Israel daily cost

Have you checked the price of hostels ? Transport ? Entrance fees ? Street food ? How did you arrive at the figure of 230 NIS ?

Israel is not a cheap Middle East country. Prices are more similar to Western Europe.

I've done a few calculations on my own.

Basic transport: Airport to Akko, Akko to Tel-Aviv (by train), T-A to Jerusalem (bus), J'm to airport(sherut) is about 190 NIS. But you have to add more if you take buses from Akko to Zfat, J'm to the Dead Sea, etc. So the total will be at least 300 NIS, or 30 NIS/day. Add two bus rides every day in the cities and the total is 45 NIS/day.

Dorm rooms in the better hostels in Tel-Aviv (Hayarkon48, Gordon Inn) are about 100 NIS/night. Cheaper one (Florentine are about 75). I assume you can find cheaper in the Old City in Jerusalem and Akko. So the average will be at least 75 NIS/night.

Entrance fees: Most museums and sites charge 30-50 NIS entrance (some are free). Assume minimum 50 NIS/day.

So we are already up to 170 NIS/day. This leaves you 60 NIS for food and miscellaneous. Your hostel might include breakfast (the better ones probably do), so you have no more than 50 NIS for lunch and dinner. That isn't enough even for street food - hummus, falaffel, pizza slices, etc.

Thank you for your replies.
I arrived at that number from the lonely planet and budgetyourtrip.com estimates. I'd also done some research on costs of hostels, transport, entry fees and food.
My estimate for hostels was the same as yours. For transport I plan on starting in tel aviv, going to Akko then jerusalem before crossing the border to Jordan so not sure if that makes much difference to the number you came up with?
The numbers I got were 80NIS for bus between tel aviv and Akko and 65NIS for bus between Akko and jerusalem plus 10NIS per day for bus rides etc within cities. This was from a bus network site. Average of 20NIS per day.
I'd added up entrance fees/tour costs and that came out at 660NIS, so about 50NIS a day, same as your estimate.
I think where I've gone wrong is the food! Hostels I was looking at included breakfast so I had thought 50NIS per day for food....obviously not enough! How much do you think would cover food (one meal out and one meal cooked at hostel)?

Transport: A city bus ride now costs nearly 7 NIS. You are not going to spend the entire 4 days in Akko - you will probably take said trips to Safed, Rosh Hanikra, Tiberias and/or Haifa. Similarly you will probably take a day trip from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. You have to add in those additional rides. You should also consider spending one day less in Tel-Aviv and one more day in the Galilee.

BTW - The best way to go from Tel-Aviv to Akko is by train. From Akko to Jerusalem, take the train to Savidor-Center station in Tel-Aviv, then the 480 bus to Jerusalem (or the train to the Lev HaMifratz station in Haifa, then the 960 bus to Jerusalem).

I would budget at least 100 NIS for lunch and dinner. You may spend less - it depends a lot on your appetite and your food preferences !! Note that Israeli supermarkets sell a lot of prepared foods - Chicken breast schnitzels that only have to be heated, all kinds of salads, etc. "Coffee shops" in Israel also sell meals - you can get large salads with tuna or chicken for about 40-50 NIS.

Thanks for your advice, it's very helpful!
Had a look at the trains and that does seem to be a better option.
Looks like the budget is going up!

Based on what you have said I have adjusted my budget so that I should have 285NIS per day.
So;
accommodation 70NIS
Food 100NIS
Transport 45NIS
Sights 50NIS
Misc 20NIS

Would you say that is more realistic?

It's definitely more realistic, but I think still on the low side. Take some extra money with you. Don't pass up an interesting site or experience just because your budget says that you can't spend an extra 20 NIS that day !

BTW - have you already checked the actual prices at hostels or is your estimate based on what a guidebook says ? Here is the site of the official Youth Hostels (open to everyone):
http://www.iyha.org.il/eng/
and some independent hostels:
http://www.hostels-israel.com/index.asp
It sometimes pays to spend extra for location. For example, I recommend spending more in Tel-Aviv to stay at Hayarkon 48 or the Gordon Inn because they are more centrally located than Florentine and only a block from the beach. You should book in advance wherever possible.

I think your budget for sights is very low. Not only is there the entrance cost but for many you also have to pay for transport to the sights as they are some distance off (eg Masada is 90 km from Jerusalem but well worth the effort and cost).

I travel on a fairly tight budget....so I was coming in at under 200 NIS a day while there.....I do not spend huge amounts on food......a restaurant meal is a treat...not an every day thing.