Cost of Living Comparison Between Donegal and Galway Cost of Living Comparison Between Donegal and Galway

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,953 per month in Donegal vs $3,435 in Galway, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,811 per month in Donegal vs $4,835 in Galway, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,668 per month in Donegal vs $6,236 in Galway, rent included.

Donegal is about 43% cheaper than Galway, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Donegal and Galway sit above the global median – Donegal by 42%, Galway by 150%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.20 €13.11

$23.56 €20.32

-35.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 €76.4

$115 €99.3

-23.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 €6.12

$17.60 €15.18

-59.66%

Cappuccino

$3.16 €2.73

$4.96 €4.28

-36.29%

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

$1.70 €1.46

$3.17 €2.73

-46.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 €1.02

$2.38 €2.05

-50.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.48 €6.45

$8.01 €6.91

-6.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 €5.88

$7.02 €6.05

-2.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 €1.50

$1.72 €1.48

1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 €1.61

$2.48 €2.14

-24.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 €1.62

$2.29 €1.97

-17.90%

Eggs

$3.45 €2.98

$4.57 €3.94

-24.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 €6.92

$17.22 €14.85

-53.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.34 €11.50

$11.39 €9.82

17.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.71 €11.82

$14.11 €12.17

-2.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.03

$3.04 €2.62

-22.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 €1.43

$2.26 €1.95

-26.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 €1.23

$3.22 €2.78

-55.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 €3.72

$4.21 €3.63

2.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 €1.21

$2.12 €1.83

-33.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 €2.51

$1.59 €1.37

83.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 €1.16

$1.32 €1.14

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 €1.82

$1.98 €1.71

6.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.88 €18.87

$21.17 €18.26

3.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.75 €15.31

$14.33 €12.36

23.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 €2.70

$4.24 €3.66

-26.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 €2.51

$4.54 €3.91

-35.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.16 €1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 €55.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 €4.97

$5.44 €4.69

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 €1.31

$1.55 €1.33

-1.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$68.9 €59.4

$58.1 €50.1

18.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.80

$2.17 €1.87

-3.69%

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

$40.0K €34.5K

$41.2K €35.6K

-2.96%

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

$39.8K €34.3K

$38.2K €32.9K

4.30%

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

$174 €150

$248 €214

-30.17%

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

$21.58 €18.62

$23.68 €20.42

-8.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.13 €39.78

$52.0 €44.88

-11.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.0 €50.9

$45.70 €39.41

29.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.88 €19.73

Cinema Ticket

$11.64 €10.04

$17.39 €15.00

-33.06%

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

$868 €748

$1,053 €908

-17.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,293 €1,978

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 €64.2

$106 €91.2

-29.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.07 €32.84

$50.8 €43.85

-25.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 €74.3

$113 €97.8

-24.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 €84.8

$119 €103

-17.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,140 €984

$2,363 €2,038

-51.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 €738

$2,033 €1,754

-57.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,710 €1,475

$3,803 €3,280

-55.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 €1,113

$2,839 €2,449

-54.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,754 €1,513

$6,218 €5,363

-71.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,141 €984

$4,804 €4,143

-76.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,418 €3,811

$2,955 €2,548

49.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

3.68

-2.17%

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

Last update for Donegal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Galway: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,140 in Donegal versus $2,363 in Galway. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Donegal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Donegal versus $115 in Galway. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $381 – making Donegal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Donegal vs Galway: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Galway is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,930 per month in Donegal and $5,152 in Galway. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Donegal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,953 in Donegal and $3,435 in Galway. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $868 per month in Donegal and $1,053 in Galway. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Donegal, where all-in costs run around $1,953, than in Galway at $3,435. In Donegal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Galway it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Donegal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Donegal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Galway makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.