Southern District

Towns in Southern Israel and the Negev

The Southern District has 256 towns and villages with 1,495,482 residents (September 2026), 15% of Israel's population: 12 cities, 114 moshavim and 65 kibbutzim. The largest is Ashdod.

Residents: 1,495,482; 15% of Israel
Average home: ₪1,408,000; 31% cheaper than average
Average monthly wage: ₪12,784; 16% lower than average
Crime cases per 1,000: 52.3; 54% more than average

Each dot is a town, sized by population

Cities, moshavim and kibbutzim in the South and the Negev

73% of residents live in 12 cities, only 5% of the places.

Share of residentsShare of places

Cities
12 places
73%
5%
Local councils
11 places
12%
4%
Moshavim
114 places
6%
45%
Other villages and institutions
20 places
4%
8%
Kibbutzim
65 places
3%
25%
Villages
18 places
1%
7%
Community settlements
16 places
1%
6%

0%25%50%75%100%

Superlatives in the South and the Negev

Most expensive to buy
Lehavim
₪3,178,100
Cheapest to buy
Dimona
₪651,900
Highest wages
Lehavim
₪25,004 a month
Safest (5,000+ residents)
Lehavim
15.9 cases per 1,000
Highest tax benefit
Sderot
20% credit
Highest elevation
Har Amasa
813 m above sea level

Cities in the Southern District

1.Ashdod

229,850 residents

Home ₪1,835,000Wage ₪13,215

2.Be'er Sheva

226,725 residents

Home ₪1,091,000Wage ₪14,039

3.Ashkelon

177,083 residents

Home ₪1,520,000Wage ₪13,268

4.Rahat

82,549 residents

Wage ₪9,621Tax benefit 16%

5.Kiryat Gat

76,567 residents

Home ₪1,240,000Wage ₪12,032

6.Netivot

61,212 residents

Home ₪1,339,000Wage ₪11,957Tax benefit 16%

7.Eilat

57,264 residents

Home ₪1,560,000Wage ₪13,130

8.Ofakim

43,514 residents

Home ₪1,254,000Wage ₪12,965Tax benefit 18%

9.Sderot

41,048 residents

Home ₪1,040,000Wage ₪14,305Tax benefit 20%

3 more cities

10.Dimona

40,301 residents

Home ₪652,000Wage ₪14,460Tax benefit 18%

11.Arad

31,088 residents

Home ₪947,000Wage ₪11,540Tax benefit 18%

12.Kiryat Malakhi

30,046 residents

Home ₪1,184,000Wage ₪11,351

All towns and villages in the Southern District

256 places by subdistrict, with a type filter and name search

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Be'er Sheva subdistrict149 places · 844,280 residents

Ashkelon subdistrict107 places · 651,202 residents

FAQ

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How many towns are there in the South and the Negev?

The Southern District has 256 populated places: 12 cities, 114 moshavim and 65 kibbutzim and others, according to the CBS localities file.

What is the largest town in the South and the Negev?

Ashdod, with 229,850 residents. Next come Be'er Sheva and Ashkelon.

Where is the cheapest place to buy an apartment in the South and the Negev?

Dimona: an average apartment costs ₪651,900. The most expensive is Lehavim (₪3,178,100).

Which towns in the South and the Negev get an income tax benefit?

174 towns in the Southern District are on the Tax Authority's list of eligible localities, with an income tax credit of up to 20%.

How many kibbutzim and moshavim are there in the South and the Negev?

65 kibbutzim and 114 moshavim.

Other districts

Northern District420 places Haifa District94 places Central District241 places Tel Aviv District14 places Jerusalem District68 places Judea and Samaria128 places

Data sources

Sources: the CBS localities file and population estimates, Nadlan deal reports, National Insurance, the Israel Police and the Tax Authority. Averages are weighted by population. Updated November 2026.