Cost of Living Comparison Between Galway and Ennis Cost of Living Comparison Between Galway and Ennis

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,025 in Galway versus $2,450 in Ennis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,255 in Galway versus $3,427 in Ennis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,485 in Galway versus $4,404 in Ennis.

Living in Galway is roughly 23% more expensive than Ennis, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Galway 126% above, Ennis 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.83 €16.12
$17.15 €14.68
9.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.4 €80.8
$86.5 €74.1
9.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.50 €8.98
$11.42 €9.77
-8.06%
Cappuccino
$4.38 €3.75
$4.03 €3.45
8.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 €2.06
$2.43 €2.08
-1.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 €1.39
$1.60 €1.37
1.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 €5.88
$6.57 €5.62
4.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55 €5.61
$6.82 €5.84
-3.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 €1.30
$1.38 €1.18
10.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 €2.16
$2.02 €1.73
24.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 €1.83
$1.69 €1.45
26.63%
Eggs
$4.07 €3.49
$4.35 €3.72
-6.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.77 €10.93
$7.01 €6.00
82.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.37 €8.88
$11.70 €10.01
-11.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.80 €10.10
$15.11 €12.94
-21.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 €2.58
$1.14 €0.97
164.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 €1.78
$1.69 €1.45
23.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 €2.40
$3.68 €3.15
-23.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 €2.91
$5.53 €4.73
-38.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 €1.24
$2.77 €2.37
-47.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 €1.21
$2.13 €1.82
-33.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.24
$1.61 €1.38
-9.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.43
$1.18 €1.01
41.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.49 €16.68
$17.46 €14.95
11.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.60 €12.50
$14.18 €12.14
2.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.79 €4.10
$3.86 €3.31
24.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 €4.36
$3.77 €3.22
35.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Galway
Ennis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.96
$2.93 €2.51
-22.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.9 €59.0
$57.0 €48.78
20.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 €4.26
$5.24 €4.49
-5.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 €1.18
$2.13 €1.82
-35.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.55 €37.28
$35.91 €30.74
21.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.71
$2.01 €1.72
-0.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.1K €36.1K
$39.0K €33.4K
7.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K €34.0K
$28.0K €24.0K
42.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 €240
$247 €212
13.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.99 €18.82
$17.08 €14.62
28.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 €46.97
$38.84 €33.24
41.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.5 €48.36
$64.6 €55.3
-12.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.74 €7.48
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 €12.11
$14.13 €12.10
0.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,057 €905
$1,351 €1,157
-21.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,993 €6,842
$7,398 €6,333
8.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9 €78.7
$105 €89.6
-12.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82 €34.08
$49.26 €42.17
-19.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €86.7
$100 €85.8
1.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €92.3
$115 €98.5
-6.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galway
Ennis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,024 €1,733
$1,335 €1,143
51.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 €1,471
$1,172 €1,003
46.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,303 €2,828
$2,282 €1,953
44.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 €2,216
$1,550 €1,327
66.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,276 €5,373
$3,585 €3,069
75.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,813 €4,120
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Galway
Ennis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,219 €2,755
$3,795 €3,248
-15.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.6
4.35%

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

Last update for Galway: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ennis: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,024 in Galway and $1,335 in Ennis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ennis pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $94.0 in Galway vs $87.0 in Ennis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $330 per month, with Ennis cheaper across the board.

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 Ennis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ennis cheaper than Galway?
Ennis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Galway or Ennis?
On paper, Ennis earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Galway and Ennis?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,024 in Galway versus $1,335 in Ennis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Galway and Ennis?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Galway. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Galway or Ennis?
Dining out is cheaper in Ennis – a meal for two runs $87.0 versus $94.0 in Galway. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Galway or Ennis?
At $2,450 in Ennis versus $3,025 in Galway, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ennis but tight or insufficient in Galway. The gap between the two cities makes Ennis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Galway or Ennis more family-friendly?
For families, Ennis is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Galway, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Galway or Ennis?
Safety-wise, Galway and Ennis 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ennis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Galway. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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