Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Ashdod Cost of Living Comparison Between Jerusalem and Ashdod

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,979 in Jerusalem versus $2,581 in Ashdod.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,389 in Jerusalem versus $3,814 in Ashdod.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,800 in Jerusalem versus $5,048 in Ashdod.

Living in Jerusalem is roughly 15% more expensive than in Ashdod, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jerusalem 117% above, Ashdod 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.63 ₪71.0

$23.36 ₪70.2

1.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.9 ₪297

$98.7 ₪297

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.74 ₪59.3

$19.87 ₪59.7

-0.65%

Cappuccino

$5.11 ₪15.36

$5.02 ₪15.09

1.79%

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

$3.52 ₪10.59

$3.62 ₪10.88

-2.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₪8.63

$3.00 ₪9.00

-4.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.47 ₪25.44

$8.58 ₪25.79

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.52 ₪31.61

$10.38 ₪31.18

1.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 ₪7.43

$2.49 ₪7.48

-0.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 ₪10.45

$3.48 ₪10.46

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 ₪11.16

$2.98 ₪8.96

24.50%

Eggs

$4.99 ₪15.00

$5.10 ₪15.32

-2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.52 ₪52.7

$17.73 ₪53.3

-1.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.76 ₪44.35

$13.74 ₪41.30

7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$35.85 ₪108

$31.40 ₪94.4

14.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₪13.64

$3.69 ₪11.08

23.04%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₪10.49

$3.28 ₪9.85

6.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₪8.34

$2.78 ₪8.35

-0.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₪7.23

$2.42 ₪7.28

-0.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 ₪5.90

$1.93 ₪5.79

1.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 ₪5.29

$1.52 ₪4.57

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 ₪6.32

$2.04 ₪6.14

3.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₪5.65

$1.31 ₪3.94

43.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.66 ₪41.04

$13.43 ₪40.35

1.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.74 ₪47.31

$13.46 ₪40.44

16.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.89 ₪17.70

$2.95 ₪8.88

99.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 ₪18.34

$3.98 ₪11.95

53.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.60 ₪7.82

$2.61 ₪7.84

-0.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.9 ₪210

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.04 ₪12.13

$4.05 ₪12.17

-0.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 ₪3.84

$1.33 ₪4.01

-3.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.92 ₪77.9

$25.76 ₪77.4

0.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.76 ₪8.28

$2.59 ₪7.78

6.56%

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

$59.3K ₪178.3K

$58.5K ₪175.7K

1.46%

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

$59.5K ₪178.6K

$60.7K ₪182.3K

-1.99%

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

$296 ₪890

$291 ₪874

1.89%

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

$12.96 ₪38.93

$12.83 ₪38.55

1.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.62 ₪131

$43.45 ₪131

0.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.3 ₪223

$63.1 ₪190

17.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.19 ₪54.6

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 ₪45.92

$12.26 ₪36.85

24.63%

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

$1,444 ₪4,339

$1,177 ₪3,535

22.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K ₪89.1K

$29.9K ₪89.8K

-0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$120 ₪361

$95.1 ₪286

26.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 ₪231

$76.4 ₪229

0.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$158 ₪474

$132 ₪396

19.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$167 ₪501

$169 ₪508

-1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 ₪5,787

$1,813 ₪5,449

6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₪3,942

$1,058 ₪3,180

23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,772 ₪11.3K

$2,116 ₪6,357

78.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,944 ₪5,843

$1,655 ₪4,974

17.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.6K ₪61.9K

$7,714 ₪23.2K

167.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,202 ₪27.6K

$5,934 ₪17.8K

55.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,778 ₪11.4K

$4,365 ₪13.1K

-13.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.99

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

Last update for Jerusalem: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ashdod: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,926 in Jerusalem and $1,813 in Ashdod. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashdod pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Jerusalem vs $99.0 in Ashdod. Groceries flip the comparison at $509 vs $452, with Ashdod 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

Jerusalem vs Ashdod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashdod is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Ashdod. 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: $1,926 in Jerusalem versus $1,813 in Ashdod. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Jerusalem. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,979 per month in Jerusalem versus $2,581 in Ashdod – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ashdod 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, Jerusalem and Ashdod 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 Ashdod gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.