Cost of Living in Ireland vs US: Comparison and Explanation
The cost of living in Ireland vs the U.S. is an important factor as an expat looking to move abroad. Keep in mind that the U.S. is a huge country with many different costs of living and salaries depending on the state and city you come from.
Ireland, though much smaller, also has a variety of living conditions and costs depending on the city and county. This article will break down and explain the cost of living in Ireland, but is largely an average of the country as a whole.
Jump To:
• What Makes the Cost of Living in Ireland So Expensive for Americans?
• How Much Does It Cost to Live in Ireland in U.S. Dollars?
• How Much Does It Cost to Buy a House in Ireland?
• What is the Cost of Rent in Ireland?
• How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Ireland?
• What is the Average Yearly Salary in Ireland vs the U.S.?
• How Does Healthcare Effect the Cost of Living in Ireland vs the U.S.?
• What Are Some Things That Americans Will Find Expensive in Ireland Compared to the U.S.?
• What Are Some Things That Americans Will Find Less Expensive in Ireland?
• Is Ireland a Better Place to Live Than the U.S.?
• Comparisons for Cost of Living in Ireland vs USA
• Pros and Cons of the Cost of Living in Ireland vs USA
What Makes the Cost of Living in Ireland So Expensive for Americans?
For starters, the currency exchange from the U.S. dollar to the euro is not typically in Americans’ favor. At the time of this article (October 2021), the exchange rate is $1 to€0.86. This means that anything bought in euros is going to be more expensive for someone who uses the American dollar.
NOTE: I use the free Xe app to check current exchange rates and keep track of what I am spending while in a foreign country.
Not only is the exchange rate not in our favor, but Ireland is an island. This means that everything is imported and thus costs more money.
Another reason is that the sales tax is considerably higher in Ireland than in the states. In the U.S., the average sales tax is 7%. In Ireland, the average sales tax (VAT) is 23%.
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Ireland in U.S. Dollars?
The cost in Ireland vs the U.S. all depends on which city you choose to live in and what kind of amenities and lifestyle choices you make. However, on average the cost of living in Ireland in U.S. dollars is about $2,500 per month when you factor in rent, utilities, and other bills, transportation, entertainment, etc.
It is important to remember that the cost of living in Ireland vs the U.S. is very subjective and different for everyone depending on the quality of life you require.
For example, moving to Dublin from southern California, the rent prices are pretty on par with what I’m used to but the cost of buying property is fantastic. That is because I would be lucky to find a semi-decent house in a decent area near my hometown for under $1 million!
Plus, if you are working remotely abroad for a U.S. company it might be easier (or more difficult depending on where you are coming from) to afford the cost of living in Ireland.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy a House in Ireland?
The bigger cities of Dublin, Limerick, and Cork tend to have a higher overall cost of living, with Dublin being the most expensive.
Smaller cities and rural areas, especially in the west of Ireland, are obviously much less expensive to live in.
In terms of buying property, the average home in Dublin costs around€400,000. A three-bedroom house in Galway costs an average of €245,000 and a four-bedroom is around €430,000.
According to Irish Central, the 5 cheapest locations to buy a property in Ireland are: Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon, and Laois. All of these cities have properties for sale under€200,000 and even under€100,000.
What is the Cost of Rent in Ireland?
The average cost of renting in Ireland is about €1,300 per month. The cost of renting will vary by county across Ireland.
In Dublin, the average rent is approximately€2,000 per month. A one-bedroom apartment in Dublin typically ranges from around €1,800 to €2,400. A two-bedroom apartment in Dublin can get up into the €4,000 range.
In Galway, you can find most one-bedroom apartments in the low €1,000 range. The county with the lowest monthly rent is Leitrim with a rent of approximately€596 per month.
Utilities can cost an additional ~€200 per month. That includes electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage, and internet.
When I lived in Dublin I paid about€270 per week (~€1,080) at the Binary Hub where I had a private bed and bathroom in a 5-bedroom apartment with shared living space, but all of my utilities were included plus plenty of amenities provided.
