Ireland is ranked the 12th most expensive country to live in, second only to Australia among English-speaking countries. In this article, we will look at the prices of important goods and services to determine how much money is needed for a comfortable stay in Ireland.
The cost of food
Several supermarket chains in Ireland can be found in other European countries: Lidl, Tesco and Aldi. The local one for Ireland is SuperValu.
However, the Irish prefer to support local producers and farmers, so they love to buy food from local markets. The markets are always full of fresh and tasty food, but prices are higher than in supermarkets.
We will not look at the local producers for now, but consider the prices in the supermarket SuperValu:
Chicken breast 500 g – 6.49 €
Pork sausages 336 g – 2.50 €
Pork on the bone 1 kg – 9.99 €
Beef 1 kg – 8 , 69 €
Ground beef 700 g – € 4.50
Salmon steak 180 g – € 3.50
Shrimps 180 g – € 5
Bananas 1 kg – € 1.25
Apple 1 pc – € 0.55
Orange 1 pc – 0, 55 €
Broccoli 1 kg – 3.50 €
Cauliflower 1 pc – 1.39 €
Carrots 1 kg – 1.49 €
Tomatoes 6 pcs – 0.49 €
Potatoes 1 kg – 1.40 €
Onions 1 kg – 1, 89 €
Bulgarian pepper one pc – € 0.69
Spinach 250 g – € 1.09
Milk 1 l – € 0.75
Yoghurt 450 g – € 2
Mozzarella cheese 1 kg – € 16
Eggs 12 pcs – € 1.98
Butter 227 g – € 1.29
Bread 800 g – € 1.69
Pasta (horns) 500 g – € 0.87
Mayonnaise 400 ml – € 2
Ketchup 400 ml – € 2
Rice 1 kg – € 1.05
Canned beans 1 can 415 g – 0.99 €
1 Green pea bank 420 g – 0.55 €
250 g Tea leaf – 4.09 €
Packaging muffins 375g – 2.50 €
Gem 340 g – 2 €
toiletries:
Toilet paper 4 rolls – 1.49 €
Liquid soap 250 ml – 1.50 €
Shower gel 450 ml – 2.79 €
Shampoo 360 ml – 4.99 €
Toothpaste 100 ml – 1.99 €
The total cost of products for a month will depend on your diet. On average, according to our calculations, one person spends about 220 euros per month on food.
Cost of eating out
Here are the average prices for food in Dublin:
- Lunch at an inexpensive restaurant – 15 €
- Three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant – 66.50 €
- Cup of coffee in a cafe – 3.75 €
- Sushi to go – 8.95 €
- Pizza – 13 € A
- Pint of beer in a pub – 5 €
Rent and utilities
Dublin has some of the highest housing prices compared to major cities in other English-speaking countries.
Prices for a one-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of Dublin start at 2,000 € per month.
It is common among young students to rent a room for two. Such a room will cost 400 – 700 € per month per person.
However, home prices outside Dublin can be as low as half. So in Cork, renting a two-room apartment costs about 1,200 €. And in Galway, you can rent an apartment for 900 € per month.
Utility bills (gas and electricity) will cost you about 100 – 250 € per month. Water is free in Ireland. Internet is 40-60 € per month.
The cost of car and maintenance
In Ireland, a car is a must, especially if you are planning to settle outside Dublin, as public transport is rather poorly developed in small towns. You can buy a used car and the cost will depend on the model and year of production:
- Toyota Corolla 2005 – 1,850 €
- Volkswagen Golf 2010 – 4,500 €
- Nissan Qashqai 2011 – 5,500 €
- Toyota Corolla 2013 – 6,500 €
- Volkswagen Passat 2015 – 8,700 €
Prices for used cars can be viewed on the website donedeal.ie
Transport tax – 600 € per year (depending on the emission level)
Insurance – 1,200 – 2,000 € per year (depending on the length of service)
Gasoline – 1.35 € per litre
Public transport cost
There are fast and comfortable Luas trams in Dublin. The cost of the trip depends on the distance you’re travelling.
One-day pass (all zones) – € 7.30
Child – € 3
7-day pass – from € 16.50 if you travel within one zone to € 28.00 within all zones.
