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: $2,039 in Ashkelon versus $2,531 in Jerusalem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,079 in Ashkelon versus $3,714 in Jerusalem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,118 in Ashkelon versus $4,897 in Jerusalem.

Living in Ashkelon costs roughly 19% less than in Jerusalem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashkelon 52% above, Jerusalem 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.48 ₪64.5

$22.83 ₪65.5

-1.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.8 ₪281

$85.5 ₪246

14.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.68 ₪47.89

$15.26 ₪43.82

9.31%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₪10.80

$4.23 ₪12.15

-11.11%

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

$2.95 ₪8.46

$2.68 ₪7.68

10.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₪5.97

$2.12 ₪6.08

-1.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.05 ₪25.98

$8.96 ₪25.72

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.52 ₪24.45

$8.29 ₪23.81

2.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ₪5.75

$2.10 ₪6.04

-4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 ₪7.21

$2.42 ₪6.94

3.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 ₪8.36

$2.86 ₪8.22

1.75%

Eggs

$4.23 ₪12.15

$4.08 ₪11.72

3.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.83 ₪45.43

$13.80 ₪39.61

14.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.15 ₪32.00

$11.45 ₪32.88

-2.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.64 ₪53.5

$17.44 ₪50.1

6.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 ₪11.13

$3.25 ₪9.34

19.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 ₪6.69

$1.98 ₪5.70

17.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₪5.38

$1.80 ₪5.16

3.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 ₪6.48

$2.45 ₪7.03

-7.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 ₪5.12

$1.74 ₪5.01

2.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₪5.32

$1.50 ₪4.31

23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 ₪5.51

$2.02 ₪5.79

-4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₪3.88

$1.42 ₪4.09

-4.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.29 ₪32.41

$9.95 ₪28.57

13.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.34 ₪44.05

$16.64 ₪47.78

-7.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₪6.67

$2.44 ₪7.01

-4.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₪8.53

$2.76 ₪7.93

7.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ₪6.41

$1.72 ₪4.94

29.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.42 ₪81.6

$66.6 ₪191

-57.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 ₪16.63

$3.50 ₪10.05

65.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 ₪3.31

$0.92 ₪2.64

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.50 ₪96.2

$27.88 ₪80.0

20.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 ₪5.72

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

$44.6K ₪127.9K

$45.9K ₪131.6K

-2.82%

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

$45.0K ₪129.1K

$46.7K ₪133.9K

-3.62%

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

$259 ₪743

$231 ₪663

12.16%

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

$10.97 ₪31.50

$12.24 ₪35.13

-10.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.35 ₪92.9

$28.59 ₪82.1

13.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.9 ₪186

$87.1 ₪250

-25.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₪61.6

$29.76 ₪85.4

-27.89%

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ₪35.89

$12.56 ₪36.05

-0.48%

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

$834 ₪2,395

$877 ₪2,517

-4.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K ₪71.6K

$21.1K ₪60.7K

18.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 ₪314

$103 ₪296

6.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.9 ₪155

$63.8 ₪183

-15.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₪357

$125 ₪358

-0.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 ₪424

$117 ₪337

25.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 ₪2,514

$1,551 ₪4,454

-43.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₪2,022

$1,134 ₪3,256

-37.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 ₪3,589

$2,765 ₪7,937

-54.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₪2,729

$1,900 ₪5,455

-49.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,210 ₪17.8K

$21.3K ₪61.2K

-70.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,580 ₪16.0K

$9,585 ₪27.5K

-41.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,169 ₪12.0K

$4,196 ₪12.0K

-0.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.67

-22.17%

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

Last update for Ashkelon: May 30, 2026

Last update for Jerusalem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $876 in Ashkelon and $1,551 in Jerusalem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jerusalem pays 1% 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: $98.0 in Ashkelon vs $86.0 in Jerusalem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $356 per month, with Jerusalem 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 24% 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, Jerusalem earns 1% less. 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: $876 in Ashkelon versus $1,551 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 $98.0 versus $86.0 in Jerusalem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,039 per month in Ashkelon versus $2,531 in Jerusalem – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,039 in Ashkelon versus $2,531 in Jerusalem, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ashkelon but tight or insufficient in Jerusalem. The gap between the two cities makes Ashkelon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 24% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.