Cost of Living Comparison Between Galway and Donegal Cost of Living Comparison Between Galway and Donegal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,391 per month in Galway vs $1,927 in Donegal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,706 per month in Galway vs $2,790 in Donegal, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,020 per month in Galway vs $3,654 in Donegal, rent included.

Galway costs about 76% more than Donegal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Galway and Donegal sit above the global median – Galway by 148%, Donegal by 41%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.91 €19.97

$15.04 €13.11

52.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 €102

$86.1 €75.1

35.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.05 €14.86

$7.12 €6.21

139.47%

Cappuccino

$5.12 €4.46

$3.21 €2.80

59.50%

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

$3.04 €2.65

$1.69 €1.48

79.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 €1.97

$1.15 €1.00

96.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.00 €6.97

$7.39 €6.44

8.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 €6.05

$6.72 €5.86

3.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 €1.42

$1.75 €1.53

-6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 €2.14

$1.92 €1.67

27.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 €1.96

$1.87 €1.63

20.32%

Eggs

$4.51 €3.93

$3.55 €3.09

27.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 €14.90

$8.21 €7.16

108.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.14 €9.71

$13.33 €11.62

-16.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 €12.27

$13.98 €12.19

0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 €2.76

$2.24 €1.95

41.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

$1.64 €1.43

43.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 €2.79

$1.37 €1.19

133.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 €3.65

$4.30 €3.75

-2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 €1.81

$1.37 €1.20

51.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 €1.36

$2.91 €2.54

-46.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 €1.15

$1.35 €1.18

-2.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 €1.72

$2.04 €1.78

-3.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.03 €18.33

$21.58 €18.81

-2.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 €12.36

$17.21 €15.00

-17.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.22 €3.68

$3.04 €2.65

38.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 €4.08

$2.84 €2.48

64.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 €1.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.6 €54.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 €4.66

$5.71 €4.98

-6.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 €1.28

$1.54 €1.34

-5.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$58.5 €51.0

$70.6 €61.6

-17.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.20 €1.92

$2.04 €1.78

7.84%

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

$40.4K €35.2K

$40.7K €35.4K

-0.63%

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

$37.6K €32.8K

$39.2K €34.1K

-4.06%

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

$246 €215

$172 €150

42.70%

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

$23.03 €20.07

$21.63 €18.86

6.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 €45.48

$45.49 €39.65

14.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.21 €39.41

$58.8 €51.3

-23.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.37 €20.38

Cinema Ticket

$17.46 €15.22

$11.60 €10.12

50.52%

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

$1,056 €920

$863 €752

22.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,305 €2,009

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.7

$76.0 €66.2

35.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.26 €42.94

$36.92 €32.18

33.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 €101

$88.2 €76.9

31.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €105

$99.6 €86.8

20.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,310 €2,014

$1,141 €995

102.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 €1,766

$850 €741

138.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,726 €3,248

$1,643 €1,432

126.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,813 €2,453

$1,313 €1,144

114.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,191 €5,397

$1,750 €1,526

253.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,786 €4,172

$1,141 €994

319.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,001 €2,616

$4,364 €3,804

-31.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.68

3.6

2.22%

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

Last update for Galway: September 14, 2026

Last update for Donegal: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,310 in Galway versus $1,141 in Donegal. 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 Donegal, 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 $117 in Galway versus $86.0 in Donegal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $335 – making Donegal 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

Galway vs Donegal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Galway is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,087 per month in Galway and $2,890 in Donegal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Donegal, 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 $3,391 in Galway and $1,927 in Donegal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,056 per month in Galway and $863 in Donegal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Donegal, where all-in costs run around $1,927, than in Galway at $3,391. In Donegal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Galway it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Donegal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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