Back-to-School Costs in Israel Reach Thousands of Shekels per Family

As Israeli students prepare to return to school in late August 2026, families face significant financial burdens from purchasing school supplies. A special survey by the organization Pethach Lev examined three shopping baskets (basic, average, and branded) based on prices and promotions observed in mid-July 2026 across national retail chains and online stores. The calculation focused on a family with three children: two in elementary school and one in middle school. Each basket included a backpack and pencil case, notebooks and writing tools, six school shirts, a pair of sneakers, and fees for borrowing textbooks.

In the average basket, costs per child were approximately 200 shekels for backpack and pencil case, 100 shekels for shirts, 130 shekels for sneakers, up to 280 shekels for textbook loans, and around 290 shekels for additional supplies like notebooks, writing tools, water bottles, and lunch boxes. This totals about 1,000 shekels per child, or roughly 3,050 shekels for the three-child family. These figures exclude parental payments for trips, activities, insurance, or digital devices such as tablets, which can add hundreds more per student.

The timing of these expenses is particularly challenging, as August is already a costly month due to summer camps, babysitting, increased food consumption, and leisure activities during school holidays. Given that the median gross salary in Israel is about 10,586 shekels, and a dual-income household earning 10% above median brings in around 23,300 shekels gross, the back-to-school basket consumes over 10% of monthly income before taxes and other essential expenses. This financial strain can lead to cash flow difficulties lasting several months, even for responsible families.

To reduce costs, families are advised to assess existing supplies for reuse or hand-me-downs, set clear expectations with children about new purchases, and take advantage of social programs. These include the Ministry of Education’s textbook loan program, which caps costs at 280 shekels for elementary and middle school, and 320 shekels for high school, saving hundreds compared to buying books outright. Eligible families, such as single-parent or large families, can receive a National Insurance Institute grant of 1,204 shekels per child in August. Community initiatives like "The Social Closet" and local swap fairs also help by exchanging used school shirts, supplies, and backpacks.

While back-to-school expenses remain a significant budget item, early planning, rights awareness, and reuse can save families hundreds or thousands of shekels, easing the financial impact of the new school year.