One thing I’ve noticed about American Olim. They think that moving to EY means moving to Yerushalayim. There are other places. Just the other day I was looking at a friend’s Yated. I still can’t read the articles, but I can usually get through the ads. I noticed the prices for apartments in Jerusalem was about 4 times what it is in Haifa. I am constantly amazed by how inexpensive items are here as compared to what I paid in the US. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to live here.
Of course there are difficulties. But that would be true just moving to a different neighborhood in NY. Keep a positive attitude and it isn’t so bad.
And btw, contrary to popular (US) opinion, there are chareidim, and plenty of them, here in Haifa.