Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Arklow Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Arklow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,414 per month in Dublin vs $2,460 in Arklow, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,972 per month in Dublin vs $3,534 in Arklow, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,530 per month in Dublin vs $4,607 in Arklow, rent included.

Dublin costs about 39% more than Arklow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dublin and Arklow sit above the global median – Dublin by 155%, Arklow by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.50 €20.21

$17.69 €15.22

32.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 €88.9

$68.4 €58.8

51.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.95 €11.14

$11.02 €9.48

17.51%

Cappuccino

$4.58 €3.94

$4.31 €3.71

6.26%

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

$2.55 €2.20

$2.89 €2.49

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 €1.83

$2.26 €1.94

-6.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.28 €7.12

$6.07 €5.22

36.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 €5.99

$4.71 €4.05

47.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 €1.43

$1.58 €1.36

5.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 €1.92

$2.11 €1.82

5.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 €1.79

$0.97 €0.84

114.43%

Eggs

$4.83 €4.16

$4.22 €3.63

14.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 €9.49

$7.02 €6.04

57.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.35 €9.77

$8.41 €7.24

34.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.92 €11.98

$8.55 €7.35

62.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 €2.82

$1.77 €1.52

84.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 €1.76

$1.51 €1.30

35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 €2.57

$2.05 €1.76

45.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 €4.63

$2.63 €2.26

104.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 €1.84

$2.65 €2.28

-19.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 €1.48

$1.52 €1.31

13.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 €1.12

$1.18 €1.01

11.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 €1.79

$2.10 €1.81

-0.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.52 €17.65

$19.32 €16.62

6.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 €12.15

$13.74 €11.82

2.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.66 €3.14

$3.72 €3.20

-1.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 €3.42

$3.71 €3.19

7.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 €1.98

$2.37 €2.04

-2.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 €84.1

$100.0 €86.0

-2.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 €4.69

$5.24 €4.51

4.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 €1.76

$2.70 €2.32

-24.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.53 €34.01

$35.53 €30.56

11.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.77

$2.03 €1.74

1.48%

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

$43.3K €37.2K

$41.9K €36.1K

3.22%

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

$40.2K €34.6K

$39.3K €33.8K

2.46%

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

$285 €245

$241 €207

18.46%

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

$23.65 €20.34

$21.52 €18.51

9.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 €48.71

$49.00 €42.15

15.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.5 €51.2

$45.66 €39.28

30.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.34 €18.36

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 €12.73

$13.91 €11.96

6.40%

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

$1,331 €1,145

$1,361 €1,170

-2.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,690 €8,336

$7,325 €6,301

32.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 €91.0

$102 €87.9

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.56 €42.63

$48.56 €41.77

2.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 €102

$101 €86.9

16.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 €108

$114 €98.0

10.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,347 €2,019

$1,449 €1,247

61.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,969 €1,693

$1,242 €1,068

58.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 €3,548

$2,374 €2,042

73.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,292 €2,832

$1,986 €1,708

65.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,693 €7,478

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,643 €4,854

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,956 €3,403

$4,997 €4,298

-20.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

4.6

-12.17%

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

Last update for Dublin: May 30, 2026

Last update for Arklow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,347 in Dublin versus $1,449 in Arklow. 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 26% higher in Arklow, 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 $103 in Dublin versus $68.0 in Arklow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $280 – making Arklow 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

Dublin vs Arklow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,414 in Dublin, $2,460 in Arklow – roughly 39% apart. Dublin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,121 per month in Dublin and $3,691 in Arklow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arklow, 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 $3,414 in Dublin and $2,460 in Arklow. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Arklow. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Arklow, where all-in costs run around $2,460, than in Dublin at $3,414. In Arklow it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dublin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Dublin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,460 in Arklow to $3,414 in Dublin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Arklow. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dublin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.