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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,731 per month in Ireland vs $2,214 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,969 per month in Ireland vs $3,247 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,206 per month in Ireland vs $4,279 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Ireland is about 23% higher than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Ireland and Canada are pricier than the global median – Ireland by 99%, Canada by 61%.

Cost ranges are similar: Ireland spans $1,296$3,863, Canada $891$3,752. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.28 €20.08
$17.99 CA$24.99
29.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.2 €83.8
$71.3 CA$99.1
36.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.64 €10.90
$10.91 CA$15.16
15.86%
Cappuccino
$4.71 €4.06
$3.88 CA$5.39
21.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.48
$2.17 CA$3.02
32.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 €1.87
$1.67 CA$2.33
29.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 €6.15
$5.80 CA$8.06
22.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01 €6.05
$5.81 CA$8.08
20.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 €1.37
$2.19 CA$3.05
-27.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.75 CA$3.82
-19.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 €1.71
$3.69 CA$5.13
-46.34%
Eggs
$4.49 €3.87
$3.68 CA$5.11
22.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 €9.90
$10.83 CA$15.06
5.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.08 €10.42
$12.20 CA$16.95
-0.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.54 €12.54
$15.58 CA$21.65
-6.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 €2.74
$4.18 CA$5.81
-23.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.42 CA$1.97
63.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 €2.86
$4.02 CA$5.59
-17.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 €3.98
$4.17 CA$5.80
10.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 €1.88
$2.73 CA$3.79
-20.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 €1.40
$2.54 CA$3.53
-36.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 €1.23
$2.57 CA$3.57
-44.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.72 CA$2.39
22.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.96 €18.08
$14.43 CA$20.05
45.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.09 €12.15
$13.62 CA$18.92
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 €3.12
$2.90 CA$4.02
24.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 €3.30
$3.26 CA$4.53
17.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Ireland
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$2.48 CA$3.44
-4.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 €96.5
$74.9 CA$104
49.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.46 €4.71
$3.11 CA$4.32
75.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.48 CA$2.06
16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.21 €29.50
$27.37 CA$38.03
24.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.17 CA$1.63
83.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K €35.5K
$28.1K CA$39.1K
46.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.0K
$20.0K CA$27.8K
97.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 €218
$154 CA$214
63.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.81 €19.67
$43.31 CA$60.2
-47.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0 €48.26
$60.3 CA$83.8
-7.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.4 €50.4
$41.22 CA$57.3
41.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.41 €18.47
$20.08 CA$27.90
6.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.99 €12.06
$11.64 CA$16.18
20.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,200 €1,035
$782 CA$1,087
53.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K €10.5K
$14.8K CA$20.6K
-17.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €88.5
$54.9 CA$76.3
86.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.85 €42.14
$39.73 CA$55.2
22.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €92.9
$90.3 CA$125
19.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €104
$107 CA$148
13.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ireland
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,811 €1,562
$1,317 CA$1,830
37.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,387
$1,136 CA$1,578
41.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,910 €2,510
$2,089 CA$2,903
39.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,473 €2,133
$1,809 CA$2,514
36.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,961 €4,278
$4,846 CA$6,735
2.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,954 €3,410
$3,928 CA$5,458
0.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ireland
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,585 €3,092
$2,998 CA$4,166
19.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.86
-14.40%

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

Last update for Ireland: August 30, 2026

Last update for Canada: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,599 in Ireland vs $1,225 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,559 in Dublin and $1,501 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $3,455 in Ireland vs $2,968 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 31% higher in Ireland.

Dining out costs 36% more in Ireland.

Public transport is 59% more expensive in Ireland.

Salaries are 16% 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 11% 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 11% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to 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.

Ireland vs other spots: cost of living compared

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