High and low season in Jerusalem: what the calendar does to your income
From 44% to 60% occupancy depending on the month, over two years of PriceLabs data: the real seasonality of short-term letting in Jerusalem, excluding the war period.
A steadier year than people think
People usually talk about a short-term apartment's annual income. It is the right figure for making a decision, but the month-by-month picture matters too: in Jerusalem, the best month earns around 60% more than the weakest.
These figures come from the PriceLabs market history around the Mahane Yehuda market (close to 1,000 listings), over two years, from September 2024 to August 2026. Average occupancy for a one-bedroom apartment there sits at around 50%.
What the history shows, month by month
Average occupancy for a one-bedroom apartment, and gross monthly income for an average listing:
- January: 55% · 5,956 ₪
- February: 51% · 4,764 ₪
- March: 51% · 5,317 ₪
- April: 46% · 4,971 ₪
- May: 48.5% · 5,111 ₪
- June: 45.5% · 4,612 ₪
- July: 48.5% · 5,358 ₪
- August: 59.5% · 7,087 ₪
- September: 43.5% · 4,417 ₪
- October: 53% · 6,209 ₪
- November: 45% · 4,471 ₪
- December: 57.5% · 6,470 ₪
The peaks fall in August, December, October and January. The quietest months are September, November and June.
What that means in shekels
For an average one-bedroom listing, the gap between the best month (August, around 7,100 ₪) and the weakest (September, around 4,400 ₪) is more than 2,600 ₪. Over the year, the four best months account for close to 40% of income on their own.
These are market averages: a well-located, well-presented property does better, but its curve has the same shape.
March–April 2026: the war, not the season
Looking only at the last twelve months, March and April would seem disastrous: 32% and 28% occupancy. That was the period of the war between Israel and Iran, not a low season. In 2025 the same months stood at 51% and 46%, right on the average.
Our figures therefore leave those two months out. Keeping them would suggest spring is a dead season, and would understate an owner's year by close to 6%.
How an owner plans around it
Think in years, not months. A September at 4,400 ₪ is not a failure: it is part of the curve. What matters is that the strong months make up for it.
Schedule works and your own stays in quiet periods. Repainting, replacing a sofa or spending two weeks there costs far less in September or November than in August, when every blocked night is a night that would have been booked.
Adjust the price, not just the occupancy. In high season a price that is too low fills the calendar but leaves money on the table; in low season a price that is too high leaves it empty. That is what [price optimisation](/en/blog/optimisation-prix-rendement-jerusalem) is about.
Weigh it against a classic lease. Annual rent flattens the curve completely — no dips, but no peaks either. For a small property, the annual gap between the two options is smaller than people think.
And your apartment?
These percentages describe a market, not a home: a well-located, well-reviewed and well-presented property fills better than the average.
Our [yield simulator](/en/estimation) gives the income range for your property in a few seconds, for short-term letting as well as a classic lease — no sign-up needed.
