Country topic
Cost of living in Ireland
Prices overall in Ireland are about 0.85 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 84.85 for 2025, with the United States at 100); the 2024 figure was 80.19. It is the highest price level of the countries Fernshore has researched so far. The index is an economy-wide average. It shows no prices for food, energy, transport, childcare or schools, so those are unknown here. [Cost of living C1] The national standardised average rent for new tenancies was €1,839 a month in Q1 2026 (up 9.1% year on year), €326 or 21.6% above the €1,513 paid by existing tenants (up 4.2%). "Standardised" means the RTB adjusts for the mix of homes, so it is an average of registered tenancies, not an advert price; the new-tenancy sample was 13,019 tenancies. [C2]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Prices overall in Ireland are about 0.85 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 84.85 for 2025, with the United States at 100); the 2024 figure was 80.19. It is the highest price level of the countries Fernshore has researched so far. The index is an economy-wide average. It shows no prices for food, energy, transport, childcare or schools, so those are unknown here. [Cost of living C1]
- The national standardised average rent for new tenancies was €1,839 a month in Q1 2026 (up 9.1% year on year), €326 or 21.6% above the €1,513 paid by existing tenants (up 4.2%). "Standardised" means the RTB adjusts for the mix of homes, so it is an average of registered tenancies, not an advert price; the new-tenancy sample was 13,019 tenancies. [C2]
- In Dublin City the standardised average rent was €2,301 a month for new tenancies (up 8.3% in a year) and €1,901 for existing ones in Q1 2026. Among Dublin council areas, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown was highest for new tenancies at €2,629 and South Dublin lowest at €2,267. The whole of County Dublin averaged €2,335 for new tenancies. [C2]
- In Cork City the standardised average rent was €1,903 a month for new tenancies (up 7.9% on the quarter and 16.3% on the year) and €1,422 for existing tenancies in Q1 2026. Cork County outside the city was €1,442 for new tenancies; the whole county, city included, averaged €1,678 for new and €1,259 for existing tenancies. [C2]
- A landlord cannot ask for a security deposit of more than one month's rent. It must be returned at the end of the tenancy unless deductions are needed, for example for rent arrears, unpaid bills or damage. Agent fees, moving costs and utility connection costs were not read, so they are unknown. [C3]
- For Stamp 0 retirement permission the immigration service expects an individual income of about €50,000 a year (to be safe, more than €51,000) and access to a lump sum such as the price of a home, and requires private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals. This shows what the service asks, not what living costs; insurance premiums are unknown. [C4]
- Children under 8 who live in Ireland and whose parents intend to stay at least a year can get a GP visit card: free GP visits, assessments at ages 2 and 5, out-of-hours urgent GP care and care for asthma. Medication costs and hospital charges are not covered. GP fees for adults, and cover for older children, were not read, so they are unknown. [C5]
- What employers must pay for a permit gives a sense of the wage floor in permit jobs, not living costs. A General Employment Permit generally needs about €36,600 a year (to be safe, more than €37,000). A Critical Skills permit needs about €40,900 for listed occupations (more than €41,000) or about €68,900 for others (more than €69,000). Pay must include at least the National Minimum Wage as basic salary. [C6] [C7]
- Income tax and USC take part of any earnings. For 2026 a single person pays 20% on the first €44,000 and 40% above that, and USC of 0.5% on the first €12,012, 2% on the next €16,688, 3% on the next €41,344 and 8% on the balance. The Revenue page notes Budget 2027 changes announced on 6 October 2026; they are not yet law. [C8] [C9]
- Expat Insider 2026 (a private InterNations survey of expats) ranks Ireland 29th of 31 for Quality of Life and last for availability of medical care, with 47% positive ratings against 71% globally. The WHO service coverage index for Ireland is 82 of 100 (2023), which measures coverage, not waiting times or whether care is available when needed. The two measures disagree and both are shown. [C10] [C11]
- In letting adverts (private, so a snapshot, not a market average) furnished one-bedroom flats in Dublin asked €2,190 a month in Dublin 8, €2,450 in Rialto and €2,700 in Dublin 4. In Cork, a furnished two-bedroom flat in the city centre asked €2,200 and a one-bedroom in Ballincollig €1,800. All asked for a minimum one-year lease; the Cork city-centre advert states a deposit of one month's rent and the Dublin ones state none. [C12] [C13] [C14] [C15] [C16]
- People ordinarily resident in Ireland, meaning living there at least a year or intending to, are entitled to public health services free or at reduced cost. If you come to live in Ireland you must satisfy the Health Service Executive that you are ordinarily resident, and it may ask for evidence. Stamp 0 holders must instead hold private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals (see above). Prices for private cover, food, internet and utilities are unknown. [C17] [C4]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
20 of 100Weak
Price level 0.848 of United States prices (2025), over the 0.75 line.
Source: Price level index (GDP), Ireland. Checked 16 October 2026.
The country
More on Ireland.
Topics
More about Ireland.
Questions about Cost of living in Ireland.
