🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,430 in Ashkelon versus $2,495 in Barcelona.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Ashkelon versus $3,550 in Barcelona.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,819 in Ashkelon versus $4,605 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Ashkelon costs roughly 3% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashkelon77% above, Barcelona82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.62₪71.4
$18.39€15.87
28.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3₪249
$69.2€59.7
18.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.53₪56.1
$14.13€12.19
31.14%
Cappuccino
$4.71₪14.25
$3.13€2.70
50.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41₪10.31
$3.02€2.60
12.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85₪8.63
$1.96€1.69
45.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.20₪36.91
$4.00€3.45
205.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63₪23.08
$4.76€4.11
60.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.44₪7.37
$1.25€1.08
95.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.74₪8.29
$2.16€1.87
26.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10₪9.39
$1.69€1.45
83.43%
Eggs
$4.85₪14.66
$4.93€4.26
-1.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.97₪66.5
$17.88€15.43
22.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.04₪39.44
$9.61€8.29
35.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.59₪77.4
$19.34€16.69
32.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.25₪12.85
$3.24€2.79
31.17%
Banana(1kg)
$3.42₪10.33
$2.18€1.88
56.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39₪7.23
$2.67€2.30
-10.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.32₪10.03
$2.77€2.39
19.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70₪5.14
$2.21€1.91
-23.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₪5.88
$2.19€1.89
-11.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74₪8.27
$1.52€1.31
80.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98₪2.95
$0.92€0.80
6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06₪42.54
$7.12€6.14
97.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.88₪35.94
$8.14€7.02
45.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68₪8.12
$1.50€1.29
78.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96₪5.93
$2.78€2.40
-29.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.59₪7.84
$3.15€2.72
-17.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.28₪143
$26.99€23.29
75.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.50₪34.79
$3.25€2.80
253.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69₪5.12
$1.50€1.30
12.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.46₪119
$34.89€30.11
13.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.65₪8.01
$1.75€1.51
51.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.7K₪177.4K
$36.7K€31.6K
60.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.3K₪173.3K
$30.9K€26.7K
85.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218₪660
$188€162
16.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.15₪36.75
$15.44€13.32
-21.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.38₪131
$37.80€32.61
14.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.29₪146
$57.2€49.34
-15.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.82₪102
$16.80€14.49
101.31%
Cinema Ticket
$16.55₪50.1
$11.58€9.99
42.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,249₪3,777
$1,003€865
24.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$17.0K€14.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110₪333
$89.2€77.0
23.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.7₪235
$40.87€35.27
90.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₪351
$110€94.9
5.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149₪449
$123€106
21.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,187₪3,589
$1,673€1,444
-29.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,000₪3,026
$1,331€1,149
-24.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,863₪5,634
$2,596€2,240
-28.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,528₪4,622
$1,950€1,683
-21.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,086₪18.4K
$7,573€6,535
-19.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,589₪16.9K
$5,370€4,634
4.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashkelon
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,019₪9,131
$2,402€2,073
25.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
3.16
57.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashkelon: August 31, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,187 in Ashkelon and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashkelon pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Ashkelon vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $332 per month, with Barcelona cheaper across the board.
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
Ashkelon vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ashkelon and in Barcelona?
Ashkelon and Barcelona differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,430 vs $2,495 including rent). Ashkelon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Ashkelon or in Barcelona?
Average pay runs 26% higher in Ashkelon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ashkelon compared to Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,187 in Ashkelon versus $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ashkelon and in Barcelona?
Dining out is cheaper in Ashkelon – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ashkelon compared to Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $2,430 per month in Ashkelon versus $2,495 in Barcelona – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ashkelon or in Barcelona?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Ashkelon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ashkelon or Barcelona?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ashkelon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,430 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ashkelon hard to pass up.
How safe is Ashkelon compared to Barcelona?
Safety-wise, Ashkelon and Barcelona 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ashkelon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.