🇮🇪 Dublin vs 🇳🇱 Amsterdam
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Dublin is 5% cheaper than Amsterdam
Quick answer
Comparing Dublin, Ireland and Amsterdam, Netherlands: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,788 in Dublin versus $3,975 in Amsterdam. Dublin is roughly 5% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $2,000/mo (Dublin) vs $2,350/mo (Amsterdam). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $3,788/mo in Dublin single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $3,975/mo in Amsterdam single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $2,000/mo in Dublin · $2,350/mo in Amsterdam.
- Cheaper overall: Dublin ~5% cheaper than Amsterdam.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,650/mo | $2,800/mo | +6% |
| Moderate | $3,788/mo | $3,975/mo | +5% |
| Comfortable | $5,700/mo | $5,950/mo | +4% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $2,000/mo | $2,350/mo | +18% |
| Groceries & Food | $550/mo | $500/mo | -9% |
| Dining Out | $275/mo | $250/mo | -9% |
| Transport | $275/mo | $250/mo | -9% |
| Utilities & Internet | $275/mo | $250/mo | -9% |
| Healthcare | $220/mo | $200/mo | -9% |
| Leisure & Personal | $193/mo | $175/mo | -9% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: CSO (Ireland), Eurostat / CBS (Netherlands), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $2 | $2 | +12% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -8% |
| Eggs (12) | $4 | $3 | -16% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $10 | $9 | -8% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch menu (pub) | $16 | $15 | -7% |
| Fast food combo meal | $10 | $10 | 0% |
| Cappuccino | $4 | $4 | -5% |
| Beer (pint, pub) | $7 | $5 | -24% |
Housing
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $2,000 | $2,350 | +18% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,500 | $1,200 | -20% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $3,200 | $2,800 | -13% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $2,200 | $2,000 | -9% |
Transport
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (Leap) | $120 | $105 | -13% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $3 | +78% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $200 | $220 | +10% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $55 | $42 | -24% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $48 | $38 | -21% |
| Cinema ticket | $14 | $14 | 0% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $22 | $25 | +14% |
Quick Facts
🇮🇪 Dublin
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,788
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,000/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $15.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $120
- Internet speed
- 110 Mbps
- Safety index
- 75/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 95/100
- Country
- Ireland
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,975
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,350/mo
- Cappuccino
- $3.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $15.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $100
- Internet speed
- 130 Mbps
- Safety index
- 75/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 92/100
- Country
- Netherlands
Explore more: Dublin city guide | Amsterdam city guide | Ireland | Netherlands