Israelis Spend Most Abroad on Shopping; Japan Tops Spending Per Traveler

New data from Laya by Altshuler Shaham, based on Israeli credit card transactions and cash withdrawals in July 2026, reveals where and how Israelis spend money abroad. Shopping and retail account for 33.8% of all Israeli expenditures overseas, surpassing dining expenses which make up 27.8%. However, more Israelis dine out abroad than shop in stores. The most popular merchants globally among Israeli travelers are Japanese convenience store chains Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart, followed by New York's public transport system (MTA), duty-free shops, Lawson convenience stores, Zara, Uniqlo, and London's public transport (TfL).

Thailand is the most popular destination by number of Israeli travelers making transactions, with 18% of travelers spending there, but ranks only fifth or sixth in average spending per traveler. Japan ranks seventh in popularity but is second or third in average spending, with Israelis spending about 4,302 shekels per traveler, the highest worldwide. The United Arab Emirates serves mainly as a transit stop, with the highest single transaction cost (160 shekels) but the lowest total spending per traveler.

Regarding currency use, 70.4% of currency exchanges by Israelis abroad are into US dollars, even in non-dollar countries, as the dollar acts as an intermediary currency. The euro is second at 9%, followed by the Thai baht at 6%, Japanese yen at 2.5%, and British pound at 1.4%. Thailand stands out as the "cash capital" for Israelis abroad, with over one-third of spending there made in cash. In contrast, European countries like Greece, Italy, and Hungary see less than 3.5% of Israeli spending done in cash.