There are discounts for students—prices for a 7-day pass range from € 12.50 to € 19.50.
A travel card for 30 days is also available for students, costing from € 47.00 to € 75.00, respectively.
For travel by bus and train, it is better to get a TFI Leap card. Travelling on it is 20-28% cheaper than if you pay for the ticket in cash.
A bus ride with a TFI Leap card will cost you € 1.55 – € 2.50;
Train ride – € 1.70 – € 4.90.
A taxi in Dublin will cost approximately € 1.50 per kilometre + € 4 for a taxi call.
Cost of other services
If you are travelling to Ireland for a long time, you will certainly need beauty and health professional services. Families with children may also need a kindergarten. Here are the average prices for services in Ireland:
- Mobile communications – € 20-30 per month;
- Haircut at a hairdresser – € 30 for men, € 80 for women;
- Gym – € 32 – € 52 per month;
- Massage – € 75 for 70 minutes;
- Gel polish manicure – € 50;
- SPA pedicure – € 50;
- Kindergarten – € 800 – € 1,400 per month.
The cost of entertainment
In addition to work or study, you will want to relax and learn more about Ireland and its cities.
- Cinema – € 12 per ticket
- Dublin Zoo – € 17.75 per adult and € 13.05 per child A
- Day at the amusement park – about € 100 depending on the attractions;
- Museums – from € 3, but there are many free options as well;
- Bicycle rental in Dublin – € 5 for three days or a subscription for € 35 per year.
Average wages
Starting January 1, 2021, the minimum wage in Ireland is € 10.20 per hour for workers over 20 years old. Working at a minimum wage of 39 hours per week, you will earn € 1,584 per month after taxes.
It is worth noting that the living wage in Ireland is € 12.30 per hour, that is, the minimum wage will not cover even the most essential.
Most workers, however, make much more than the minimum wage. Average salaries in Ireland range from € 31,000 to € 40,000 per year. And highly skilled professionals such as engineers and programmers earn much more than that.
Ireland has a progressive taxation system, and the tax is calculated based on income, marital status, age and social security payments that your employer makes or does not make. If we make rough calculations, we get the following:
- An employee without a family with an annual salary of € 31,000 receives € 2,180 per month after taxes;
- An employee without a family with an annual salary of € 40,000 receives € 2,638 per month after taxes.
For personal calculations, use the tax calculator.
Results
So, let’s calculate the approximate expenses for a month in Dublin for one student without a family:
Food – € 220;
Eating out once a week (4 times a month) – € 60;
Going to a pub (not to Temple Bar) once a week (4 times a month) – € 20;
Renting a room (most likely with someone) – € 500
Community fees – € 150;
Internet – € 60;
Travel card to Luas – € 75;
Mobile communications – € 25;
Gym – € 32;
Haircut once every 3 months – € 26 per month;
Cinema twice a month – € 24.
The total is € 1,192 per month. Less, if utilities are also divided among everyone who lives in the apartment/house.
Now let’s calculate how much a family with one preschool-aged child (1-3 years old) needs per month:
- Food – € 440;
- Eating out once a week (4 times a month) – € 120;
- A trip to the pub once a week (4 times a month) – € 40;
- Renting an apartment – € 2,000
- Community payments – € 250;
- Internet – € 60;
- Car plus taxes and insurance – € 525;
- Kindergarten – € 1,000;
- Mobile communications – € 50;
- Gym – € 65;
- Haircut once every 3 months – € 26 per month for a woman and € 16 per month for a man;
- Cinema twice a month for three – € 72.
The total is € 4,664 per month. Less, if the child goes to a free school or attends free hours in kindergarten (3 hours a day from 3 years old)
Summing up, we can say that a student without a family, working 20 hours a week on a student visa with an average salary, can cover their expenses for accommodation and meals. However, for a more comfortable life, it will be helpful to have savings for the study period.
A family of three is most likely to live comfortably in Ireland if both parents work.
If you want to visit Ireland, we can help you to fulfil your dream. Just fill up our application form and our managers will be happy to answer all your questions and find the best way to get you to Ireland. The consultation is free of charge.
