Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat HICP 2023
🇮🇪 Cost of living in Ireland
Ireland runs pricier than most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see where the gap is widest and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost index (EU-27=100)
- 142
- Rent index
- 142
- Median net income
- €32,500
- Cost-adjusted income
- €22,887
Ireland sits at 142 on the 0-200 scale shown above.
Key takeaways
- Overall cost of living is 42% above the EU-27 average (index 142, EU-27 = 100).
- Most expensive category: rent & housing at index 142.
- Cheapest category: utilities at index 113.
- A typical income of €32,500 is worth about €22,887 in EU-average purchasing power.
Cost by category in Ireland
Ireland - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
In Ireland, rent & housing is the most expensive category and utilities the least.
What the Ireland cost-of-living data shows
Ireland's overall consumer price level is 42% above the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Rent and housing lead the way in Ireland, the priciest category at index 142, ahead of utilities at index 113. Because housing is typically the single largest line in a household budget, that pulls overall affordability down more than an equally high index in a smaller category would.
That price gap bites hard into real purchasing power here: Ireland's prices run well above the EU average, so the headline income of €32,500 is worth only about €22,887 once translated into EU-27-average terms - a steep discount.
Cities in Ireland
National averages hide the big-city premium. See real monthly rent, groceries and transit costs for Ireland's cities.
Countries with a similar cost of living
Frequently asked questions
Is Ireland expensive to live in?▼
Ireland's overall cost of living is 42% above the EU-27 average (index 142). Rent & housing is the priciest category and utilities the cheapest.
What does it cost to rent in Ireland?▼
Ireland's rent and housing price index is 142, above the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Ireland?▼
That price gap bites hard into real purchasing power here: Ireland's prices run well above the EU average, so the headline income of €32,500 is worth only about €22,887 once translated into EU-27-average terms - a steep discount.
Source: Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Price-level indices, EU-27 = 100, 2023. Income: Eurostat/OECD median equivalised net income.
Important: these figures are official Eurostat averages for general information and comparison, they are not personal financial advice. Your own cost of living depends on your city, housing and lifestyle, so treat this as a starting point and check current local prices before making any relocation or budget decision.
Read our methodology - how these indices are sourced and computed.