laid-back bars with live jazz music. You’ll also see some unkempt buildings and graffiti walls lining the streets, but it’s all part of this neighborhood’s charm.
Although close to Neve Tzedek, Florentin hasn’t been gentrified as much, so the cost of living is much lower. If you choose to live here, you’ll live among a very mixed population filled with unconventional residents like artists, adventurers, and wanderers, many of whom are also Anglo.
The Old North
The Old North is a Tel Aviv neighborhood many Anglos have called home for years. You’ll be surrounded by veteran immigrants who’ve gone through the same experience and can help you adjust to your new life. The same goes for numerous English-friendly places, such as synagogues with services in English and restaurants with English menus.
While crucial, a strong Anglo community is far from the Old North’s only appealing characteristics.
This well-kept neighborhood will wow you with a bustling port, an easygoing attitude, and chic streets. Visit Yarkon Park for a fun-filled family day spent outdoors and enjoy the electrifying night scene at the Tel Aviv Port or go shopping in the Basel Compound; the choice is all yours.
Kikar HaMedina
Okay, Kikar HaMedina is technically a square. However, it’s slowly turning into a neighborhood as more and more families want to live close to what some call the Champs-Élysées of Tel Aviv. These families also include a significant number of Anglo families.
Kikar HaMedina is a high-end neighborhood best suited for wealthier residents. It’s perceived as a luxurious place to live, thanks to the many top-designer shops with the biggest Israeli and international brands surrounding it.
You can live in a luxurious apartment or a private villa on one of the side streets radiating off the Kikar HaMedina. Here, you’ll enjoy a pastoral atmosphere and a rich cultural scene.
What to Expect From Living in Tel Aviv
Finding the perfect neighborhood is crucial but only one of the essential considerations when moving to Tel Aviv. Check out some of the critical factors of life in Tel Aviv to ensure a smooth transition and a positive living experience.
Lifestyle
Living in one Tel Aviv neighborhood doesn’t mean you can’t explore what other corners of the city have to offer.
Tel Aviv is nicknamed “The City That Never Sleeps” which should tell you all you need to know about its lifestyle.
Vibrant nightlife, world-class chefs in trendy restaurants, and celebrity sightings are just some of the things you can expect from Tel Aviv. But that’s not all there is to this multifaceted city.
You’ll also find a burgeoning cultural scene, many white-sand beaches, and many religious and historical landmarks to explore.
This unique mix of elements makes Tel Aviv the perfect city for both singles and families.
Language
Learning Hebrew as an Anglo is a complex journey of navigating a new alphabet and script (right-to-left). Yes, it will probably be challenging, and yes, it will pay off.
Probably the best way to learn Hebrew is by enrolling in an ulpan. Luckily, there’s no shortage of these in Tel Aviv. Subsidized, private, summer, Kibbutz ulpan – you name it, and you’ll find several of those in the city.
If you have trouble integrating these intensive lessons into your working schedule, you can also hire a private Hebrew teacher. There are a few excellent schools in Tel Aviv that offer one-on-one classes. In addition to being more flexible, this option can help you learn faster, as your private teacher can tailor the lessons to your specific needs.
Climate
Picture this: six months of summer and a year-round Mediterranean climate. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?
Well, if you move to Tel Aviv, you don’t have to imagine anything, as this will become your reality. That’s right, you can expect summer from May to October and a pleasant temperature (64 degrees Fahrenheit) even during January, the coldest month of the year.
During August, the hottest month, you’ll enjoy matching temperatures between the air and the sea (85 degrees Fahrenheit, on average).
The rain shouldn’t disturb you much while living in Tel Aviv. You can expect it mostly between December and February, with the total number of wet days annually barely surpassing 70.
Knowing this, it’s no wonder that the climate is one of Tel Aviv’s biggest selling points for expats.
Telecom Services
Access to telecom services is one of the most significant differences between making Aliyah to Tel Aviv now and 50 years ago.
In the 1970s, new immigrants would usually first move to absorption centers where they could adjust to a new country, learn Hebrew, and seek employment and permanent housing.
With telecom services, Anglos can plan their entire life before moving to Tel Aviv. Afterward, one pilot trip is usually enough to set up all the details, from housing to employment.
Once living in Tel Aviv, they don’t need to rely on social workers for pertinent information. Instead, they can find it all online by browsing the internet or one of the many Facebook groups for Anglos living in Tel Aviv.
Given the importance of these services, finding a good telecom provider in Israel is vital. This provider should also help you navigate internet setup, which is slightly different in Israel than in most English-speaking countries.
Make Moving to Tel Aviv a Breeze
When moving to Tel Aviv, there will be no shortage of people wanting to help you feel comfortable in your new life. Aliyah coordinators, ulpan teachers, and neighbors are just some of them. TCS Israel joins this extensive list as a telecom company made by Olim for Olim.
The company is characterized by an English-first approach: you’ll only communicate with English-speaking representatives, your bills will be in English, and the company’s website is in English as well. With this approach, you won’t have any trouble choosing the best service bundle for your needs and setting up your internet, mobile and home phone, and TV in one go.