Cost of Living Comparison Between Wicklow and Dublin Cost of Living Comparison Between Wicklow and Dublin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,734 per month in Wicklow vs $3,414 in Dublin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,059 per month in Wicklow vs $4,972 in Dublin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,384 per month in Wicklow vs $6,530 in Dublin, rent included.

Wicklow is about 20% cheaper than Dublin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Wicklow and Dublin sit above the global median – Wicklow by 104%, Dublin by 155%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.60 €15.14
$23.50 €20.21
-25.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.8 €81.6
$103 €88.9
-8.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.50 €9.03
$12.95 €11.14
-18.92%
Cappuccino
$4.38 €3.76
$4.58 €3.94
-4.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €2.00
$2.55 €2.20
-8.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 €1.38
$2.12 €1.83
-24.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 €5.91
$8.28 €7.12
-17.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.66 €4.87
$6.96 €5.99
-18.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.66 €1.43
-23.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.92 €1.65
$2.23 €1.92
-13.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.08 €1.79
6.73%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.50
$4.83 €4.16
-15.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.35 €10.62
$11.04 €9.49
11.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 €9.05
$11.35 €9.77
-7.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.82 €8.44
$13.92 €11.98
-29.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 €2.59
$3.27 €2.82
-7.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 €1.81
$2.05 €1.76
2.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 €2.36
$2.99 €2.57
-8.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 €2.96
$5.38 €4.63
-35.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 €1.19
$2.14 €1.84
-35.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 €1.20
$1.73 €1.48
-19.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 €1.22
$1.31 €1.12
8.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.38
$2.08 €1.79
-22.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.75 €16.13
$20.52 €17.65
-8.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.11 €12.14
$14.12 €12.15
-0.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$3.66 €3.14
-37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.91
$3.97 €3.42
-14.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 €2.08
$2.30 €1.98
5.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 €86.1
$97.8 €84.1
2.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 €2.18
$5.46 €4.69
-53.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 €2.28
$2.04 €1.76
30.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.59 €28.90
$39.53 €34.01
-15.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.79
$2.06 €1.77
0.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K €29.2K
$43.3K €37.2K
-21.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K €34.2K
$40.2K €34.6K
-1.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$281 €241
$285 €245
-1.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.86 €18.80
$23.65 €20.34
-7.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.58 €42.65
$56.6 €48.71
-12.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.4 €52.8
$59.5 €51.2
3.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.34 €18.36
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 €12.18
$14.80 €12.73
-4.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,042 €896
$1,331 €1,145
-21.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,045 €6,920
$9,690 €8,336
-16.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 €77.3
$106 €91.0
-15.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.98 €34.39
$49.56 €42.63
-19.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 €80.3
$118 €102
-20.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €91.3
$126 €108
-15.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,756 €1,511
$2,347 €2,019
-25.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,396 €1,201
$1,969 €1,693
-29.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,170 €2,727
$4,125 €3,548
-23.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,468 €2,123
$3,292 €2,832
-25.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,693 €7,478
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,643 €4,854
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wicklow
Dublin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,688 €4,893
$3,956 €3,403
43.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.77
4.04
-6.68%

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

Last update for Wicklow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dublin: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,756 in Wicklow 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 44% higher in Wicklow, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Wicklow versus $103 in Dublin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $310 vs $360 – making Wicklow 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
Wicklow vs Dublin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Wicklow and Dublin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,734 in Wicklow, $3,414 in Dublin – roughly 25% apart. Dublin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Wicklow compared to Dublin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,101 per month in Wicklow and $5,121 in Dublin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Wicklow and Dublin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Wicklow, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Wicklow and $103 in Dublin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Wicklow or Dublin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,734 in Wicklow and $3,414 in Dublin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,734 in Wicklow and $3,414 in Dublin. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Wicklow and Dublin?
It depends on your priorities. Dublin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,734 in Wicklow to $3,414 in Dublin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Wicklow or Dublin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Wicklow and Dublin?
If budget matters most, go with Wicklow. 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.

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