Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Aliso Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Aliso Viejo, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,817 in Dublin versus $3,988 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,431 in Dublin versus $6,035 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,044 in Dublin versus $8,083 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Living in Dublin costs roughly 4% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dublin 178% above, Aliso Viejo, CA 190% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.34 €21.81

$24.95 $24.95

1.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 €88.9

$101 $101

1.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.99 €12.04

$14.14 $14.14

-1.06%

Cappuccino

$5.02 €4.32

$6.43 $6.43

-21.93%

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

$3.09 €2.66

$3.30 $3.30

-6.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 €2.03

$2.87 $2.87

-18.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.31 €7.15

$8.06 $8.06

3.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 €6.69

$12.20 $12.20

-36.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 €1.40

$1.14 $1.14

42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 €2.09

$5.44 $5.44

-55.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 €1.74

$4.83 $4.83

-58.18%

Eggs

$5.10 €4.39

$5.08 $5.08

0.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 €8.89

$12.55 $12.55

-17.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.10 €11.27

$14.22 $14.22

-7.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.53 €14.22

$17.76 $17.76

-6.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 €2.65

$5.46 $5.46

-43.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 €2.00

$1.78 $1.78

30.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 €2.54

$4.32 $4.32

-31.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.62 €4.84

$6.42 $6.42

-12.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 €1.71

$3.69 $3.69

-46.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 €1.32

$2.58 $2.58

-40.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 €1.18

$2.21 $2.21

-38.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 €1.75

$2.23 $2.23

-8.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.93 €18.87

$11.83 $11.83

85.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 €12.15

$14.91 $14.91

-5.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 €3.03

$1.77 $1.77

98.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 €2.99

$3.19 $3.19

8.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

$2.95 $2.95

-19.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 €97.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 €4.67

$4.48 $4.48

21.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 €1.37

$2.11 $2.11

-24.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.29 €33.81

$27.91 $27.91

40.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 €1.83

$1.52 $1.52

40.13%

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

$40.8K €35.2K

$36.3K $36.3K

12.43%

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

$40.9K €35.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

55.66%

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

$271 €233

$212 $212

28.27%

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

$19.42 €16.71

$72.3 $72.3

-73.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 €47.65

$72.4 $72.4

-23.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.8 €60.9

$39.57 $39.57

78.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.26 €18.29

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 €13.08

$17.82 $17.82

-14.70%

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

$1,361 €1,171

$1,950 $1,950

-30.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K €12.6K

$35.7K $35.7K

-59.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 €94.6

$71.2 $71.2

54.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.5 €46.07

$57.8 $57.8

-7.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 €98.7

$112 $112

2.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 €112

$144 $144

-9.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,559 €2,202

$2,898 $2,898

-11.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 €1,988

$2,490 $2,490

-7.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,644 €3,997

$4,204 $4,204

10.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,506 €3,017

$4,602 $4,602

-23.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,855 €7,620

$7,127 $7,127

24.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,857 €5,040

$6,582 $6,582

-11.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,884 €3,342

$8,034 $8,034

-51.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.82

6.52

-41.41%

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

Last update for Dublin: August 29, 2026

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,559 in Dublin and $2,898 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 107% 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: $103 in Dublin vs $101 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $452, with Dublin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Dublin vs Aliso Viejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dublin and Aliso Viejo, CA differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($3,817 vs $3,988 including rent). Dublin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 107% lower in Aliso Viejo, CA. 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: $2,559 in Dublin versus $2,898 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,817 per month in Dublin versus $3,988 in Aliso Viejo, CA – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Dublin is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dublin and Aliso Viejo, CA 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 Dublin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.