Data from Wecheck shows that rental prices in March rose by 2.1% compared to February, with the average rent now standing at NIS 5,041. Operation “Shaagat HaAri” has had a clear impact, and rents for small apartments with safe rooms recorded an annual increase of nearly 6%.
By Dror Nir Kastel, Nadlan Center
A monthly increase of 4.9% in March 2026 compared to February 2026, and an annual increase of nearly 6% in rents for small apartments with safe rooms, emerges from data published by Wecheck. Across all small apartments, rents rose by 3.1% in March compared to February. According to the March data, Israel’s rental market continues to record price increases across all categories, with particularly strong movement in safe room rentals.
Nationwide, rental prices rose by 2.1% compared to the previous month. The average monthly rent now stands at NIS 5,041. The figures indicate that demand for rental housing remains high, as families and couples forced into renting continue to push the market upward, especially in segments linked to safe room rentals.
The data also highlights gaps between categories: small apartments (1–3 rooms) rose by 3.1%, reaching a national average of NIS 4,341 per month. In contrast, larger apartments (4–5 rooms) rose more moderately by 0.9%, to an average of NIS 6,363. At Wecheck, analysts explain that these differences reflect wartime market behavior. Larger apartments typically already include a safe room, while smaller ones do not necessarily do so. As a result, demand for safe room rentals in smaller units has driven sharper price increases in this segment.
Another notable finding in the March data relates specifically to apartments with safe rooms. The figures show a significant increase in rents for small apartments with safe rooms during March. Compared to February, rents for small apartments with safe rooms rose by 4.9%, compared with a 2.6% increase for apartments without safe rooms (on an annual basis, the increase was 5.7% compared with 4.3%, respectively). Among larger apartments, the main price increase had already occurred in February. The continued rise in safe room rentals indicates that demand for protected spaces remains high against the backdrop of tensions with Iran and Hezbollah.
Rami Ronen, CEO of Wecheck, said that the March 2026 data confirms a clear trend: Israel’s rental market is experiencing sustained demand pressure that continues to push prices upward. “Anyone entering the rental market, whether by choice or necessity, is paying more. Demand for small apartments with safe rooms is particularly high, and this is directly reflected in the sharper price increases in this category. At the same time, protection has become a central factor in renters’ decision-making — apartments with safe rooms are seeing stronger demand and faster price growth than the overall market. This represents a structural shift in rental behavior that is unlikely to disappear in the short term,” reinforcing the continued strength of safe room rentals.
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