🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,477 in Dublin versus $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,104 in Dublin versus $5,539 in Aliso Viejo, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,732 in Dublin versus $7,265 in Aliso Viejo, CA.
🌍Living in Dublin costs roughly 9% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dublin160% above, Aliso Viejo, CA185% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.54€20.62
$25.06$25.06
-6.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104€90.9
$99.4$99.4
4.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.55€10.99
$11.07$11.07
13.37%
Cappuccino
$4.60€4.03
$5.57$5.57
-17.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47€2.16
$2.86$2.86
-13.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.93
$2.25$2.25
-2.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.93€6.95
$8.65$8.65
-8.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81€5.97
$8.92$8.92
-23.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74€1.52
$1.19$1.19
46.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.85
$4.31$4.31
-51.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02€1.77
$4.57$4.57
-55.80%
Eggs
$4.73€4.14
$4.39$4.39
7.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.06€9.69
$12.35$12.35
-10.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.36€9.95
$11.74$11.74
-3.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.10€12.35
$14.30$14.30
-1.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18€2.78
$6.54$6.54
-51.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.88
$1.89$1.89
13.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98€2.61
$3.79$3.79
-21.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.42€4.74
$4.87$4.87
11.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.89
$3.04$3.04
-29.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$2.45$2.45
-26.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.18
$1.91$1.91
-29.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.82
$2.07$2.07
0.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.73€18.16
$10.52$10.52
97.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.41€11.75
$15.07$15.07
-11.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.69€3.23
$1.84$1.84
100.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05€3.54
$3.15$3.15
28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.05
$2.97$2.97
-21.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.8€83.9
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.27€4.62
$3.98$3.98
32.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.81
$2.09$2.09
-0.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.57€34.66
$29.68$29.68
33.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.29$1.29
61.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K€37.4K
$28.1K$28.1K
51.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K€34.9K
$26.5K$26.5K
50.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$277€243
$183$183
51.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.09€21.11
$55.4$55.4
-56.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2€51.0
$70.6$70.6
-17.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.3€52.0
$49.32$49.32
20.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.00€19.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.08€13.22
$18.21$18.21
-17.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,373€1,203
$1,786$1,786
-23.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,624€8,431
$24.0K$24.0K
-59.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107€93.4
$61.7$61.7
72.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.05€42.98
$46.37$46.37
5.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€102
$101$101
15.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€114
$151$151
-13.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,367€2,073
$2,847$2,847
-16.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,957€1,715
$2,523$2,523
-22.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,119€3,609
$4,134$4,134
-0.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,362€2,945
$4,160$4,160
-19.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,219€7,200
$6,973$6,973
17.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,445€4,771
$6,462$6,462
-15.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dublin
Aliso Viejo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,857€3,379
$8,045$8,045
-52.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.04
6.49
-37.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dublin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,367 in Dublin and $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aliso Viejo, CA pays 109% 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: $104 in Dublin vs $99.0 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $359 vs $405, 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Dublin and in Aliso Viejo, CA?
Dublin and Aliso Viejo, CA differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($3,477 vs $3,813 including rent). Dublin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 109% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Dublin and in Aliso Viejo, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,367 in Dublin versus $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dublin or Aliso Viejo, CA?
All in, you'll spend $3,477 per month in Dublin versus $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Dublin and Aliso Viejo, CA?
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.
Is Dublin or Aliso Viejo, CA safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Dublin or Aliso Viejo, CA?
Expats usually find Dublin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.