How Much Does It Cost to Live in Ireland?
The cost of living in Ireland varies depending on where you live specifically.
It is definitely at its highest in Dublin and lower in other cities and towns in Ireland.
Ireland’s cost of living is likely at its lowest in rural areas that are not holiday destinations.
And even though, generally speaking, we could say that Ireland is expensive, the most expensive thing about this country is the rent, which will eat a large part of your salary.
If you’re planning on moving to Ireland, count in these costs and expenses so they don’t take you by surprise!
Cost of Living Breakdown in Ireland
RESTAURANTS
Well, as we mentioned, the cost of living in Ireland is high, and eating a meal out could cost you 15 to 30$.
Nowadays, there are a number of restaurants that now have a 3-course special for 2 people which costs 87.35$.
You can get a round of white wine for two and a beer for around 12 dollars a round.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $16.38 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.01 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.63 |
MARKETS
Of course, eating is much cheaper if you just go to the store, buy some groceries and make the meal yourself.
Mostly all of the essential groceries cost around 2$.
So, this is an option for everyone on a budget in Ireland or those who are looking to eat healthy and thrifty.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.28 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.85 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.27 |
TRANSPORTATION
When it comes to transportation, it is important to underline that in Ireland is much cheaper to purchase bus and train tickets online, while buying them at the ticket counters can be much more expensive.
A monthly transportation pass is very expensive, costing over 118.68$.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $2.51 |
| Monthly Pass | $118.68 |
| Gasoline | $2.05 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities, in comparison to all of this, aren’t that expensive.
They are, but not through the roof.
Counting all the basic bills, for electricity, water, heating, and cooling, it should be somewhere around 203.07$ for an apartment of about 85m2.
Internet is expensive as well, amounting to 60$ a month.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $203.07 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.38 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $56.70 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Understandably, in a country like this, sports and leisure are pricey.
If you want to go to a fitness club in Ireland and get in shape, you will have to pay around 50$ for a month in a fitness club or 20$ for an hour of renting a tennis court.
If you want to watch a movie here, expect it to cost over 13$.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $49.08 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $20.30 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $13.10 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Going shopping is definitely more expensive here than in many other countries, but you can maybe find a piece of clothing for a smaller amount of money.
Usually, jeans of good quality cost around 80$, as do quality sneakers, while lighter pieces of clothing are half this much.
But hey, there are always discounts!
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $82.51 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $39.14 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $88.50 |
RENT PER MONTH
Rent is the most expensive aspect of living in Ireland.
It is the reason everyone keeps saying that Ireland is expensive.
In this country, you cannot find an apartment to rent for less than 1,000$, and that’s if you’re looking for an apartment outside of the city center.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1662.07 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1396.28 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2733.69 |
HEALTHCARE
Ireland has universal public health coverage with supplemental private insurance optional; out-of-pocket payments account for about 10 to 11 percent of total health spending, and average out-of-pocket costs are often around 700 to 1,000 USD per person per year.
Supplemental private plans generally cost about 50 to 120 USD per month.
With average monthly salaries above 3,500 USD, healthcare costs are typically a modest share of income.
EDUCATION
Public primary and secondary schools are publicly funded and tuition‑free, though families bear costs for books, uniforms, and school supplies.
Private and fee‑charging schools often charge tuition in the range of a few thousand to around $10,000 per year.
Public universities charge tuition for domestic students that can range from about $4,000 to $7,000 per year, with higher fees for non‑EU students; private institutions often cost more.
Students also cover housing, food, transport, and textbooks.
Average monthly income is around $4,000, so public education is affordable, but private schooling and university costs represent a significant portion of typical income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Ireland?
As mentioned before, the most expensive thing in Ireland, and the aspect that the average person in Ireland spends the most money on, is rent.
It is extremely expensive to rent out an apartment in Ireland, especially in Dublin.
Then there are markets, where people buy their food, so it’s only natural that it’s a huge chunk of their expenses.
Transportation and restaurants are next on the list, since they are also pretty pricey, given the fact that even the inexpensive restaurants don’t serve food for less than 10$.
Average Costs Breakdown
Ireland: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Salaries in Ireland are extremely high, as is their standard of living – not much worse than the standard of the United Kingdom as a whole.
With a minimum wage of 1,870.6$, a citizen of Ireland can live in this country and comfortably cover most expenses.
Of course, those renting have a harder time paying the bills and their monthly rent, but it is possible.
The average salary is 2,925.97$ so an average citizen of this country should have no problems living and earning here.
Ireland Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Ireland Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | MEDIUM |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Ireland
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Cork |
73.53 |
| Dublin |
80.28 |
| Galway |
73.54 |
| Limerick |
69.63 |
It’s hard to see how anyone can move there without a solid plan, especially with rent prices skyrocketing in Dublin. Even if you find a decent job, it seems like a huge chunk of your paycheck would go straight to housing. Definitely need to crunch those numbers before making any big decisions!