Cost of Living Comparison Between Portlaoise and Dublin Cost of Living Comparison Between Portlaoise and Dublin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,503 per month in Portlaoise vs $3,414 in Dublin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,575 per month in Portlaoise vs $4,972 in Dublin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,647 per month in Portlaoise vs $6,530 in Dublin, rent included.

Portlaoise is about 27% cheaper than Dublin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Portlaoise and Dublin sit above the global median – Portlaoise by 87%, Dublin by 155%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 €16.10

$23.50 €20.21

-20.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.2 €60.4

$103 €88.9

-32.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 €9.13

$12.95 €11.14

-17.99%

Cappuccino

$4.25 €3.66

$4.58 €3.94

-7.21%

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

$2.44 €2.10

$2.55 €2.20

-4.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 €1.40

$2.12 €1.83

-23.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.74 €5.80

$8.28 €7.12

-18.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 €4.96

$6.96 €5.99

-17.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 €1.25

$1.66 €1.43

-12.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 €0.91

$2.23 €1.92

-52.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 €1.85

$2.08 €1.79

3.85%

Eggs

$3.92 €3.37

$4.83 €4.16

-18.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.59 €2.23

$11.04 €9.49

-76.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 €9.12

$11.35 €9.77

-6.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 €9.80

$13.92 €11.98

-18.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 €2.55

$3.27 €2.82

-9.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 €1.74

$2.05 €1.76

-1.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 €2.44

$2.99 €2.57

-5.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 €3.06

$5.38 €4.63

-33.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 €1.24

$2.14 €1.84

-32.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 €1.21

$1.73 €1.48

-18.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 €1.19

$1.31 €1.12

6.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 €1.44

$2.08 €1.79

-19.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.18 €14.78

$20.52 €17.65

-16.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.75 €11.83

$14.12 €12.15

-2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.80 €4.13

$3.66 €3.14

31.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 €4.21

$3.97 €3.42

23.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 €2.04

$2.30 €1.98

3.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.3 €84.6

$97.8 €84.1

0.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 €4.22

$5.46 €4.69

-10.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 €2.29

$2.04 €1.76

30.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.46 €37.39

$39.53 €34.01

9.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.79

$2.06 €1.77

1.46%

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

$42.5K €36.6K

$43.3K €37.2K

-1.69%

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

$38.9K €33.5K

$40.2K €34.6K

-3.22%

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

$283 €244

$285 €245

-0.55%

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

$21.90 €18.83

$23.65 €20.34

-7.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 €46.79

$56.6 €48.71

-3.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 €45.46

$59.5 €51.2

-11.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.34 €18.36

Cinema Ticket

$10.84 €9.32

$14.80 €12.73

-26.76%

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

$1,062 €914

$1,331 €1,145

-20.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,030 €6,908

$9,690 €8,336

-17.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.8 €77.3

$106 €91.0

-15.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.86 €33.43

$49.56 €42.63

-21.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 €85.4

$118 €102

-15.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 €92.9

$126 €108

-14.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 €1,281

$2,347 €2,019

-36.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,249 €1,074

$1,969 €1,693

-36.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,345 €2,017

$4,125 €3,548

-43.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,946 €1,674

$3,292 €2,832

-40.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,693 €7,478

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,643 €4,854

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,210 €2,761

$3,956 €3,403

-18.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.04

18.81%

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

Last update for Portlaoise: June 1, 2026

Last update for Dublin: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in Portlaoise versus $2,347 in Dublin. 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 23% higher in Dublin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Portlaoise versus $103 in Dublin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $360 – making Portlaoise 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

Portlaoise vs Dublin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,503 in Portlaoise, $3,414 in Dublin – roughly 36% apart. Dublin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,754 per month in Portlaoise and $5,121 in Dublin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Portlaoise, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Portlaoise and $103 in Dublin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,503 in Portlaoise and $3,414 in Dublin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,503 in Portlaoise and $3,414 in Dublin. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Dublin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,503 in Portlaoise to $3,414 in Dublin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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