Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dun Laoghaire and Athens

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens: $1,775 a month against $2,761 in Dun Laoghaire, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dun Laoghaire
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,761
/mo nomad
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dun Laoghaire and in Athens

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dun Laoghaire and in Athens actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,761 in Dun Laoghaire versus $1,775 in Athens.

  • Dun Laoghaire $2,761
  • Athens $1,775

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,416 in Dun Laoghaire versus $2,721 in Athens.

  • Dun Laoghaire $4,416
  • Athens $2,721

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,071 in Dun Laoghaire versus $3,666 in Athens.

  • Dun Laoghaire $6,071
  • Athens $3,666

Living in Dun Laoghaire is roughly 56% more expensive than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dun Laoghaire 105% above, Athens 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.06 €19.62
$16.69 €14.84
32.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 €90.3
$67.8 €60.3
49.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.49 €12.00
$11.14 €9.91
21.10%
Cappuccino
$4.97 €4.42
$4.03 €3.58
23.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.66
$2.77 €2.46
7.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 €1.98
$0.55 €0.49
305.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 €6.93
$5.74 €5.10
35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 €6.68
$5.45 €4.84
37.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 €1.43
$1.82 €1.62
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 €2.09
$1.38 €1.23
70.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.80 €2.49
-26.07%
Eggs
$4.20 €3.74
$4.83 €4.30
-13.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.95 €8.85
$15.05 €13.39
-33.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.07 €9.85
$10.63 €9.45
4.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.54 €12.04
$18.43 €16.39
-26.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 €2.51
$2.20 €1.96
28.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 €1.90
$1.90 €1.69
12.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 €2.47
$1.37 €1.22
102.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 €3.59
$2.10 €1.87
92.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 €1.71
$1.08 €0.96
78.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$1.12 €1.00
36.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 €1.17
$1.12 €1.00
16.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.64
$0.88 €0.79
109.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.35 €18.10
$5.48 €4.88
271.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.51 €12.01
$10.13 €9.01
33.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.32 €2.95
$2.13 €1.89
55.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 €3.12
$2.25 €2.00
56.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.31 €2.06
$1.36 €1.21
69.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.89 €26.59
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.09 €4.52
$4.45 €3.96
14.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 €1.27
$1.02 €0.90
40.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.78 €33.60
$16.92 €15.05
123.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.89
$2.25 €2.00
-5.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K €34.1K
$28.0K €24.9K
36.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K €33.3K
$28.2K €25.1K
32.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 €217
$205 €182
19.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.03 €16.03
$26.65 €23.70
-32.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2 €45.51
$30.38 €27.02
68.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.3 €51.9
$54.5 €48.46
7.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.88 €23.02
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.38 €13.68
$10.42 €9.27
47.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$989 €880
$569 €506
73.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,432 €4,831
$12.6K €11.2K
-56.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.0 €88.0
$88.7 €78.9
11.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.48 €42.23
$40.46 €35.99
17.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €99.2
$105 €93.3
6.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €116
$121 €108
7.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,470 €1,307
$741 €659
98.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 €1,312
$655 €582
125.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,599 €3,201
$1,300 €1,156
176.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,146 €2,798
$1,148 €1,021
174.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,014 €3,570
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,460 €3,078
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dun Laoghaire
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,296 €3,821
$1,242 €1,105
245.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
4.48
-14.73%

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

Last update for Dun Laoghaire: October 11, 2026

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dun Laoghaire
$1.5K
Athens
$655 55.6% $821
Eating Out
Dun Laoghaire
$351
Athens
$268 23.7% $83
Groceries & Markets
Dun Laoghaire
$336
Athens
$310 7.5% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dun Laoghaire
$313
Athens
$262 16.5% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Dun Laoghaire
$175
Athens
$160 8.6% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Dun Laoghaire
$89
Athens
$75 15.5% $14
Getting Around
Dun Laoghaire
$22 *
Athens
$45 109% $23

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,470 in Dun Laoghaire and $741 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dun Laoghaire pays 246% 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: $101 in Dun Laoghaire vs $68.0 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $310 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇪 Dun Laoghaire
🇬🇷 Athens
🕒 Local time
05:37 5:37 AM
07:37 7:37 AM
2 h ahead of Dun Laoghaire
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,761
3,090,508 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dun Laoghaire Athens 2,850 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dun Laoghaire
  • Athens

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Dun Laoghaire vs Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dun Laoghaire or Athens?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Dun Laoghaire. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dun Laoghaire or in Athens?
Average pay runs 246% higher in Dun Laoghaire, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dun Laoghaire compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,470 in Dun Laoghaire versus $741 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Dun Laoghaire and in Athens?
Childcare runs $989 in Dun Laoghaire versus $569 in Athens. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Dun Laoghaire and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $101 in Dun Laoghaire. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Dun Laoghaire or in Athens?
At $1,775 in Athens versus $2,761 in Dun Laoghaire, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Dun Laoghaire. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dun Laoghaire or Athens?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,775 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Dun Laoghaire compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Dun Laoghaire and Athens are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Athens gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Dun Laoghaire. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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