Dublin
Editorial standardsMethodologyReviewed by WhereNext editorial · Verified , next review
Dublin offers safe, fast internet (110 Mbps). A real option for career-movers and entrepreneurs.
WhereNext composite score
7-dimension index (cost, safety, healthcare, career, climate, transport, air quality) · Ireland avg 77 · global avg 63
- Cost index
- 75/100
- lower = cheaper · ~$2,750/mo single
- Safety
- 75/100
- very safe
- Healthcare
- 78/100
- high quality
- Climate
- 42/100
- cooler climate
- Transport
- 72/100
- well connected
- Air quality
- 75/100
- clean air
Quick answer
Dublin, Ireland scores 71/100 on the WhereNext city composite (cost, safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport). Estimated single-person monthly cost is around $2,750/mo (a central 1-bed runs ~$2000/mo). Safety index 75/100; healthcare 78/100; internet 110 Mbps. Best fit: career-movers and entrepreneurs. Top neighborhoods: Rathmines, Portobello, Stoneybatter.
Key facts
- ~$2,750/mo single-person estimated cost of living · 1-bed center $2000/mo.
- Safety: 75/100 very safe city by composite safety index.
- Healthcare: 78/100 high-quality healthcare access.
- Internet: 110 Mbps median fixed broadband download — remote-work ready.
- Top neighborhoods Rathmines, Portobello, Stoneybatter, Smithfield — researched expat-friendly areas.
City composite
Below peers
- Dublin
- 71/100
- Ireland avg
- 77/100
- Global avg
- 63/100
Compared against 4 indexed cities in Ireland and 380 indexed cities globally.
Source: WhereNext 7-dimension city composite (cost, safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport, air quality) · updated
The short version
How much does it cost?
~$2,750/mo for a single person. A central 1-bed is ~$2000/mo. Outside the center: ~$1500/mo.
Is it safe?
Safety score: 75/100. Dublin is considered very safe by global standards.
Can I work remotely?
Internet: 110 Mbps avg. Fast enough for video calls and cloud work. Coworking: ~$350/mo.
What's the climate like?
Climate score: 42/100. Cooler climate — pack layers.
The honest take
What's great
- Career — scored 82/100
- Healthcare — scored 78/100
- Cost of Living — scored 75/100
- The Silicon Docks area (Grand Canal Dock) is where all the tech jobs are, but living nearby is brutally expensive. Rathmines and Portobello are 20 minutes away by bike and significantly more affordable with great local character. Also, the Sunday Flea Market at the Lucky Duck on Aungier Street is worth a visit.
Watch out for
- Climate — scored 42/100
Is this place viable for you?
Quick decision check — Dublin
Strengths
- Career82/100
- Healthcare78/100
- Affordability75/100
Likely blockers
Lifestyle fit needs verification
Re-rank destinations against your priorities
Who Dublin Is Best For
Based on cost, lifestyle, infrastructure, and community data.
“A small, friendly, English-speaking capital that punches massively above its weight as a European tech hub — Google, Meta, and Stripe's European HQs are here, bringing a huge international workforce.”
Decision Snapshot
Key metrics at a glance. Scores are out of 100, higher is better.
Monthly Reality Check
What things actually cost in Dublin. Estimated total: ~$2,750/mo for a single person.
Flagship coverage — itemised costs and neighborhood-level detail are first-party researched for this city.
Expensive — comparable to or exceeding London for rent. A couple needs EUR 3,500-5,000/mo. A pint costs EUR 6-8 in the city centre. Supermarket prices are high by European standards. The 12.5% corporate tax rate doesn't help individual costs.
Itemised Costs in Dublin
Verified local pricing from researched sources. 8 of 12 core fields populated.
Rent (1BR, center)
$2,000/mo
Rent (1BR, outskirts)
$1,500/mo
Utilities (single)
$257/mo
Transit pass
$120/mo
Coworking
$350/mo
Mobile plan
$18/mo
Inexpensive meal
$15
Cappuccino
$4
Landing Friction in Dublin
What it actually takes to sign a lease and physically land here.
Daily Life Infrastructure in Dublin
Connectivity, getting around, air quality, English support.
Climate & Seasonality in Dublin
Year-round temperature, rain, and sunshine.
Monthly average temperature (°C)
- Jan5°
- Apr8°
- Jul15°
- Oct10°
Annual temperature bands — Dublin
Each vertical band shows the monthly low-to-high temperature range. Green = comfortable (5-25°C); amber = hot (>25°C); grey = cold (<5°C).
Verified · Climate-Data.org + WhereNext city-monthly-climate dataset
Dublin
| City | Month | High | Low | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | Jan | 8°C | 2°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Feb | 8°C | 2°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Mar | 10°C | 3°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Apr | 12°C | 4°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | May | 15°C | 7°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Jun | 18°C | 9°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Jul | 19°C | 12°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Aug | 19°C | 11°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Sep | 17°C | 9°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Oct | 13°C | 7°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Nov | 10°C | 4°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
| Dublin | Dec | 8°C | 3°C | Comfortable (5–25°C) |
Family & Schools in Dublin
High-level family snapshot — full directory in the schools section.
