How Much Does It Cost to Live in Cork?
Ireland is an expensive country to live in.
While Dublin is the official Irish capital, Cork is the real capital – and having said that, the cost of living in the second city is relatively reasonable compared to the first one.
As in the rest of Ireland, your biggest single expense will be rent and you can expect to pay huge amounts of money per month for something decent around the city or in the suburbs.
If you’re planning on moving to Cork, keep these costs and expenses in mind so they don’t take you by surprise!
Cost of Living Breakdown in Cork
RESTAURANTS
Eating outside often is not a good idea in Cork, or elsewhere in Ireland, since the prices are skyrocketing. Eating a meal out could cost you 25 to 30$ in a mid-range restaurant, while the inexpensive ones don’t go under 15$. You can get a round of good, domestic beer for 6$ per person.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $14.92 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.74 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.75 |
MARKETS
Shopping for food in markets is a good idea, but the budget depends on whether you’re alone or have a family, and also on the store you’re shopping in. A family of three, for example, will probably be able to buy a weekly supply of groceries for less than 220$, especially if you do your shopping at ALDI or Lidl which are everywhere.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.06 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.52 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.36 |
TRANSPORTATION
Like most things, transport is expensive in Cork, too. You should probably count in the transport costs of 110$ per week, including all types of transport you might need. Public transportation is the most reasonable way of getting around in this city, with a one-way ticket costing just short of 3$.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $2.64 |
| Monthly Pass | $92.97 |
| Gasoline | $1.65 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Depending on the size of your apartment, monthly utilities, including heating, cooling, electricity and gas could cost between 70$ and 136$ a month. Keep in mind that the gas bill goes up in winter, from November to February. Internet is expensive as well, amounting up to 60$ a month.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $139.82 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.25 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $57.58 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Naturally, in a country like this, sports and leisure are expensive. If you want to go to a fitness club in Cork and get in shape, you will have to pay around 50$ for a month in a fitness club, or 16$ for an hour of renting a tennis court. If you want to watch a movie here, expect it to cost over 10$.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $51.98 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $16.07 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $11.48 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Shopping is definitely more expensive here than in many other countries and this applies to Cork too. However, don’t lose hope, you can maybe find a piece of clothing for a smaller amount of money. Usually, jeans of good quality cost around 80$, as do quality sneakers, while lighter pieces of clothing are half as much.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $80.35 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $36.62 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $91.25 |
RENT PER MONTH
Here we are – at the most expensive aspect of living in Cork, Ireland! Rent is extremely expensive in Ireland, generally. In this city, you cannot find an apartment to rent for less than 1,000$, and that’s if you’re looking for an apartment outside of the city center.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1197.49 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $988.96 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1986.22 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Cork?
Naturally, since rent is so expensive here, the aspect that the average person in Ireland spends the most money on, is precisely that – rent.
It is extremely expensive to rent out an apartment in Cork.
Then there are markets, where people buy their food, so it’s only natural that it’s a huge chunk of their expenses.
Transportation and restaurants are next on the list, since they are also pretty pricey, given the fact that even the inexpensive restaurants don’t serve food for less than 10$.
Average Costs Breakdown
Cork: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Salaries in Cork are high, as is their standard of living – not much worse from the standard of the United Kingdom as a whole.
With a minimum wage reaching almost 2000$, a citizen of Ireland can live in this country and cover most expenses.
Of course, those that are renting have a harder time paying the bills and their monthly rent, but it is possible.
The average salary is well above 2000$ so an average citizen of Cork should have no problems living and earning here.
Cork Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Cork Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | LOW |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Ireland
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Dublin |
80.28 |
| Galway |
73.54 |
| Limerick |
69.63 |
The rent prices are definitely something to keep an eye on! It’s funny how you can think you’re getting a deal until reality hits you with those monthly bills. Cork might be cheaper than Dublin, but it’s still not pocket change!
Relatively reasonable sounds nice on paper, but rent alone would eat most of my paycheck. Add deposits, utilities and groceries and it starts to feel unaffordable unless you have a solid salary or a reliable housemate. I get why Cork beats Dublin, but the costs still sting.