How do prices in Ireland compare with the United States?
Prices overall in Ireland are about 0.85 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 2025), up from about 0.80 in 2024. It is the highest of the countries Fernshore has researched so far. That is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household.
How much is rent across Ireland?
The RTB Rent Index puts the national standardised average rent at €1,839 a month for new tenancies in Q1 2026, up 9.1% in a year, and €1,513 for existing tenancies, up 4.2%. These are mix-adjusted averages of registered tenancies, not advert prices, and say nothing about a particular home or district.
How much is rent in Dublin compared with Cork?
In Q1 2026 the standardised average rent for new tenancies was €2,301 a month in Dublin City and €1,903 in Cork City; for existing tenancies, €1,901 and €1,422 (RTB). Cork County outside the city was €1,442 for new tenancies. Figures are by council area, so suburbs and commuter towns differ.
What upfront costs come with renting in Ireland?
A landlord cannot ask for a deposit of more than one month's rent, the Residential Tenancies Board says. Agent fees, moving costs and utility connection costs are not covered here, so they are unknown.
What does healthcare cost in Ireland?
Public health services are free or low-cost for people ordinarily resident (living in Ireland a year or intending to); the HSE may ask for evidence. Stamp 0 retirees must hold private insurance with full cover in private hospitals; premiums are unknown here. Children under 8 get free GP visits with a card.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [IE C1] Price level index (GDP), Ireland, World Bank. Checked 16 October 2026. 2025: 84.85 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 16 October 2026; 80.19 in 2024. Ireland is the highest price level of the countries researched so far.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Ireland, World Bank. Checked 16 October 2026. 2025: 84.85 (United States = 100); 2024: 80.19.
- [C2] RTB Rent Index, Q1 2026, Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), published by the ESRI. Checked 16 October 2026. Standardised (mix-adjusted) average rents of registered tenancies; new tenancies 1,839 euros nationally; Dublin City 2,301 euros; Cork City 1,903 euros.
- [C3] Security deposits, Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Checked 16 October 2026. A landlord cannot ask for a deposit of more than one month's rent.
- [C4] I want to retire to Ireland, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (irishimmigration.ie). Checked 16 October 2026. Page last updated 25 June 2026. Stamp 0 for people of independent means.
- [C5] Under 8s GP visit card, Health Service Executive (HSE). Checked 16 October 2026. Free GP visits for children under 8 living in Ireland who intend to stay at least one year; medication and hospital charges not covered.
- [C6] General Employment Permit, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE). Checked 16 October 2026. Minimum annual remuneration generally 36,605 euros; 50:50 rule; Labour Market Needs Test; 2 years then up to 3 more.
- [C7] Critical Skills Employment Permit, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE). Checked 16 October 2026. Minimum 40,904 euros for listed occupations, 68,911 euros for other eligible occupations; 2-year job offer; immediate family reunification.
- [C8] Tax rates, bands and reliefs, Revenue Commissioners (Irish tax authority). Checked 16 October 2026. Tax year 2026: 20% up to 44,000 euros for a single person, balance at 40%. The page notes Budget 2027 changes announced on 6 October 2026.
- [C9] Standard rates and thresholds of USC, Revenue Commissioners (Irish tax authority). Checked 16 October 2026. 2026: 0.5%, 2%, 3% and 8% bands.
- [C10] Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland 29th of 31; last (31st) for availability of medical care; a private survey of expats.
- [C11] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland: 82 out of 100 (2023); measures service coverage, not waiting times.
- [C12] Rent: 1-bed apartment, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 8 (Daft.ie 5577192), Daft.ie (letting adverts, private). Checked 16 October 2026. 2,190 euros a month; furnished; minimum 1-year lease; no deposit or fee stated.
- [C13] Rent: 1-bed apartment, Brickfield Square, Rialto (Daft.ie 5730366), Daft.ie (letting adverts, private). Checked 16 October 2026. 2,450 euros a month; furnished; minimum 1-year lease.
- [C14] Rent: 1-bed apartment, Eglinton Place, Dublin 4 (Daft.ie 5811432), Daft.ie (letting adverts, private). Checked 16 October 2026. 2,700 euros a month; furnished; minimum 1-year lease.
- [C15] Rent: 2-bed apartment, 46 South Mall, Cork city centre (Daft.ie 6697139), Daft.ie (letting adverts, private). Checked 16 October 2026. 2,200 euros a month; furnished; minimum 1-year lease; deposit one month's rent.
- [C16] Rent: 1-bed apartment, Heritage Walk, Ballincollig, Cork (Daft.ie 6697870), Daft.ie (letting adverts, private). Checked 16 October 2026. 1,800 euros a month; furnished; minimum 1-year lease.
- [C17] Entitlement to health services, Citizens Information (Citizens Information Board, a statutory body). Checked 16 October 2026. People ordinarily resident in Ireland (living there at least a year, or intending to) are entitled to public health services free or at reduced cost; you must satisfy the HSE that you are ordinarily resident.