Ireland is one of the most expensive countries in the EU due to a severe housing shortage, high energy and import costs, and high taxes on goods. A supply-demand mismatch in housing, coupled with high wages and strong demand for goods, fuels high costs, making it difficult for residents to afford rent or to buy.
As an island with a relatively dispersed population, transport costs for goods are higher, and given our small population, markets here are less competitive, which leads to higher prices.
Ireland is offering major financial support up to $90,000 for anyone willing to bring vacant or run-down island homes back to life. The program, part of the national Our Living Islands initiative, aims to revive remote communities that have seen their populations steadily shrink.
Costs between Ireland and the UK are broadly comparable on average, with Numbeo data suggesting that London is slightly more expensive than Dublin overall. Irish cities generally offer a more affordable range of options on balance, though some parts of the UK are cheaper than the more expensive parts of Ireland.
💰Is Ireland Too Expensive in 2025? 🇮🇪 Real Costs for Locals & Tourists
Why is Ireland suddenly so rich?
The causes of Ireland's growth are the subject of some debate, but credit has been primarily given to state-driven economic development; social partnership among employers, government and trade unions; increased participation by women in the labour force; decades of investment in domestic higher education; targeting of ...
The Living Wage for 2025/26 is €15.40 per hour. This is a €0.65 (4.4%) increase from the 2024/25 rate of €14.75 per hour. The new Living Wage rate is €1.90 above the current National Minimum Wage of €13.50 per hour.
The agency's latest analysis of earnings broken down by gender and county indicated that men represented 73.6 per cent of those in the top 1 per cent income bracket (those earning above €300,000 a year). The proportion of women among the State's top one per cent of earners is, however, increasing.
Does buying a house in Ireland give you residency?
Buying property in Ireland can be a great investment, but it does not guarantee residency. Your immigration status in Ireland depends on the right visa route, whether through employment, study, or retirement.
Antikythera, via the Greek Orthodox Church, offers new residents €500 (US$580/£433*) per month for their first three years on the island. "We need young families large enough to make Antikythera alive and full of children's voices," declared Antikythera mayor Efstaratios Charcalakis.
Ireland has a mixed healthcare system with both public (HSE) and private options, funded by taxes, but it's not entirely free; many services have charges unless you qualify for a Medical Card or GP Visit Card, which provides free or reduced-cost access based on income, age, or specific conditions, while others pay fees for GP visits, emergency care (€100), and some treatments, often using private insurance to cover faster access or private rooms.
Any income above the standard rate band is taxed at the higher rate of tax, which is 40%. The amount of your tax rate band is dependent on your personal circumstances, for example single, married or widowed. You can find your rate band for the current year on Revenue's website.
This report explores where skills gaps are widest, which skills are most scarce, and what employers are doing to address these shortages. The research suggest that talent shortages are at record highs in Ireland at the moment and this trend will likely continue throughout 2025.
$13.50 an hour is $28,080 per year (gross, before taxes) if you work a standard 40-hour week, calculated by multiplying $13.50 by 40 hours/week, then by 52 weeks/year (13.50 x 40 x 52). This breaks down to $2,340 per month or $540 per week.
The national minimum wage increased by 65 cents to €14.15 per hour on 1 January 2026. You may get less than €14.15 an hour if you are under 20, as there are reduced rates for younger people. Learn more about the national minimum wage.
How much do I need to retire comfortably in Ireland?
It has been reported that a pension of €33,600 per year is needed for a “comfortable” retirement in Ireland for a single person. Pension savers are often told to aim for 40% to 50% of their current salary in retirement, as a rule of thumb. However, you should first do some calculations and estimate your desired income.
The biggest problem in Ireland is widely considered to be the severe housing crisis, marked by a lack of affordable homes, soaring rents, and record levels of homelessness, exacerbated by rapid population growth and insufficient infrastructure. This is closely followed by related issues like the high cost of living, infrastructure shortfalls (transport, healthcare, water), and challenges from increased migration, all straining services and making it harder for many, especially young people, to find stable housing.
As of Q2 2025, the wealthiest 10 per cent of Irish households owned €674.9bn, or 49.3 per cent of total household net wealth in the country. The total net wealth of households in the poorest half of the distribution fell by €4.2bn (3.3 per cent) to stand at €120.7bn, or 8.8 per cent of the national total.
