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The Israeli Currency is known as the shekel. The Israeli Shekel currency rate is 3.45 shekels to 1 US dollars. Tourists should be aware that the conversion rate from US dollars to shekels varies from day to day.

For a bit of information, coins currently being circulated in Israel are in half shekel and 1, 2, 5 and 10 shekalim (Hebrew plural form of shekels). Banknotes on the other hand which are in circulation today are in 20, 50 as well as 100 and 200 NIS.

Money changers are easily accessible as they can be found in strategic places in Tel Aviv. I used to have my dollars converted to the Israeli currency in a money transfer shop just along Yerushalayim street, although many times I did transactions with the money changing shops at Tachana Merkasit. Most upscale shopping malls in Tel Aviv as Dizengoff Center and Azrieli Mall have money changer shops to cater to currency needs of tourists.

What can I buy with my Israel Shekel? 50 shekels (roughly 11 dollars) is more than enough to buy you a Meal at any McDonalds’ in Tel Aviv. Off-topic: some branches offer to add cheese in their burgers such as in Yerushalayim and Tachana Merkazit; you however have to request for it.

10 shekels (2.2 dollars) is the cost of a small plastic bag of couscous. With 40 (less than 9 dollars), you can buy 5 kilo bag of jasmine rice at the corner grocery.

You can buy a Castro plain or printed shirt for 30 shekels (6.6 dollars) while pants can be had for 150 shekels (33.3 dollars).

A ride at the sherut (Israeli Taxi) is 5.80 shekels, while the autobus will charge you 5.50 shekels.

Tel Aviv is a very expensive city; in fact it is the most expensive in the whole of the Middle East. But with careful planning of your daily purchases, like buying the inexpensive but quality brands and going to the right shops to purchase them, you can actually get a lot more out of your Israeli shekels.