Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashkelon and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashkelon and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,430 in Ashkelon versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,624 in Ashkelon versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,819 in Ashkelon versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Ashkelon is roughly 94% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ashkelon is 77% above, Phuket is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.62 ₪71.4
$4.56 ฿151
417.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3 ₪249
$32.62 ฿1,082
152.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.53 ₪56.1
$8.90 ฿295
108.20%
Cappuccino
$4.71 ₪14.25
$2.80 ฿93.0
68.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 ₪10.31
$0.88 ฿29.19
287.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₪8.63
$0.49 ฿16.23
481.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.20 ₪36.91
$2.39 ฿79.2
410.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63 ₪23.08
$3.71 ฿123
105.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 ₪7.37
$1.79 ฿59.3
36.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 ₪8.29
$1.44 ฿47.81
90.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.10 ₪9.39
$1.58 ฿52.6
96.20%
Eggs
$4.85 ₪14.66
$2.13 ฿70.5
127.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.97 ₪66.5
$19.92 ฿661
10.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.04 ₪39.44
$3.43 ฿114
280.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.59 ₪77.4
$11.33 ฿376
125.86%
Apples (1kg)
$4.25 ₪12.85
$2.95 ฿97.8
44.07%
Banana (1kg)
$3.42 ₪10.33
$1.72 ฿57.1
98.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ₪7.23
$2.32 ฿77.1
3.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.32 ₪10.03
$2.08 ฿69.0
59.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 ₪5.14
$1.47 ฿48.77
15.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 ₪5.88
$1.36 ฿45.05
42.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 ₪8.27
$1.10 ฿36.45
149.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₪2.95
$0.57 ฿19.06
71.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06 ₪42.54
$4.27 ฿142
229.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.88 ₪35.94
$18.42 ฿611
-35.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 ₪8.12
$1.87 ฿62.1
43.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₪5.93
$2.92 ฿96.9
-32.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.59 ₪7.84
$2.22 ฿73.6
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.28 ₪143
$22.90 ฿759
106.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$11.50 ₪34.79
$3.03 ฿101
279.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 ₪5.12
$1.07 ฿35.63
57.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.46 ₪119
$3.93 ฿130
904.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.65 ₪8.01
$1.49 ฿49.49
77.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.7K ₪177.4K
$27.1K ฿899.8K
116.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.3K ₪173.3K
$27.5K ฿910.6K
108.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 ₪660
$103 ฿3,410
112.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.15 ₪36.75
$10.99 ฿365
10.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.38 ₪131
$17.51 ฿581
147.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.29 ₪146
$53.5 ฿1,776
-9.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.82 ₪102
$11.20 ฿371
201.96%
Cinema Ticket
$16.55 ₪50.1
$7.48 ฿248
121.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,249 ₪3,777
$557 ฿18.5K
124.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ฿393.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 ₪333
$64.1 ฿2,125
72.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.7 ₪235
$29.07 ฿964
167.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₪351
$96.0 ฿3,183
20.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 ₪449
$90.3 ฿2,997
64.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ₪3,589
$730 ฿24.2K
62.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 ₪3,026
$500 ฿16.6K
100.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,863 ₪5,634
$2,090 ฿69.3K
-10.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 ₪4,622
$1,209 ฿40.1K
26.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,086 ₪18.4K
$3,596 ฿119.3K
69.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,589 ₪16.9K
$2,512 ฿83.3K
122.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashkelon
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,019 ₪9,131
$503 ฿16.7K
499.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.98
5.57
-10.59%

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

Last update for Ashkelon: August 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,187 in Ashkelon and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashkelon pays 500% 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 $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $273 per month, with Phuket 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ashkelon or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 94% lower than in Ashkelon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ashkelon or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 500% 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,187 in Ashkelon versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ashkelon and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $82.0 in Ashkelon. 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 Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,430 per month in Ashkelon versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ashkelon or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,430 in Ashkelon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ashkelon. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ashkelon or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,253 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Ashkelon compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ashkelon and Phuket 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Ashkelon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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