South coast

Ashkelon

A coastal city in southern Israel, about 50 km south of Tel Aviv. Its English-speaking roots go back to South African Jews who founded the Afridar neighborhood in the 1950s, followed by immigrants from the UK; it also absorbed Ethiopian and Russian-speaking immigrants in the 1990s. NBN notes an active English-speaking organization and that olim live all over the city.

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What draws people

Lowest rent of the cities here in the CBS table: about NIS 4,030/month on average for 3.5-4 rooms (Apr-Jun 2026). source ((opens in a new tab))
Active English-speaking organization, community library and book clubs, plus English-speaking municipal staff. source ((opens in a new tab))
Beaches and a marina. source ((opens in a new tab))

What to weigh

Close to Gaza and has been hit by rocket fire in several rounds of fighting (2008, 2009, 2021, 2023). source ((opens in a new tab))
About 1 hour to Tel Aviv by train and about 1 h 13 min to Jerusalem by bus. source ((opens in a new tab))

The facts

Region: South coast
Population: 166,864 (2024 estimate)CBS 'Regional Statistics' as cited on Wikipedia.source ((opens in a new tab))
English-speaking community: Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call
French-speaking community: Unknown
Russian-speaking community: Large (4 out of 5)· judgment call
Religious mix: UnknownNo religious breakdown found; Wikipedia says the population is 'almost entirely Israeli Jews.'source ((opens in a new tab))
Rent (family-size apartment): NIS 4,031 – 4,906 a monthCBS averages, Apr-Jun 2026 (3.5-4 rooms to 4.5+ rooms)CBS average rent in Ashkelon, Apr-Jun 2026: 3.5-4 rooms (min figure) and 4.5+ rooms (max figure). These are averages, not the cheapest or most expensive listings.source ((opens in a new tab))
To Tel Aviv: About 52 min to Tel Aviv by busAbout 1 h by train from Ashkelon station, about 52 min by bus, or about 46 min by car (Rome2rio estimates). NBN says about 50 min by train and 40 min by car.source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab))source 3 ((opens in a new tab))
To Jerusalem: About 1 h 13 min to Jerusalem by busAbout 1 h 13 min by bus (Rome2rio estimate).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab))source 3 ((opens in a new tab))
Train station: Yes
Light rail: No
For families: Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call
Quiet: Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call

Why these scores

English-speaking community: NBN: an active English-speaking organization, volunteer committee and English-speaking municipal staff; no count given. History of South African and UK immigrants (Wikipedia). Judgment call. source ((opens in a new tab))
French-speaking community: No source opened mentions a French-speaking community. Left blank. source ((opens in a new tab))
Russian-speaking community: Russian Wikipedia: some districts have 'a large number of immigrants from CIS countries'; English Wikipedia: 1990s arrivals of Russian Jews. No figures. Judgment call. source ((opens in a new tab))
For families: Judgment: NBN promotes 'a high standard of living at low cost'; scored down because of repeated rocket fire (Wikipedia). source ((opens in a new tab))
Quiet: Judgment: mid-size coastal city of about 167,000. source ((opens in a new tab))

Sources

Checked 8 November 2026

Ashkelon Local

Listings, guides, neighborhoods and Shabbat times for Ashkelon, on the city's own site.

Visit Ashkelon Local

Nefesh B'Nefesh community guide ((opens in a new tab))

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