Honest expectations: when Dublin is the wrong fit
Most city guides only sell the upside. These are the specific triggers — drawn from recurring expat complaints and verified local realities — that mean Dublin is probably not for you.
Do not choose Dublin if you assumed Dublin housing has supply.
HousingSub-1% rental vacancy; queue of 80+ applicants for typical Dublin 1BR. Many movers commute from Drogheda or Kildare.
Do not choose Dublin if you wanted tech-employment outside Dublin.
CareerCork, Galway, Limerick have a few anchors but nothing approaching Dublin's depth. Remote-friendly companies are concentrated in the capital.
Will you find your people in Ireland?
Community density signals — quant + qualitative. Loneliness is a top-three relocation-failure factor; this section flags whether Ireland has the expat scene to match your profile.
Expat density
Hub18.1% foreign-born
English proficiency
100/100 (EF EPI)
Coworking density
Medium
Top nomad hubs
Dublin
Adult community vibe
Active
Family expat community
Active
What recurring expats complain about
“Friendly on the surface, layered private circles underneath — many expats feel welcomed but not integrated even after 2-3 years.”
Best neighborhoods for community
- · Dublin: Stoneybatter, Dublin 8, Ranelagh
- · Galway: West End
Internet reality in Ireland
Median speed is a misleading single metric. What remote workers actually need to know: do Zoom calls survive peak hours, what happens during outages, what’s the mobile backup like.
Peak-hour Zoom quality
Good
Power outage frequency
Rare
Mobile backup
Good
Coworking fallback
Decent
Recommended eSIM providers
Eir · Vodafone IE · Three Ireland
What to actually expect
Dublin + Cork have full fibre coverage; rural Ireland still patchy despite the National Broadband Plan rollout.
Safety reality in Ireland
7 dimensions of safety, each scored separately so a single weak axis doesn’t drag the cross-dimensional view. Per Global Peace Index + WHO + national crime statistics.
GPI 2025verified Apr 2026HDR 2024 (HDI 2023 data)verified Apr 2026- Excellent
Overall public safety
Minimal natural disaster risk; occasional coastal flooding.
- Excellent
Political stability85/100
Stable institutions, low risk of policy upheaval affecting expats.
- Excellent
Natural disaster resilience100/100
Low exposure. Minor seasonal risks: flood.
- Strong
Women's safety84/100
Strong women's-safety indicators across crime statistics and harassment reporting.
- Excellent
LGBTQ+ safety88/100
Legal recognition + strong cultural acceptance. Marriage/partnership rights typically available.
- Strong
Emergency healthcare quality82/100
World-class emergency / trauma capability in major cities.
- Excellent
Terrorism risk
No active terrorism advisory; statistically negligible risk.
National averages only. Within-country variation is large — Mexico City vs Mérida differ massively. Cross- reference at the city / neighbourhood level before relocating.
Verify with current government advisories
Static-data signals don’t reflect this week’s situation. Cross-check against your home government’s current travel advisory before any irreversible commitment.
Neighborhoods
Where expats and locals actually live in Dublin.
Ballsbridge (Dublin 4)
luxuryDublin's affluent embassy quarter south of the Grand Canal — leafy Victorian and Georgian streets, the RDS and Aviva Stadium, and the city's most prestigious (and expensive) residential addresses. The default choice for executives and diplomats.
Portobello & Rathmines (Dublin 6)
premiumCanal-side period-redbrick belt that is Dublin's young-professional and student heartland — cafés, the Grand Canal, Georgian terraces converted to flats, and an easy walk or cycle to the centre. Consistently the most in-demand rental area.
Docklands & IFSC (Dublin 1)
premiumThe regenerated riverside 'Silicon Docks' — Google, Meta and the IFSC finance cluster surrounded by modern high-spec apartment blocks. The most walkable, new-build-heavy district, popular with tech and finance professionals who want to live by the office.
Stoneybatter & Smithfield (Dublin 7)
premiumRegenerated north-inner-city quarter of period artisan cottages, craft-beer bars, indie cafés and the Smithfield square. Repeatedly tagged one of the city's 'coolest' areas — a hipper, better-value alternative to the southside for younger renters.
Dún Laoghaire
premiumCoastal Victorian harbour town on the south DART line — a seafront promenade, the East/West piers, marinas and family-friendly suburban streets. Trades city-centre buzz for sea air and calm, popular with families and remote workers.
Neighborhood profiles are WhereNext editorial assessments (modeled). Rent index (100 = city median), walkability, and safety feel are relative estimates to compare areas within Dublin — not third-party-verified figures.
Housing reality: Severe housing crisis — among the worst in Europe. A 1-bed in the centre runs EUR 1,800-2,400. Competition is fierce; viewings are cattle-call events with 30+ applicants. Daft.ie is the main platform. Sharing is the norm even for professionals. Rent Pressure Zones cap annual increases at 2%.
