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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,531 in Jerusalem versus $2,039 in Ashkelon.

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

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

Living in Jerusalem is roughly 24% more expensive than Ashkelon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.83 ₪65.5

$22.48 ₪64.5

1.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 ₪246

$97.8 ₪281

-12.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.26 ₪43.82

$16.68 ₪47.89

-8.51%

Cappuccino

$4.23 ₪12.15

$3.76 ₪10.80

12.50%

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

$2.68 ₪7.68

$2.95 ₪8.46

-9.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₪6.08

$2.08 ₪5.97

1.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.96 ₪25.72

$9.05 ₪25.98

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 ₪23.81

$8.52 ₪24.45

-2.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₪6.04

$2.00 ₪5.75

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₪6.94

$2.51 ₪7.21

-3.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 ₪8.22

$2.91 ₪8.36

-1.72%

Eggs

$4.08 ₪11.72

$4.23 ₪12.15

-3.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.80 ₪39.61

$15.83 ₪45.43

-12.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 ₪32.88

$11.15 ₪32.00

2.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.44 ₪50.1

$18.64 ₪53.5

-6.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ₪9.34

$3.88 ₪11.13

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₪5.70

$2.33 ₪6.69

-15.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₪5.16

$1.87 ₪5.38

-3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ₪7.03

$2.26 ₪6.48

8.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 ₪5.01

$1.78 ₪5.12

-2.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ₪4.31

$1.85 ₪5.32

-18.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₪5.79

$1.92 ₪5.51

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₪4.09

$1.35 ₪3.88

5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 ₪28.57

$11.29 ₪32.41

-11.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.64 ₪47.78

$15.34 ₪44.05

8.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₪7.01

$2.32 ₪6.67

5.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ₪7.93

$2.97 ₪8.53

-7.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 ₪4.94

$2.23 ₪6.41

-22.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₪191

$28.42 ₪81.6

134.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₪10.05

$5.79 ₪16.63

-39.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₪2.64

$1.15 ₪3.31

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.88 ₪80.0

$33.50 ₪96.2

-16.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 ₪5.72

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

$45.9K ₪131.6K

$44.6K ₪127.9K

2.91%

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

$46.7K ₪133.9K

$45.0K ₪129.1K

3.76%

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

$231 ₪663

$259 ₪743

-10.84%

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

$12.24 ₪35.13

$10.97 ₪31.50

11.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.59 ₪82.1

$32.35 ₪92.9

-11.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 ₪250

$64.9 ₪186

34.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.76 ₪85.4

$21.46 ₪61.6

38.68%

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 ₪36.05

$12.50 ₪35.89

0.48%

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

$877 ₪2,517

$834 ₪2,395

5.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K ₪60.7K

$25.0K ₪71.6K

-15.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₪296

$109 ₪314

-5.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 ₪183

$53.9 ₪155

18.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₪358

$124 ₪357

0.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₪337

$148 ₪424

-20.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 ₪4,454

$876 ₪2,514

77.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 ₪3,256

$704 ₪2,022

61.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,765 ₪7,937

$1,250 ₪3,589

121.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 ₪5,455

$950 ₪2,729

99.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$21.3K ₪61.2K

$6,210 ₪17.8K

243.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,585 ₪27.5K

$5,580 ₪16.0K

71.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,196 ₪12.0K

$4,169 ₪12.0K

0.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.67

28.48%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ashkelon: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,551 in Jerusalem and $876 in Ashkelon. 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: $86.0 in Jerusalem vs $98.0 in Ashkelon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $366 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

Jerusalem vs Ashkelon: 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.

Jerusalem pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,551 in Jerusalem versus $876 in Ashkelon. 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 $2,531 per month in Jerusalem versus $2,039 in Ashkelon – 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, Jerusalem and Ashkelon 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.