🇮🇱 Ashdod,
Israel
#1039
Nomad Score
5.6
Coords
31.7977314, 34.6529922
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WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| ☕ 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 |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | The Hive Ashdod (Gidron St 2). Rates approx. 600 ILS/month for hot desk |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 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
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 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
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 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
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 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
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 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
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 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 |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING ASHDOD