Cost of Living in Ireland
The average rent for a new tenancy in Ireland was €1,839 a month in Q1 2026, up 9.1% in a year, according to the RTB Rent Index. Existing tenancies averaged €1,513. Prices for household consumption were about 40% above the EU average in 2025, and consumer prices rose 4.1% in the year to September 2026.
Moving to Ireland, or hiring someone there? This page sets out official figures on the cost of living: rents from the RTB Rent Index, price levels against the EU average from Eurostat, inflation and fuel prices from the CSO, household spending from the CSO Household Budget Survey and Local Property Tax from Revenue.
Average rents in Ireland, Q1 2026
Price levels in Ireland compared with the EU average
Rent in Ireland
The average rent for a new tenancy was €1,839 a month in Q1 2026, up 9.1% in a year, according to the RTB Rent Index. Tenants who stay in an existing tenancy pay less: €1,513 on average, €326 below the new tenancy rent. County Dublin is the most expensive county at €2,335, 27% above the national average, and Leitrim the cheapest at €1,040. Outside Dublin the average new tenancy rent was €1,486. Among the other cities, Galway City averaged €2,004, Limerick City €1,921 and Cork City €1,903. Our cost of living in Dublin page has rents by Dublin council and local area.
Consumer prices and inflation
Prices in Ireland are well above the EU average. In 2025 Ireland's price level for household consumption was 139.6, against an EU average of 100, according to Eurostat: about 40% above the average. Housing, water, electricity and gas cost 189.7, close to twice the EU level, while clothing and footwear were slightly below it, at 99.1. Consumer prices rose 4.1% in the 12 months to September 2026, up from 3.7% in August, according to the CSO. Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the rise was 3.1%. The largest increases were in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (9.5%), education (8.9%) and transport (7.5%).
| Measure, 12 months to September 2026 | Ireland | Euro area |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Price Index (CPI), all items | 4.1% | Not applicable |
| HICP, all items | 3.8% | 3.8% |
| HICP, flash estimate for October 2026 | 4% | 4% |
| HICP, actual rents for housing | 6.3% | 2.6% |
| HICP, electricity, gas and other fuels | 13.8% | 9.4% |
| HICP, transport | 7.9% | 9.8% |
| HICP, food and non-alcoholic drinks | 0.3% | 1% |
Household spending
Irish households spent an average of €1,007.47 a week in 2022-2023, 20.3% more than in 2015-2016, according to the CSO Household Budget Survey. Housing and fuel and light took 24.6% of spending. Households that rented spent €720.74 a week, and households with a mortgage €1,448.08. Urban households spent €1,030.26 and rural households €967.52. These are the latest results the CSO has published.
| Household spending, 2022-2023 | Per week | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Food | €160.93 | 16.0% |
| Alcoholic drink and tobacco | €28.38 | 2.8% |
| Clothing and footwear | €39.54 | 3.9% |
| Fuel and light | €63.11 | 6.3% |
| Housing | €184.56 | 18.3% |
| Household non-durable goods | €20.56 | 2.0% |
| Household durable goods | €34.98 | 3.5% |
| Transport | €142.39 | 14.1% |
| Miscellaneous goods, services and other expenditure | €333.02 | 33.1% |
| Total | €1,007.47 | 100% |
Few people in Ireland spend more than 40% of their disposable income on housing: 5.3% of the population in 2025, against 7.6% across the EU, according to Eurostat. That measure covers all households, including owners without a mortgage.
Transport, energy and local taxes
The national average price of diesel was €2.06 a liter in September 2026, 37 cents more than a year earlier, and petrol €1.96, up 24 cents, according to the CSO. Energy prices are rising: the HICP for electricity, gas and other fuels was 13.8% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier. In 2022-2023 households spent €63.11 a week on fuel and light, of which €33.72 on electricity. Public transport fares are set by operator and area; see our Dublin page for TFI fares.
Homeowners pay Local Property Tax. The basic charges for 2027 depend on the home's value. Each council can raise the rate by up to 25% or lower it by up to 15%: Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo charge 25% more in 2027, while Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin and Fingal charge less.
| Home value, Local Property Tax 2027 | Basic charge a year |
|---|---|
| €1 to 240,000 | €95 |
| €240,001 to 315,000 | €235 |
| €315,001 to 420,000 | €333 |
| €420,001 to 525,000 | €428 |
| €525,001 to 630,000 | €523 |
What it means for pay and hiring
Average weekly earnings were €1,046.88 in Q2 2026, according to the CSO, or about €54,438 a year. A year of rent at the national average for a new tenancy, €22,068, is about 41% of that. For a full-time worker on the minimum wage of €14.15 an hour, about €2,452.67 a month, the average new rent outside Dublin is 61% of gross pay. Candidates weigh these costs when they compare offers, and they matter most for roles that need someone to move. See pay levels on our average salary in Ireland and Ireland minimum wage pages, employer costs in our guide to hiring in Ireland, and Dublin figures on our Dublin guide and average salary in Dublin pages.
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This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Ireland?
€1,839 a month for a new tenancy in Q1 2026, according to the RTB Rent Index, and €1,513 for an existing tenancy. New tenancy rents rose 9.1% in a year.
Is Ireland expensive compared with the rest of Europe?
Yes. In 2025 Irish prices for household consumption were 139.6 against an EU average of 100, according to Eurostat. Housing, water, electricity and gas were at 189.7.
What is the inflation rate in Ireland?
Consumer prices rose 4.1% in the 12 months to September 2026, according to the CSO. The EU measure, the HICP, rose 3.8%, and Eurostat's flash estimate for October 2026 is 4%.
How much does a household in Ireland spend a week?
€1,007.47 on average in 2022-2023, according to the CSO Household Budget Survey. Food took €160.93, housing €184.56 and transport €142.39.
Where is rent cheapest in Ireland?
County Leitrim, at an average of €1,040 a month for new tenancies in Q1 2026. The lowest local area was Stranorlar in County Donegal, at €918, according to the RTB.
Sources
- RTB, Rent Index Q1 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- RTB, RTB/ESRI Rent Index reports. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Price level indices by analytical category (prc_ppp_ind_1). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- CSO, Consumer Price Index September 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, HICP annual rate of change (prc_hicp_minr). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- CSO, Household Budget Survey 2022-2023: Results and Analysis. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- CSO, Household Budget Survey 2022-2023: Key Findings. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Housing cost overburden rate (ilc_lvho07a). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Revenue, Local Property Tax: valuation bands and rates. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- CSO, Earnings and Labour Costs Q1 2026 (Final) Q2 2026 (Preliminary Estimates). Checked 5 Nov 2026.
