Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashkelon and Jerusalem Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashkelon and Jerusalem

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,430 in Ashkelon versus $2,979 in Jerusalem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Ashkelon versus $4,389 in Jerusalem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,819 in Ashkelon versus $5,800 in Jerusalem.

Living in Ashkelon costs roughly 18% less than in Jerusalem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashkelon 77% above, Jerusalem 117% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.62 ₪71.4

$23.63 ₪71.5

-0.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.3 ₪249

$98.9 ₪299

-16.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.53 ₪56.1

$19.74 ₪59.7

-6.13%

Cappuccino

$4.71 ₪14.25

$5.11 ₪15.46

-7.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 ₪10.31

$3.52 ₪10.66

-3.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₪8.63

$2.87 ₪8.69

-0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.20 ₪36.91

$8.47 ₪25.61

44.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 ₪23.08

$10.52 ₪31.82

-27.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₪7.37

$2.47 ₪7.48

-1.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 ₪8.29

$3.48 ₪10.52

-21.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 ₪9.39

$3.71 ₪11.24

-16.44%

Eggs

$4.85 ₪14.66

$4.99 ₪15.10

-2.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.97 ₪66.5

$17.52 ₪53.0

25.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.04 ₪39.44

$14.76 ₪44.64

-11.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.59 ₪77.4

$35.85 ₪108

-28.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 ₪12.85

$4.54 ₪13.73

-6.39%

Banana (1kg)

$3.42 ₪10.33

$3.49 ₪10.56

-2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₪7.23

$2.77 ₪8.39

-13.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.32 ₪10.03

$2.41 ₪7.28

37.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 ₪5.14

$1.96 ₪5.94

-13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₪5.88

$1.76 ₪5.33

10.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 ₪8.27

$2.11 ₪6.37

29.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₪2.95

$1.88 ₪5.68

-47.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.06 ₪42.54

$13.66 ₪41.31

2.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 ₪35.94

$15.74 ₪47.62

-24.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₪8.12

$5.89 ₪17.82

-54.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₪5.93

$6.10 ₪18.46

-67.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.59 ₪7.84

$2.60 ₪7.87

-0.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.28 ₪143

$69.9 ₪212

-32.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$11.50 ₪34.79

$4.04 ₪12.21

184.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 ₪5.12

$1.28 ₪3.87

32.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.46 ₪119

$25.92 ₪78.4

52.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.65 ₪8.01

$2.76 ₪8.34

-3.99%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$58.7K ₪177.4K

$59.3K ₪179.5K

-1.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$57.3K ₪173.3K

$59.5K ₪179.8K

-3.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 ₪660

$296 ₪896

-26.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.15 ₪36.75

$12.96 ₪39.19

-6.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.38 ₪131

$43.62 ₪132

-0.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.29 ₪146

$74.3 ₪225

-35.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.82 ₪102

$18.19 ₪55.0

85.93%

Cinema Ticket

$16.55 ₪50.1

$15.28 ₪46.23

8.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,249 ₪3,777

$1,444 ₪4,368

-13.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K ₪89.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 ₪333

$120 ₪363

-8.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.7 ₪235

$76.8 ₪232

1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₪351

$158 ₪477

-26.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 ₪449

$167 ₪504

-10.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 ₪3,589

$1,926 ₪5,826

-38.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 ₪3,026

$1,312 ₪3,968

-23.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 ₪5,634

$3,772 ₪11.4K

-50.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 ₪4,622

$1,944 ₪5,882

-21.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,086 ₪18.4K

$20.6K ₪62.3K

-70.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,589 ₪16.9K

$9,202 ₪27.8K

-39.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 ₪9,131

$3,778 ₪11.4K

-20.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.98

4.99

-0.20%

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

Last update for Ashkelon: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jerusalem: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,187 in Ashkelon and $1,926 in Jerusalem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jerusalem pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $82.0 in Ashkelon vs $99.0 in Jerusalem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $509 per month, with Ashkelon 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 Jerusalem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashkelon wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Jerusalem. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ashkelon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Jerusalem. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,187 in Ashkelon versus $1,926 in Jerusalem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ashkelon – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $99.0 in Jerusalem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,430 per month in Ashkelon versus $2,979 in Jerusalem – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Ashkelon 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.

Expats usually find Ashkelon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.