Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Wicklow Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Wicklow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,414 per month in Dublin vs $2,734 in Wicklow, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,972 per month in Dublin vs $4,059 in Wicklow, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,530 per month in Dublin vs $5,384 in Wicklow, rent included.

Dublin costs about 25% more than Wicklow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dublin and Wicklow sit above the global median – Dublin by 155%, Wicklow by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.50 €20.21

$17.60 €15.14

33.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$103 €88.9

$94.8 €81.6

8.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.95 €11.14

$10.50 €9.03

23.33%

Cappuccino

$4.58 €3.94

$4.38 €3.76

4.57%

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

$2.55 €2.20

$2.33 €2.00

9.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 €1.83

$1.60 €1.38

32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.28 €7.12

$6.87 €5.91

20.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 €5.99

$5.66 €4.87

22.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 €1.43

$1.27 €1.09

30.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 €1.92

$1.92 €1.65

16.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 €1.79

$2.22 €1.91

-6.31%

Eggs

$4.83 €4.16

$4.06 €3.50

18.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 €9.49

$12.35 €10.62

-10.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.35 €9.77

$10.52 €9.05

7.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.92 €11.98

$9.82 €8.44

41.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 €2.82

$3.01 €2.59

8.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 €1.76

$2.10 €1.81

-2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 €2.57

$2.75 €2.36

8.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 €4.63

$3.45 €2.96

55.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 €1.84

$1.38 €1.19

55.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 €1.48

$1.40 €1.20

23.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 €1.12

$1.42 €1.22

-7.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 €1.79

$1.61 €1.38

29.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.52 €17.65

$18.75 €16.13

9.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 €12.15

$14.11 €12.14

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.66 €3.14

$2.29 €1.97

59.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 €3.42

$3.39 €2.91

17.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 €1.98

$2.42 €2.08

-4.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 €84.1

$100 €86.1

-2.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 €4.69

$2.53 €2.18

115.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 €1.76

$2.66 €2.28

-23.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.53 €34.01

$33.59 €28.90

17.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.77

$2.08 €1.79

-0.96%

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

$43.3K €37.2K

$33.9K €29.2K

27.57%

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

$40.2K €34.6K

$39.7K €34.2K

1.36%

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

$285 €245

$281 €241

1.56%

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

$23.65 €20.34

$21.86 €18.80

8.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.6 €48.71

$49.58 €42.65

14.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.5 €51.2

$61.4 €52.8

-3.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.34 €18.36

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 €12.73

$14.15 €12.18

4.59%

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

$1,331 €1,145

$1,042 €896

27.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,690 €8,336

$8,045 €6,920

20.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 €91.0

$89.9 €77.3

17.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.56 €42.63

$39.98 €34.39

23.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 €102

$93.4 €80.3

26.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 €108

$106 €91.3

18.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,347 €2,019

$1,756 €1,511

33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,969 €1,693

$1,396 €1,201

41.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,125 €3,548

$3,170 €2,727

30.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,292 €2,832

$2,468 €2,123

33.41%

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

$5,688 €4,893

-30.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.77

7.16%

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

Last update for Dublin: May 30, 2026

Last update for Wicklow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,347 in Dublin versus $1,756 in Wicklow. 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 44% higher in Wicklow, 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 $95.0 in Wicklow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $310 – making Wicklow 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 Wicklow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,414 in Dublin, $2,734 in Wicklow – roughly 25% apart. Dublin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,121 per month in Dublin and $4,101 in Wicklow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wicklow, 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 $103 in Dublin and $95.0 in Wicklow. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,414 in Dublin and $2,734 in Wicklow. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,414 in Dublin and $2,734 in Wicklow. 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 $2,734 in Wicklow 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 Wicklow. 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.