Cost of Living Comparison Between Ireland and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Ireland and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,592 per month in Ireland vs $2,316 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,732 per month in Ireland vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,872 per month in Ireland vs $4,436 in Canada, rent included.

Ireland costs about 12% more than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Ireland and Canada are pricier than the global median – Ireland by 93%, Canada by 73%.

Both countries show comparable internal variation: Ireland spans $1,818$3,663, Canada spans $1,310$3,100. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.10 €18.15
$18.44 CA$25.53
14.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.1 €80.1
$74.5 CA$103
24.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 €10.04
$10.88 CA$15.07
7.35%
Cappuccino
$4.48 €3.85
$3.90 CA$5.39
14.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 €2.27
$2.16 CA$2.99
22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.80
$1.73 CA$2.40
21.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 €5.90
$5.74 CA$7.94
19.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 €5.46
$6.05 CA$8.37
4.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 €1.32
$2.20 CA$3.05
-30.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 €1.84
$2.75 CA$3.81
-22.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 €1.67
$3.66 CA$5.07
-46.72%
Eggs
$4.21 €3.62
$3.63 CA$5.03
15.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.45 €8.99
$11.72 CA$16.22
-10.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.64 €10.01
$12.28 CA$17.01
-5.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 €11.31
$14.88 CA$20.60
-11.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 €2.63
$4.14 CA$5.73
-26.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 €1.84
$1.45 CA$2.01
47.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 €2.69
$3.79 CA$5.25
-17.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.57 €3.93
$4.09 CA$5.66
11.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 €1.93
$2.73 CA$3.78
-17.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 €1.36
$2.77 CA$3.83
-42.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 €1.14
$2.62 CA$3.62
-49.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.87 CA$2.59
3.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.81 €17.04
$14.79 CA$20.48
33.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.88 €11.94
$13.08 CA$18.11
6.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35 €2.88
$3.03 CA$4.19
10.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 €3.23
$3.41 CA$4.72
10.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Ireland
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.03
$2.52 CA$3.49
-6.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.1 €83.5
$77.9 CA$108
24.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 €5.06
$3.49 CA$4.83
68.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.48 CA$2.04
42.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.36 €32.14
$28.25 CA$39.12
32.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.15 CA$1.59
73.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.9K €36.0K
$25.4K CA$35.2K
64.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K €34.7K
$20.6K CA$28.6K
95.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$244 €210
$155 CA$214
57.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.32 €20.06
$45.76 CA$63.4
-49.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 €46.34
$62.2 CA$86.1
-13.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.3 €47.52
$43.67 CA$60.5
26.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.19 €19.09
$18.14 CA$25.11
22.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.02 €12.06
$11.38 CA$15.76
23.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,243 €1,069
$798 CA$1,104
55.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,955 €7,703
$12.1K CA$16.8K
-26.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.7 €83.2
$56.8 CA$78.7
70.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.53 €40.03
$42.19 CA$58.4
10.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €89.3
$87.9 CA$122
18.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €96.9
$106 CA$147
5.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ireland
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,865 €1,604
$1,359 CA$1,882
37.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 €1,373
$1,204 CA$1,667
32.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,137 €2,698
$2,136 CA$2,957
46.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,516 €2,164
$1,860 CA$2,575
35.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,059 €4,352
$4,642 CA$6,427
9.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,950 €3,398
$3,852 CA$5,333
2.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,548 €3,052
$3,029 CA$4,194
17.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
6.33
-29.38%

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

Last update for Ireland: June 1, 2026

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,524 in Ireland vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,347 in Dublin and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $3,487 in Ireland vs $2,972 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 19% higher in Ireland.

Dining out costs 31% more in Ireland.

Public transport is 58% more expensive in Ireland.

Salaries are 17% higher in Ireland.

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
Ireland vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Ireland?
Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 24% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Ireland, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Ireland consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Canada, contributing to the overall 24% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or Ireland?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in Ireland it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or Ireland?
Canada is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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