Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Malahide Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Malahide

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,445 per month in Dublin vs $2,537 in Malahide, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,047 per month in Dublin vs $3,740 in Malahide, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,649 per month in Dublin vs $4,943 in Malahide, rent included.

Dublin costs about 36% more than Malahide, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dublin and Malahide sit above the global median – Dublin by 159%, Malahide by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.57 €20.55

$21.80 €19.01

8.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$105 €91.5

$109 €95.0

-3.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.52 €10.92

$10.44 €9.10

19.92%

Cappuccino

$4.80 €4.19

$4.15 €3.62

15.66%

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

$2.46 €2.14

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 €1.89

$1.89 €1.65

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 €6.85

$6.76 €5.89

16.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 €5.88

$6.32 €5.51

6.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 €1.44

$1.53 €1.33

8.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 €1.94

$2.11 €1.84

5.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 €1.74

$2.02 €1.76

-1.49%

Eggs

$4.79 €4.18

$4.25 €3.71

12.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 €9.62

$10.38 €9.05

6.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 €10.08

$11.12 €9.69

4.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.91 €12.12

$12.06 €10.51

15.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 €2.91

$2.87 €2.50

16.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 €1.85

$2.08 €1.81

1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 €2.47

$2.99 €2.61

-5.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 €4.70

$3.75 €3.27

43.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 €1.94

$2.24 €1.95

-0.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 €1.49

$1.51 €1.31

12.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 €1.18

$1.36 €1.19

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 €1.74

$1.93 €1.69

3.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.48 €17.85

$18.42 €16.06

11.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.66 €11.91

$13.79 €12.02

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 €3.08

$3.50 €3.05

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 €3.52

$3.76 €3.28

7.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 €1.98

$2.46 €2.15

-7.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.6 €85.1

$97.7 €85.1

-0.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 €4.69

$5.27 €4.59

1.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 €1.84

$1.93 €1.68

9.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.63 €34.55

$35.70 €31.13

11.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 €1.73

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

$42.5K €37.0K

$41.7K €36.3K

1.90%

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

$40.2K €35.0K

$38.7K €33.7K

3.87%

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

$280 €244

$212 €185

32.13%

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

$23.58 €20.56

$21.93 €19.12

7.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 €49.70

$50.8 €44.29

12.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 €52.8

$51.6 €45.01

17.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.71 €18.93

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 €12.96

$13.95 €12.16

6.59%

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

$1,375 €1,199

$1,043 €910

31.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,491 €8,274

$7,712 €6,724

23.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 €94.0

$89.2 €77.7

20.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 €43.60

$39.48 €34.42

26.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 €103

$101 €88.2

16.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 €113

$105 €91.4

23.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,359 €2,057

$1,470 €1,282

60.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 €1,747

$1,248 €1,088

60.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,105 €3,579

$2,404 €2,096

70.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,291 €2,869

$1,929 €1,682

70.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,249 €7,192

$4,434 €3,865

86.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,494 €4,789

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,879 €3,382

$5,612 €4,892

-30.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

4.53

-10.82%

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

Last update for Dublin: July 28, 2026

Last update for Malahide: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,359 in Dublin versus $1,470 in Malahide. 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 45% higher in Malahide, 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 $105 in Dublin versus $109 in Malahide. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Dublin vs $333 in Malahide – so Malahide wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Malahide: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,445 in Dublin, $2,537 in Malahide – roughly 36% apart. Dublin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,168 per month in Dublin and $3,805 in Malahide. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $105 in Dublin and $109 in Malahide. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,445 in Dublin and $2,537 in Malahide. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,445 in Dublin and $2,537 in Malahide. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Dublin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,537 in Malahide to $3,445 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 Malahide. 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.