How Much Does It Cost to Live in Dublin?
Dublin is an expensive city, as most cities in Ireland are. The most expensive aspect of living in Dublin – rent – depends upon distance from city.
Transport is not that expensive when it’s within the city. Food is expensive if you are eating outside, but not that much if you decide to cook by yourself.
Monthly groceries amount to around 200$ at the most, so the standard of living is pretty high in the capital of Ireland.
So count in these expenses if you’re planning on moving to Dublin, so they don’t take you by surprise!
Cost of Living Breakdown in Dublin
RESTAURANTS
As mentioned before, the cost of living in Dublin is high, and eating a meal out could cost you 25 to 30$. However, in many cities in Ireland there are many restaurants that now have a 3 course special for 2 people which costs just above 30$. You can get a round of domestic beer for around 6.50$ a round.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $17.22 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.31 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.54 |
MARKETS
Food in general is expensive compared in Dublin compared to many other southern European countries, but if you live alone you’ll be able to get by with around 220$ a month, if you have a good head for taking advantage of offers and are smart about your groceries.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.11 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.74 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.98 |
TRANSPORTATION
Transport is also on the costly side in Dublin, and you’ll have to pay up around 110$ a month if you want to move around the city. It will cost you less if you get a bike and many actually say that Dublin’s roads are very bike friendly. Also, most employers have an option for tax-saver commuter tickets, which are very beneficial.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $3.10 |
| Monthly Pass | $137.74 |
| Gasoline | $1.66 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities will cost you around 50$ if you live in a small apartment in Dublin, but those in a bit bigger apartments (like 85m2) will have to pay bills for all basic utilities like electricity, water, heating and cooling, that cost around 165$. Internet is also pretty expensive.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $165.56 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.29 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $59.40 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
In a capital of an expensive country like Ireland, sports and leisure are pricey. If you want to go to a fitness club in Dublin and get in shape, you will have to pay around 45$ for a month in a fitness club (which is actually less than the country’s average), or 18$ for an hour of renting a tennis court. If you want to watch a movie here, expect it to cost well over 10$.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $43.33 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $18.70 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.63 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Dublin shopping is definitely more expensive than shopping in many other cities, but don’t give up hope and maybe you can find a piece of clothing for a smaller amount of money. Usually, jeans of good quality cost around 80$, as do quality sneakers, while lighter pieces of clothing are half this much. Watch out for the discounts!
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $88.99 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $38.86 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $90.59 |
RENT PER MONTH
As mentioned many times, rent is the most expensive aspect of living in Ireland, and this applies to its capital, too. It is the reason everyone keeps saying that Ireland is expensive. In this city, you cannot find an apartment to rent for less than 1,400$, and that’s if you’re looking for one located outside of the city center.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1786.60 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1484.86 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $3106.90 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Dublin?
And since the most expensive thing for a citizen in Dublin is rent, it only makes sense that the average citizens spends most money on it!
It is extremely expensive to rent out an apartment in Ireland, especially in Dublin.
Then there are markets, where people buy their food, so it’s only natural that it’s a huge chunk of their expenses.
Transportation and restaurants take up the next chunk of expenses on the list, since they are also pretty costly, given the fact that even the inexpensive restaurants don’t serve food for less than 10$ and you’ll need around 100$ to just be able to move around Dublin.
Average Costs Breakdown
Dublin: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Salaries in Dublin are extremely high, as is their standard of living – typical of the standard of the United Kingdom as a whole.
With a minimum wage reaching almost 2000$, a citizen of Ireland can live in this country and cover most expenses.
Of course, those renting have a harder time paying the bills and their monthly rent, but it is possible.
The average salary is well above 2000$ so an average citizen of Dublin should have no problems living here and making ends meet.
Dublin Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Dublin Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | MEDIUM |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Ireland
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Cork |
73.53 |
| Galway |
73.54 |
| Limerick |
69.63 |
Totally feel you on the costs in Dublin! It’s kind of shocking how quickly rent can add up, especially if you’re looking for a decent place close to the city. Cooking at home seems like a solid plan to save some cash, but still, it’s good to know that monthly groceries aren’t too crazy. Gotta keep that budget in check if you decide to make the move!
It’s true, the rent can really catch you off guard in Dublin. I was shocked at how quickly the costs add up, especially if you’re used to more affordable places. Cooking at home definitely saves some cash, but still, it seems like Dublin has a way of testing your budget!
How did you find the rent prices compared to your expectations? Seems like that’s where most of the surprise hits!