Compare Dublin
See how Dublin stacks up against common alternatives.
Premium Report
Plan your move to Dublin
A personalized report covering visa pathways, monthly budgets, neighborhood deep-dives, tax optimization, and a step-by-step relocation timeline — built for Dublin.
Deep Research
Expand any section for detailed data and narrative.
Living in Dublin
Living in Dublin
Safety
Generally safe. Anti-social behaviour and drug-related issues around the north inner city (O'Connell Street area) have increased. Dublin's suburbs are very safe. Standard city precautions apply.
Healthcare
A&E waits can be extremely long (12+ hours). GP visits cost EUR 50-70 without a medical card. Those earning under EUR 46,000 may qualify for a GP Visit Card (free GP visits). Private health insurance (VHI, Laya, Irish Life) is popular — EUR 80-150/mo.
Internet & Connectivity
Good. Siro and eir fibre offer 500-1000 Mbps in covered areas. Virgin Media cable is widely available. EUR 40-60/mo for broadband.
Coworking
Well-established. Dogpatch Labs (near Grand Canal Dock / Silicon Docks), WeWork, and Iconic Offices are the main spaces. Republic of Work and Huckletree are creative alternatives. EUR 200-350/mo for hot desks.
Food & Dining
The English Market in Cork gets all the press, but Moore Street market in Dublin has character. A full Irish breakfast (the fry) at Matt the Thresher or Bewley's on Grafton Street. Fish and chips at Leo Burdock. Coddle (Dublin's traditional sausage and potato stew) at Gallagher's Boxty House. Howth village for fresh seafood at Octopussy's.
Climate Notes
Mild, wet, and grey. Winters are 3-8°C, summers 15-20°C. It rains frequently but rarely heavily. Four seasons in one day is standard. You will own more rain jackets than you thought possible.
Transport & Getting Around
Transport & Getting Around
Luas (tram, 2 lines), Dublin Bus, and DART (coastal rail) cover the city. Leap Card is essential (EUR 40/mo cap for bus). No metro (perpetually promised). Very bikeable and flat. Dublin Bikes costs EUR 35/year.
Monthly transport pass: $120
Ireland — Policy & Systems
Ireland — Policy & Systems
Visa, tax, healthcare, and education policies are set at the national level. See the Ireland country guide for full details.
Language & Expat Community
Language & Expat Community
Official Languages
English, Irish (Gaeilge)
English Proficiency
Native
Foreign-born
18.1%
Expat Level
Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dublin a good place to live for expats?
Dublin scores 71/100 overall. It is relatively expensive (~$2,750/mo), very safe, and has a healthcare score of 78/100. Top neighborhoods include Rathmines, Portobello, Stoneybatter.
What does it cost to live in Dublin?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Dublin is ~$2,750 for a single person. A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs about $2000/mo. Severe housing crisis — among the worst in Europe. A 1-bed in the centre runs EUR 1,800-2,400. Competition is fierce; viewings are cattle-call events with 30+ applicants. Daft.ie is the main platform. Sharing is the norm even for professionals. Rent Pressure Zones cap annual increases at 2%.
What are the best neighborhoods in Dublin?
The most recommended neighborhoods are Rathmines, Portobello, Stoneybatter, Smithfield, Drumcondra, Ranelagh. A small, friendly, English-speaking capital that punches massively above its weight as a European tech hub — Google, Meta, and Stripe's European HQs are here, bringing a huge international workforce.
How do I get around Dublin?
Dublin has a transport score of 72/100. Luas (tram, 2 lines), Dublin Bus, and DART (coastal rail) cover the city. Leap Card is essential (EUR 40/mo cap for bus). No metro (perpetually promised). Very bikeable and flat. Dublin Bikes costs EUR 35/year.
Cities Like Dublin
Similar cities worldwide, scored across cost, safety, healthcare, education, career, climate, and transport.
Suggested citation
CC BY 4.0This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Dublin, Ireland City Profile 2026 (2026-05-20). Derived from: Numbeo (city-level cost; verified via WhereNext audit); World Bank ICP (country-level PPP anchor); OECD + Eurostat (where applicable); WhereNext flagship-city research (qualitative + neighborhood depth). Available at https://getwherenext.com/city/ie/dublin?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Dublin, Ireland City Profile 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/city/ie/dublin?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "WhereNext Dublin, Ireland City Profile 2026." WhereNext, 20 May 2026, https://getwherenext.com/city/ie/dublin?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/city/ie/dublin?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
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Next step
Anchor Dublin as your destination. Cost, neighborhoods, visa, healthcare and schools tools inherit the same context.
Important Notice
WhereNext provides data-driven insights for informational purposes only. Scores and rankings are algorithmically generated from public institutional data and may not reflect your individual circumstances. This tool does not replace professional advice for immigration, legal, tax, or financial matters.