Cost of Living Comparison Between Derry and Dublin Cost of Living Comparison Between Derry and Dublin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,709 in Derry versus $3,817 in Dublin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,335 in Derry versus $5,431 in Dublin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,961 in Derry versus $7,044 in Dublin.

Living in Derry costs roughly 29% less than in Dublin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Derry 97% above, Dublin 178% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.49 €18.53

$25.34 €21.86

-15.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 €46.33

$103 €89.1

-47.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.57 €8.26

$13.99 €12.07

-31.59%

Cappuccino

$4.65 €4.01

$5.02 €4.33

-7.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 €1.54

$3.09 €2.67

-42.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.50

$2.35 €2.03

-25.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.37 €4.63

$8.31 €7.16

-35.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.62 €5.71

$7.77 €6.70

-14.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 €1.32

$1.62 €1.40

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 €1.39

$2.43 €2.09

-33.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 €1.81

$2.02 €1.75

3.96%

Eggs

$3.54 €3.06

$5.10 €4.40

-30.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.06 €12.12

$10.33 €8.91

36.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 €8.93

$13.10 €11.29

-20.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 €12.21

$16.53 €14.25

-14.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 €2.64

$3.08 €2.65

-0.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 €1.45

$2.33 €2.01

-27.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 €2.71

$2.95 €2.54

6.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 €3.74

$5.62 €4.85

-22.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 €0.91

$1.99 €1.72

-46.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 €1.26

$1.54 €1.33

-4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 €0.95

$1.37 €1.18

-19.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 €1.67

$2.04 €1.76

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.18 €18.27

$21.93 €18.91

-3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.82 €9.33

$14.12 €12.18

-23.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 €2.02

$3.52 €3.04

-33.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 €2.40

$3.47 €2.99

-19.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 €2.16

$2.37 €2.05

5.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$108 €93.0

$113 €97.9

-4.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 €4.63

$5.43 €4.68

-1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 €1.29

$1.59 €1.37

-5.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$57.3 €49.45

$39.29 €33.89

45.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.79

$2.13 €1.83

-2.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.0K €34.5K

$40.8K €35.2K

-2.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.8K €32.6K

$40.9K €35.3K

-7.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$249 €215

$271 €234

-8.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.77 €20.50

$19.42 €16.75

22.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 €45.65

$55.4 €47.76

-4.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.18 €32.07

$70.8 €61.1

-47.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.74 €23.06

$21.26 €18.34

25.78%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 €11.84

$15.20 €13.11

-9.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,267 €1,093

$1,361 €1,174

-6.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,949 €5,131

$14.7K €12.6K

-59.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 €89.3

$110 €94.8

-5.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.57 €42.75

$53.5 €46.18

-7.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.6

$115 €98.9

-11.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 €63.6

$131 €113

-43.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 €1,393

$2,559 €2,207

-36.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,398 €1,206

$2,310 €1,993

-39.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 €1,208

$4,644 €4,006

-69.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 €988

$3,506 €3,024

-67.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,405 €2,075

$8,855 €7,637

-72.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,772 €1,528

$5,857 €5,052

-69.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,769 €2,389

$3,884 €3,350

-28.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

3.82

-3.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Derry: September 1, 2026

Last update for Dublin: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,615 in Derry and $2,559 in Dublin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dublin pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Derry vs $103 in Dublin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $376 per month, with Derry cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Derry vs Dublin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Derry is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Dublin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,615 in Derry versus $2,559 in Dublin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,267 in Derry versus $1,361 in Dublin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Dublin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Derry is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Derry is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dublin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Derry and Dublin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Derry gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Dublin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.