Essentials
- City
- Ashdod, Southern District, Israel
- Population
- 226,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber optic widely available via Bezeq or Hot)
- Currency & Banking
- Israeli New Shekel (ILS). 1 USD ≈ 3.65 ILS, 1 EUR ≈ 3.95 ILS
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, though many locals use filtration systems like Tami4
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/H/M sockets
- SIM Card
- Partner, Cellcom, or HOT Mobile. Approx. 50 ILS ($14) for 100GB
- Banking for Expats
- Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim; Revolut and Wise are commonly used for transfers
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Yad2 (local listings), boutique hotels like Leonardo Plaza
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Sublet.com; expect $1,200 - $2,200 per month
- Budget Accommodation
- West All Suite Hotel (though higher end, seasonal deals available); boutique apartments in District 11
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Marina and District 11 (Kiyamin) for beach access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- City Center (HaCity) for transport hubs or District 4 for a quieter local feel
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hive Ashdod (Gidron St 2). Rates approx. 600 ILS/month for hot desk
- Best Cafe for Work
- Pleeze Coffee (Hagdud Ha-Ivri St 1); excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Ashdod Tech Meetups held at The Hive; Hubze Ashdod for startup networking
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Ashdod Facebook Group; community events at the Monart Arts Center
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gett (Global Taxi) is the primary service; Uber works but often redirects to taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bird and Wind electric scooters are active throughout the city
- Best Beach Nearby
- Kshattot Beach (Bar Kochba St); famous for its clock plaza and cafes
- Top Regional Airline
- Arkia or Israir (operating from Ben Gurion Airport, 40 min away)
- Top International Airline
- EL AL is the national carrier at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
- Highway Access
- Highway 4 (North-South) and Highway 41 (East)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ashdod - Ad Halom Station (located on the eastern outskirts)
- Public Transport Passes
- Rav-Kav smart card (usable on Afikim buses and Israel Railways)
- Regional Travel
- Train to Tel Aviv (35 mins, 15 ILS); Buses to Jerusalem (60 mins, 16 ILS)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Assuta Ashdod University Hospital (Ha-Refu'a St 7)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Ananda Yoga Studio (Rogozin St); sessions approx. 70 ILS
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Holmes Place Ashdod (City Mall); Profi-T (Star Center)
- Laundry Services
- Kibbutz Galuyot Laundry (Kibbutz Galuyot St 10)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and 10bis (very popular and reliable)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Chraime (Spicy Moroccan Fish) – try it at Pescado
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Gamzu (Jewish-Indian fusion); Cafe Greg offers vast vegan menus
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bleecker Bakery (Star Center) for pastries and cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Star Center (Open-air mall) and the Wednesday Market (near the beach)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- KSP.co.il for electronics; Terminal X for fashion
- Grocery Delivery
- Shufersal Online or Rami Levy app
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Ashdod Marina district for upscale bars and Kshattot Beach for pubs
- Local Brewery
- BeerBazaar (available locally, though brewery is nearby); local pubs serve Israeli craft beer
- Wine Bars
- Vino (Martin Buber St) for Mediterranean vibes and Israeli wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Falafel Bereshit (Rogozin St) – highly rated local favorite
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pescado (Gedud Ha-Ivri St) - world-class kosher fish/fusion
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ashdod Sea Park and the Eye of the Sun sculpture
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ashdod Museum of Art (Derek Eretz 8); Corinne Mamane Museum of Philistine Culture
- Historical Sites
- Ashdod-Yam Fortress (ruins located on the southern coast)
- Religious Sites
- Great Synagogue of Ashdod; several historic Sephardic synagogues
- Annual Events
- Ashdod Mediterranean Festival (June); Wine Festival at the Fortress
- Cultural Districts
- District A (Rova Alef) for the oldest architecture and local vibes
- Theater Venues
- Ashdod Performing Arts Center (Mishkan)
- Local Markets
- The 'Shuk' (Wednesday open-air market) near the beach parking lot
- Music Scene
- The Monart Center for classical and ethnic music performances
- Street Art
- Graffiti projects in District A and near the old industrial zone
- Cooking Classes
- Local workshops at the Culinary Center in the industrial zone
- Art Galleries
- Monart Art Center; various small galleries in the 'Kiyamin' area
- Historic Buildings
- The Jonah's Hill (Giv'at Yona) lookout and lighthouse
- Local Heritage
- Heavy influence of Moroccan, Georgian, and Russian immigrant culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ad Halom Park (Lachish River park with greenery and history)
- National Parks Nearby
- Palmachim Beach National Park (15 min drive north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Promenade (Tayelet) stretching several kilometers along the coast
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Giv'at Yona (Jonah's Hill) for a panoramic view of the Port and Mediterranean
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lachish River Estuary (where the river meets the sea)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated areas in the Big Dune (HaDyuna HaGdola) nature reserve
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Israel Post (Doar Israel); UPS Israel branch in the industrial zone
- Tech Repair Services
- iDigital (Sea Mall) for Apple products; various shops in Star Center
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Ashdod Sea Park
- Language Classes
- Ulpan (Government-run Hebrew classes) located in the city center
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Majestic Municipal Library (Ha-Haskala St)
- Community Centers
- Matnas (Community Centers) found in every district offering local workshops
- Gaming Lounges
- Local internet cafes in the Industrial Zone (Mishmar Ha-Yarden)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Legal gambling is not permitted in Israel; closest legal venues are in nearby countries
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₪28,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₪1,120,000 / $306,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₪22,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₪880,000 / $241,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₪26,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₪1,560,000 / $427,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₪20,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₪1,200,000 / $328,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₪24,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₪1,920,000 / $526,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₪18,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₪1,480,000 / $405,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 23% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% - 30%
- Tax System
- Personal income tax based on residency (worldwide income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 50% (including 3% surtax on high earners)
- VAT
- 17%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Israel has comprehensive CFC legislation
- Property Tax
- Yes, 'Arnona' based on location and size, paid to the municipality
- Property Transaction Tax
- Purchase Tax (Mas Rechisha) ranges from 0.5% to 10% depending on property value/status
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 10-year tax holiday on foreign income for new immigrants (Aliyah), otherwise no specific nomad visa