For more information on how to find accommodation in Dublin, Ireland CLICK HERE.
How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Ireland?
The amount of money you need to live comfortably in Ireland will entirely depend on your way of living and taste. Are you used to living frugally and not going out very much? Or do you have higher tastes and tend to spend more money on clothes, outings, etc.?
On average, you will likely need to earn around €450 per week (€1,800 per month or a salary of€24,000).
What is the Average Yearly Salary in Ireland vs the U.S.?
An average salary in Ireland ranges from about €34,000 to€54,000 per year. The most typical earnings are in the€30,000 range.
In comparison, the average yearly salary in California (which is more closely related to the cost of living in Dublin than the average of the entire U.S.) is around $68,000.
The highest-paid careers in Ireland are typically Health Care and Medical professionals or Engineers and Technicians. Although, expats in Ireland tend to make pretty decent salaries and find the cost of living to be comparable to other global cities in wealthy countries.
Are you wondering how you will be able to find a job in Ireland as an American? CLICK HERE.
How Does Healthcare Effect the Cost of Living in Ireland vs the U.S.?
Healthcare in Ireland is top-notch and American expats will find healthcare to be much more affordable in Ireland than in the U.S. Private healthcare is available in Ireland, as well as the option for international health care coverage.
Healthcare in Ireland is much more affordable than Americans are used to, and it will likely help reduce the cost of living in Ireland vs the U.S.
For reference, the average cost of a doctor’s visit in Ireland is around €50 and $300-$600 without insurance in the U.S. There is no charge for an emergency ambulance in Ireland, whereas in the U.S. it can range from $400-$1,200.
Expats and people looking to stay in Ireland for an extended amount of time will likely be able to get either a Medical Card (fully entitled to free available public health services) or GP Visit Card (free doctor visits, but does not include free prescriptions and tests).
People with employment permits, those seeking asylum, students, and anyone with the proper legal documents AND the intention to live in Ireland for more than one year can apply.
What Are Some Things That Americans Will Find Expensive in Ireland Compared to the U.S.?
1. GAS – It can be almost double as expensive to drive in Ireland compared to what Americans are used to, though this also depends on what part of the U.S. you live in. A gallon of gas in Ireland is currently about $4.78, which is slightly higher than what I have been paying for gas in California this month, and our gas prices are some of the highest in the country!
2. CARS – Since Ireland does not produce any cars, it can be extra expensive to buy and import cars. Some people even go so far as buying their cars from the UK, though you must then factor in the cost of transportation to Ireland and import taxes.
3. ELECTRONICS – For similar reasons as cars, electronics can be expensive to purchase in Ireland and people who are able to buy them in other countries will often find more affordable prices.
4. MEDICINE – Over-the-counter medicine can be shockingly more expensive in Ireland than the U.S., if you are not on the medical card at least.
5. NO HAPPY HOURS – It is actually against the law to reduce the price of alcohol at specific times of the day. Crazy – I know!
NOTE: If you are living as an expat in Ireland, you still need to pay U.S. taxes! Likely, you will not owe much, if anything, to the IRS. But, you do need to file your taxes correctly to make sure you receive all applicable deductions. I use Taxes for Expats to make sure my taxes are done right every year to save me the most money possible!
❗CLICK HERE: and use code “TRIPMATTER” for $25 off Taxes for Expats❗
What Are Some Things That Americans Will Find LESS Expensive in Ireland?
1. SIM CARDS – The sim card for my phone cost me ~€20 for a few GB of data. I never ran out of data or had any issues with my phone plan while living in Ireland.
2. PROPERTY TAX – Ireland’s property tax is about 0.1% of the first €1.05 million of market value of the property, 0.25% of the portion between €1.05 million and €1.75 million, and 0.3% of the portion above €1.75 million. In the U.S., property tax varies by state. Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate at 0.28% and New Jersey has the highest property tax at 2.49%
3. DRINK DEALS – Bars and nightclubs will often have drink deals happening where you can get a beer or wine for as low as €2!
