Every year a steady stream of Londoners head west across the Irish Sea. Some follow a job in Dublin’s tech and finance corridor around Grand Canal Dock, some finally use the Irish passport they inherited, and plenty are simply tired of London prices. The Common Travel Area means British and Irish citizens can live and work in either country without a visa, which removes the biggest headache of most international moves.
What it does not remove is the cost. Dublin is not a cheap escape from London; in several categories it is just as expensive. The good news is that the costs are predictable if you know where to look.
Rent: the number that decides everything
Dublin’s rental market has been one of the tightest in Europe for the best part of a decade. Daft.ie’s rent reports have put average asking rents in the capital well above €2,000 a month, and a one-bed in Ranelagh, Portobello or Smithfield can cost more. Once you convert currencies, the headline is less ‘Dublin is cheaper’ and more ‘Dublin is not a discount’.
The bigger difference is supply. Viewings for reasonably priced flats can attract dozens of people, and many newcomers spend their first month in a short-let or a friend’s spare room while they hunt. Budget for that: a month of short-term accommodation can cost as much as two months of normal rent.
Irish law now caps what a landlord can take up front at one month’s deposit plus one month in advance, so have two months’ rent ready before you sign. Ask whether the tenancy is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, and never pay for a flat you have not seen in person or on a live video call — rental scams aimed at people relocating are well documented. Arrive with a renter’s pack: a London landlord reference, payslips or a job offer, and a copy of your passport. The tenant who sends everything within ten minutes of a viewing often wins.
Getting around: Leap versus Oyster
Dublin’s answer to Oyster is the Leap card, and it is worth getting on day one. It works across Dublin Bus, the Luas, DART and commuter rail, and is consistently cheaper than cash. Instead of zones, Dublin uses a 90-minute fare: tap on, and you can change between bus, Luas and most city DART journeys for a single fare of around €2, with daily and weekly caps. Check Transport for Ireland for current prices, but most commuters find their transport spend drops compared with London.
The network is less dense, though. There is no Underground, and a journey that would be one Tube ride can involve a bus, a walk and a wait. Many Dubliners cycle, and a second-hand bike can pay for itself within a couple of months. Late-night options are thinner than the Night Tube, so factor in the occasional taxi home.
Banking and your phone
Ulster Bank and KBC have both left Ireland, leaving AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB as the main high-street banks. Opening an account usually needs proof of address — the classic relocation catch-22. The key document is your Personal Public Service (PPS) number, roughly Ireland’s National Insurance number, applied for through MyWelfare. Without it you risk emergency tax, so start as soon as you have a fixed address. Many newcomers use Revolut or another app bank in the meantime, and keep their UK account open for at least a year for trailing direct debits and tax rebates. The same address-and-ID checks follow you everywhere, from energy suppliers to licensed betting and casino sites, which run identity verification before any withdrawal; independent guides such as Casinoireland.com explain what Irish-facing operators ask for, so it is worth having your PPS number and proof of address saved on your phone.
Since Brexit, most UK networks charge daily fees for EU roaming. Buy an Irish SIM from Three, Vodafone, Eir or a cheaper SIM-only brand in your first week, keep your UK number on the cheapest plan for bank security codes, and enjoy EU roaming included on your new Irish plan.
Healthcare and the quiet costs
Ireland has no free-at-the-point-of-use GP system for everyone. Most adults pay roughly €60 to €80 per visit unless they qualify for a medical card, so ask about employer health insurance through VHI, Laya or Irish Life Health when you negotiate a job offer. Add bin charges billed by private operators, higher electricity prices and groceries that run slightly above London’s, and the small things add up. Aldi, Lidl and the weekend food markets help.
Leisure habits travel with people, and one that surprises London arrivals is gambling. London has its Mayfair casinos and a bookmaker on every other corner; Dublin has no resort casinos, and its betting culture centres on bookmakers, racing at Leopardstown and the Curragh, and increasingly on phones. Ireland is in the middle of a long-overdue overhaul of the rules, so anyone who likes a flutter should understand the landscape before signing up with an Irish address. For those comparing sites licensed elsewhere in Europe, it helps to start from a shortlist of the best EU casinos with clear licensing — the licensing detail matters more than the welcome offer. Ireland’s new Gambling Regulatory Authority is now responsible for licensing and oversight, so it is worth checking which protections apply before you deposit. The sensible approach is the same as in London: set a monthly entertainment budget and stop when it is gone.
Nights out, and nights in
This is where Dublin earns its reputation — and where it can quietly drain your wallet. A pint in an ordinary pub is not wildly different from central London, but Temple Bar charges tourist prices. Locals drink in Stoneybatter, Rathmines, Phibsborough and along Camden Street. Live trad sessions are often free, and the Abbey, the Gate and the Dublin Fringe Festival give the city a cultural life far bigger than its size.
Nights in are where newcomers claw money back. Dubliners host well, and five-a-side, GAA clubs that welcome beginners, sea swimming at the Forty Foot and walks in the Dublin Mountains cost very little and are where real friendships form.
What a first-year budget looks like
Plan a relocation float of roughly two months’ rent for deposit and advance, plus a month of temporary accommodation and a few hundred euros for basics. Add a buffer for emergency tax before your PPS number is sorted. Month to month, rent will dominate; transport and phone bills should fall; healthcare and utilities may rise. Keep a small pot for flights home too — Dublin–London fares are cheap booked early but climb fast around Christmas and bank holidays.
Is it worth it?
For most people, yes — but rarely for financial reasons. Dublin offers a smaller, friendlier city, the sea on your doorstep and a working culture many Londoners find more humane. It does not offer cheap rent. Line up your paperwork before you land, budget for the first two months as the most expensive of your life, get a Leap card and an Irish SIM in week one, and keep nights out deliberate. Do that, and Dublin may cost about the same as London while giving you rather more for the money.
