🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,430 in Ashkelon versus $2,894 in Melbourne.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Ashkelon versus $4,377 in Melbourne.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,819 in Ashkelon versus $5,860 in Melbourne.
🌍Living in Ashkelon costs roughly 16% less than in Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashkelon77% above, Melbourne111% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.62₪71.4
$17.95A$25.05
31.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3₪249
$84.6A$118
-2.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.53₪56.1
$12.26A$17.10
51.14%
Cappuccino
$4.71₪14.25
$4.22A$5.90
11.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41₪10.31
$3.16A$4.40
7.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85₪8.63
$2.66A$3.72
7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.20₪36.91
$9.98A$13.93
22.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63₪23.08
$8.83A$12.32
-13.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.44₪7.37
$1.65A$2.30
47.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.74₪8.29
$3.40A$4.75
-19.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10₪9.39
$2.79A$3.89
11.11%
Eggs
$4.85₪14.66
$5.69A$7.94
-14.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.97₪66.5
$11.30A$15.77
94.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.04₪39.44
$9.67A$13.49
34.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.59₪77.4
$15.78A$22.02
62.17%
Apples(1kg)
$4.25₪12.85
$4.19A$5.85
1.43%
Banana(1kg)
$3.42₪10.33
$3.02A$4.21
13.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39₪7.23
$3.27A$4.57
-26.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.32₪10.03
$4.81A$6.72
-30.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70₪5.14
$3.26A$4.55
-47.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₪5.88
$2.60A$3.63
-25.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74₪8.27
$2.51A$3.51
9.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98₪2.95
$1.64A$2.29
-40.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06₪42.54
$46.11A$64.3
-69.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.88₪35.94
$12.06A$16.83
-1.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68₪8.12
$5.48A$7.65
-51.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96₪5.93
$5.15A$7.19
-61.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.59₪7.84
$3.83A$5.34
-32.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.28₪143
$144A$202
-67.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.50₪34.79
$4.31A$6.02
166.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69₪5.12
$1.47A$2.05
14.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.46₪119
$31.02A$43.29
27.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.65₪8.01
$1.46A$2.04
81.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.7K₪177.4K
$29.5KA$41.2K
98.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.3K₪173.3K
$27.7KA$38.7K
106.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218₪660
$242A$338
-9.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.15₪36.75
$28.20A$39.35
-56.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.38₪131
$57.2A$79.8
-24.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.29₪146
$56.2A$78.4
-14.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.82₪102
$21.71A$30.29
55.78%
Cinema Ticket
$16.55₪50.1
$17.89A$24.96
-7.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,249₪3,777
$2,443A$3,410
-48.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$33.0KA$46.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110₪333
$82.1A$115
34.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.7₪235
$50.4A$70.4
54.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₪351
$126A$176
-7.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149₪449
$138A$193
7.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,187₪3,589
$1,774A$2,475
-33.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,000₪3,026
$1,427A$1,992
-29.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,863₪5,634
$3,504A$4,889
-46.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,528₪4,622
$2,517A$3,512
-39.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,086₪18.4K
$7,411A$10.3K
-17.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,589₪16.9K
$6,718A$9,375
-16.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashkelon
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,019₪9,131
$4,478A$6,249
-32.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
5.85
-14.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashkelon: August 31, 2026
Last update for Melbourne: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,187 in Ashkelon and $1,774 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Melbourne pays 48% 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 $85.0 in Melbourne. Groceries flip the comparison at $432 vs $397, with Melbourne cheaper for home cooking.
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 Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ashkelon or Melbourne?
Ashkelon wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ashkelon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ashkelon or in Melbourne?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ashkelon compared to Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,187 in Ashkelon versus $1,774 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ashkelon and in Melbourne?
Dining out is cheaper in Ashkelon – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $85.0 in Melbourne. 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 Melbourne?
All in, you'll spend $2,430 per month in Ashkelon versus $2,894 in Melbourne – a 19% 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 Melbourne?
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 offers a better quality of life: Ashkelon or Melbourne?
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.
How safe is Ashkelon compared to Melbourne?
Safety-wise, Ashkelon and Melbourne 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 19% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.