Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashdod and Jerusalem

For one person, living is cheaper in Ashdod: $2,362 a month against $2,892 in Jerusalem, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ashdod
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,362
/mo nomad
Jerusalem
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,892
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ashdod and in Jerusalem

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ashdod and in Jerusalem actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,362 in Ashdod versus $2,892 in Jerusalem.

  • Ashdod $2,362
  • Jerusalem $2,892

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,567 in Ashdod versus $4,208 in Jerusalem.

  • Ashdod $3,567
  • Jerusalem $4,208

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,773 in Ashdod versus $5,525 in Jerusalem.

  • Ashdod $4,773
  • Jerusalem $5,525

Living in Ashdod costs roughly 18% less than in Jerusalem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashdod 74% above, Jerusalem 113% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.78 ₪70.9
$22.42 ₪69.8
1.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.4 ₪303
$97.9 ₪304
-0.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.66 ₪61.2
$19.68 ₪61.2
-0.10%
Cappuccino
$4.91 ₪15.28
$4.81 ₪14.96
2.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 ₪9.93
$3.40 ₪10.58
-6.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₪7.90
$2.91 ₪9.04
-12.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.15 ₪25.36
$8.12 ₪25.28
0.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04 ₪31.23
$9.71 ₪30.20
3.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.56 ₪7.98
$2.33 ₪7.25
9.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 ₪9.99
$3.33 ₪10.36
-3.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.84 ₪8.85
$3.48 ₪10.83
-18.39%
Eggs
$4.78 ₪14.88
$4.67 ₪14.54
2.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.86 ₪52.5
$16.79 ₪52.2
0.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.00 ₪40.45
$14.51 ₪45.15
-10.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.13 ₪93.7
$34.00 ₪106
-11.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.58 ₪11.14
$4.41 ₪13.72
-18.82%
Banana (1kg)
$3.34 ₪10.39
$3.25 ₪10.11
2.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 ₪8.35
$2.62 ₪8.16
2.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 ₪7.51
$2.40 ₪7.46
0.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 ₪5.90
$1.92 ₪5.98
-1.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 ₪5.27
$1.63 ₪5.06
3.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 ₪6.12
$2.05 ₪6.37
-3.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₪4.11
$1.88 ₪5.85
-29.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.93 ₪40.24
$13.37 ₪41.59
-3.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 ₪37.82
$15.03 ₪46.77
-19.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₪8.91
$4.57 ₪14.23
-37.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ₪12.14
$4.16 ₪12.95
-6.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 ₪7.98
$2.63 ₪8.19
-2.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$68.8 ₪214
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 ₪12.56
$4.03 ₪12.54
0.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 ₪3.89
$1.28 ₪3.97
-2.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.91 ₪77.5
$25.50 ₪79.3
-2.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.60 ₪8.10
$2.59 ₪8.04
0.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.8K ₪176.6K
$56.7K ₪176.5K
0.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.5K ₪172.5K
$54.8K ₪170.4K
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ₪384
$290 ₪902
-57.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.54 ₪39.00
$12.23 ₪38.04
2.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.70 ₪127
$41.33 ₪129
-1.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.8 ₪239
$74.0 ₪230
3.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.33 ₪53.9
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.04 ₪37.47
$14.60 ₪45.42
-17.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,115 ₪3,469
$1,407 ₪4,378
-20.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K ₪88.0K
$28.8K ₪89.7K
-1.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0 ₪283
$115 ₪359
-21.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.8 ₪233
$75.8 ₪236
-1.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₪404
$147 ₪457
-11.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 ₪490
$163 ₪506
-3.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,747 ₪5,437
$1,837 ₪5,714
-4.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 ₪3,242
$1,269 ₪3,949
-17.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 ₪6,558
$3,633 ₪11.3K
-41.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,610 ₪5,008
$1,903 ₪5,919
-15.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,458 ₪23.2K
$19.6K ₪61.0K
-61.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,545 ₪17.3K
$8,797 ₪27.4K
-36.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashdod
Jerusalem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,101 ₪12.8K
$3,739 ₪11.6K
9.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
4.99
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ashdod: October 17, 2026

Last update for Jerusalem: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ashdod
$1K
Jerusalem
$1.3K 21.8% $227
Groceries & Markets
Ashdod
$434
Jerusalem
$479 10.4% $45
Eating Out
Ashdod
$384
Jerusalem
$381 0.6% $2.5
Clothing & Footwear
Ashdod
$204
Jerusalem
$225 10.5% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashdod
$177
Jerusalem
$344 94.7% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Ashdod
$101
Jerusalem
$103 2.2% $2.2
Getting Around
Ashdod
$21 *
Jerusalem
$90 337% $69

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,747 in Ashdod and $1,837 in Jerusalem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashdod pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $97.0 in Ashdod vs $98.0 in Jerusalem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $479 per month, with Ashdod cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇱 Ashdod
🇮🇱 Jerusalem
🕒 Local time
13:47 1:47 PM
13:47 1:47 PM
Same time as Ashdod
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
251,837
882,652 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ashdod Jerusalem 54 km
From you
  • Ashdod
  • Jerusalem

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ashdod vs Jerusalem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jerusalem cheaper than Ashdod?
Ashdod is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ashdod or Jerusalem?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Ashdod, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ashdod and Jerusalem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,747 in Ashdod versus $1,837 in Jerusalem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ashdod and in Jerusalem?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Jerusalem. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ashdod and in Jerusalem?
All in, you'll spend $2,362 per month in Ashdod versus $2,892 in Jerusalem – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Ashdod or in Jerusalem?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ashdod is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Ashdod or in Jerusalem?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ashdod or Jerusalem?
Safety-wise, Ashdod and Jerusalem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ashdod gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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