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: $2,955 in Jerusalem versus $2,463 in Ashkelon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,251 in Jerusalem versus $3,606 in Ashkelon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,547 in Jerusalem versus $4,749 in Ashkelon.

Living in Jerusalem is roughly 20% more expensive than in Ashkelon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jerusalem 116% above, Ashkelon 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.19 ₪70.1

$22.88 ₪69.1

1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 ₪300

$81.8 ₪247

21.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.69 ₪59.5

$17.71 ₪53.5

11.18%

Cappuccino

$4.80 ₪14.52

$4.67 ₪14.10

2.78%

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

$3.63 ₪10.98

$3.38 ₪10.23

7.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₪8.95

$2.88 ₪8.69

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 ₪24.01

$11.91 ₪35.99

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.34 ₪31.25

$7.79 ₪23.54

32.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 ₪7.19

$2.40 ₪7.27

-0.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 ₪9.97

$2.55 ₪7.71

29.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 ₪10.61

$3.19 ₪9.63

10.03%

Eggs

$4.86 ₪14.69

$4.56 ₪13.78

6.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.04 ₪51.5

$21.49 ₪65.0

-20.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.42 ₪43.58

$13.07 ₪39.50

10.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.92 ₪106

$25.00 ₪75.6

39.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 ₪13.44

$3.97 ₪12.00

12.09%

Banana (1kg)

$3.42 ₪10.35

$3.30 ₪9.98

3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 ₪8.10

$2.22 ₪6.72

20.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 ₪7.20

$3.18 ₪9.62

-25.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₪5.64

$1.68 ₪5.08

11.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 ₪5.06

$1.92 ₪5.81

-13.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 ₪6.24

$2.59 ₪7.81

-20.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₪5.75

$1.03 ₪3.10

84.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.56 ₪40.98

$13.58 ₪41.05

-0.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 ₪47.05

$11.93 ₪36.06

30.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₪13.54

$2.64 ₪7.99

69.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.68 ₪17.18

$1.92 ₪5.80

195.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 ₪8.13

$2.67 ₪8.08

0.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.2 ₪212

$46.41 ₪140

51.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.04 ₪12.20

$11.24 ₪33.97

-64.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 ₪3.80

$1.68 ₪5.07

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.91 ₪78.3

$39.99 ₪121

-35.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.59 ₪7.84

$2.48 ₪7.49

4.44%

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

$59.0K ₪178.4K

$57.5K ₪173.8K

2.62%

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

$59.7K ₪180.3K

$56.8K ₪171.8K

4.97%

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

$293 ₪886

$217 ₪655

35.24%

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

$12.53 ₪37.88

$12.24 ₪36.99

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.61 ₪129

$42.13 ₪127

1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.8 ₪226

$47.04 ₪142

59.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.42 ₪52.6

$32.35 ₪97.8

-46.15%

Cinema Ticket

$14.57 ₪44.04

$16.49 ₪49.85

-11.64%

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

$1,411 ₪4,265

$1,202 ₪3,631

17.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.7K ₪86.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$118 ₪356

$108 ₪328

8.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.8 ₪229

$78.9 ₪238

-3.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$154 ₪464

$116 ₪350

32.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$166 ₪500

$148 ₪447

11.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,879 ₪5,679

$1,166 ₪3,523

61.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 ₪3,916

$964 ₪2,912

34.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,796 ₪11.5K

$1,826 ₪5,517

107.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,890 ₪5,710

$1,481 ₪4,477

27.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.7K ₪59.5K

$6,008 ₪18.2K

227.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,882 ₪26.8K

$5,522 ₪16.7K

60.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,692 ₪11.2K

$2,962 ₪8,953

24.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.99

4.98

0.20%

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

Last update for Jerusalem: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ashkelon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,879 in Jerusalem and $1,166 in Ashkelon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jerusalem pays 25% 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: $99.0 in Jerusalem vs $82.0 in Ashkelon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $422 per month, with Ashkelon 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 20% 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.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Jerusalem, 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: $1,879 in Jerusalem versus $1,166 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 $82.0 versus $99.0 in Jerusalem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,955 per month in Jerusalem versus $2,463 in Ashkelon – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,463 in Ashkelon versus $2,955 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 20% less than in Jerusalem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.