Cost of Living Comparison Between Mullingar and Cork Cost of Living Comparison Between Mullingar and Cork

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Mullingar versus $2,976 in Cork.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,818 in Mullingar versus $4,449 in Cork.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,973 in Mullingar versus $5,921 in Cork.

Living in Mullingar costs roughly 11% less than in Cork, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mullingar 99% above, Cork 122% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.18 €18.13
$21.02 €17.99
0.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.2 €80.6
$96.1 €82.3
-2.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.44 €9.80
$11.60 €9.93
-1.38%
Cappuccino
$4.67 €4.00
$4.71 €4.03
-0.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.42
$2.91 €2.49
-2.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €1.94
$2.17 €1.86
4.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 €5.93
$6.80 €5.82
1.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90 €5.91
$7.00 €6.00
-1.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 €1.36
$1.55 €1.33
2.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 €1.81
$2.06 €1.76
2.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 €1.96
$2.20 €1.88
4.55%
Eggs
$4.17 €3.57
$4.34 €3.72
-3.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.79 €10.09
$11.70 €10.01
0.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.26 €10.49
$12.58 €10.77
-2.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.91 €12.76
$14.81 €12.67
0.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 €2.84
$3.42 €2.93
-3.22%
Banana (1kg)
$3.16 €2.71
$3.17 €2.72
-0.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 €3.17
$3.71 €3.17
-0.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.57 €4.76
$5.43 €4.65
2.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 €2.37
$2.74 €2.35
1.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 €1.83
$2.19 €1.88
-2.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 €1.43
$1.64 €1.40
1.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.84
$2.07 €1.77
3.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.21 €14.73
$20.02 €17.14
-14.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.98 €11.11
$14.27 €12.22
-9.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.75 €3.21
$3.75 €3.21
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 €3.11
$3.73 €3.19
-2.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 €2.12
$2.40 €2.06
3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 €84.1
$97.9 €83.8
0.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.72 €4.04
$5.08 €4.35
-7.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.69 €2.31
$2.77 €2.37
-2.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.59 €30.46
$34.88 €29.86
2.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.74
$2.08 €1.78
-2.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.6K €36.4K
$43.2K €37.0K
-1.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K €34.6K
$40.4K €34.5K
0.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.8 €77.7
$242 €207
-62.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.72 €18.59
$21.87 €18.72
-0.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.63 €34.78
$48.44 €41.46
-16.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.97 €40.20
$66.9 €57.3
-29.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.50 €9.84
$35.17 €30.11
-67.30%
Cinema Ticket
$13.69 €11.72
$13.76 €11.78
-0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,339 €1,146
$1,326 €1,135
0.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,247 €6,203
$7,226 €6,186
0.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €88.0
$102 €87.7
0.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 €42.82
$48.75 €41.73
2.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.7 €84.5
$101 €86.8
-2.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €99.8
$115 €98.5
1.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 €1,487
$1,786 €1,529
-2.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 €1,171
$1,534 €1,313
-10.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,145 €1,836
$3,189 €2,730
-32.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,936 €1,657
$2,660 €2,277
-27.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,153 €3,555
$5,038 €4,312
-17.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,931 €3,365
$3,224 €2,760
21.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mullingar
Cork
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,710 €2,320
$4,070 €3,484
-33.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
4.6
-

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

Last update for Mullingar: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cork: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,737 in Mullingar and $1,786 in Cork. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cork pays 50% 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: $94.0 in Mullingar vs $96.0 in Cork for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $382 per month, with Mullingar 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
Mullingar vs Cork: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mullingar and Cork?
Mullingar and Cork differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,663 vs $2,976 including rent). Mullingar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Cork earns 50% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mullingar and Cork?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,737 in Mullingar versus $1,786 in Cork. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Cork. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mullingar – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $96.0 in Cork. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Mullingar is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Mullingar and Cork?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mullingar or Cork safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mullingar and Cork are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mullingar or Cork?
Expats usually find Mullingar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Cork. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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