🍻 For my favorite pubs, nightclubs, and pub crawls, CLICK HERE.
Is Ireland a Better Place to Live Than the U.S.?
It is an entirely subjective opinion to say one country is better than the other. The cost of living in Ireland vs the U.S. is just one factor in deciding where you would want to live.
It is important to consider culture, lifestyle, weather, community, etc. when you are trying to figure out if Ireland is a better place for you to live than the U.S. I found the quality of life in Ireland to be fantastic, and comparable to the quality of the U.S. However, my day-to-day life in Ireland is much different than when I’m in California, so it’s hard to compare and say which is better.
To help you get a better idea of life as an expat in Ireland, read my full guide here:
Comparisons for Cost of Living in Ireland vs USA
Below are a few prices of items in Ireland to help you compare your cost of living in the U.S. to the cost of living in Ireland:
- A meal ranges from about€6-8 for fast food up to€12-15+ for a meal at a restaurant.
- Pint of beer is €3-6
- One pound (0.45 kg) of chicken filets €4
- Gallon of milk is €3.80
- Dozen eggs €2.80
- One pound (0.45 kg) loaf of white bread €1.40
- Bottle of wine €2 and up
- One way ticket on local transportation starts around €2.70 or a monthly pass for €104
- Monthly gym pass ~€42
- Movie ticket €8-€12
Looking for resources to use for your next trip or move abroad?
CLICK HERE for my favorite travel and expat tools!
Pros and Cons of the Cost of Living in Ireland vs USA
The cost of living anywhere in the world is higher in bigger cities and not nearly as high in smaller towns and rural areas. This certainly holds true for Ireland. Ireland, overall, tends to be pricier than the average cost of living in the U.S.
However, depending on where you are coming from in the states, you may find that parts of Ireland are extremely affordable. Cost of living is not the only factor to consider when deciding if you should move to Ireland. Consider what kind of career you want or already have and what salary you can achieve in Ireland.
Consider too what lifestyle you want and what type of culture you want to be a part of. Ireland is a beautiful country with some of the friendliest people, and you can’t put a price tag on that!
CLICK BELOW TO CONTINUE READING ABOUT IRELAND:
☘️FAQs About Ireland☘️
✈️ Where Can You Find the BEST Flight Deals to Ireland?
1. Scott’s Cheap Flights – FREE flight deals alert, works best if you can be flexible
2. Skyscanner – FREE search engine, great for budget flights + deal
❗Is Travel Insurance Required in Ireland?
No, it’s not.
However, it’s always recommended to have travel insurance any time you travel in case of injury, accident, lost luggage, missed flight, etc. The best and most affordable travel/expat insurance is Safety Wing.
>>>CLICK HERE FOR INFO
☔️ When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?
Summer (June-August) – is the warmest and rains the least but you will have the most crowds.
Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) – are cooler and have more rain but you will beat the crowds and see some incredible wildflowers (spring)/greenery (fall).
🏠 Where Should You Stay in Ireland?
Hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, and house sitting are all available in Ireland for accommodation. My top recommendations for each are:
• Booking.com
• Hostelworld
• Vrbo (usually better options than Airbnb in Ireland)
• Trusted Housesitters (watch a home/pets in return for a FREE place to stay)
☘️ Where Can You Find Tours?
I found incredible tours in Ireland >>>HERE for private and guided group tours of both the most popular attractions and ones that fit your specific interests.
🚘 Should You Rent a Car in Ireland?
I always tell my friends and family to rent a car in Ireland so that they don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and wonderful things to do in between the big cities! However, if you plan to stay only in the cities, then you should be fine getting by with buses and walking.
>>> What to know about driving in Ireland
>>> The best car rental in Ireland
🍻 Make sure to try out the pubs! Even if you don’t drink, the atmosphere, live music, and friendly people are very uniquely Irish.
