29 Jan 2025
The “Emerald Isle” as they famously call it, Ireland is the land of dreams for many across the globe. With its vibrant culture and landscapes teeming with natural beauty and rich history, Ireland can truly feel like a second home. If you are planning to finally make that money transfer to buy a plane ticket to Ireland, you might want to read up on the pros and cons of living in Ireland before you make a final decision.
This blog is just the one you need since it gives you a comprehensive guide to living in Ireland, encompassing all of Ireland's pros and cons. Consider it as a virtual lens showing you your potential life in Ireland. This is the ultimate Ireland’s expat guide for you.
Need a reason why you should be living in Ireland in 2025? There are plenty of them, but let’s stick to the broader big ones, such as the Irish community, their economy, and the landscapes to die for. Here are six major reasons why moving to Ireland is a good call:
There are plenty of nations where finding a job that supports a decent lifestyle or finding a job at all, is a tenuous task. Ireland, however, is not one of those countries. The Irish economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe. It is thriving in sectors like finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, etc. Moving to Ireland as an expat, you will be pleased to see a wealth of job opportunities to choose from.
You will notice that numerous major multinational companies like Google, Apple and Facebook have European headquarters in Ireland. The GDP of the country is steadily increasing as years go by, creating a dynamic and stable job market for all and supporting a thriving lifestyle in Ireland.
Ireland is naturally beautiful and also quite advanced so the standards of living in Ireland 2025 in terms of health, education, and general well-being facilities are pretty good for raising a family there or simply enjoying a solo life.
To put it simply, most of the Irish people you will meet are likely to be quite lovely and hospitable. Many people from across the world prefer moving to Ireland, so you will see a lot of diversity and find communities that will welcome you and help you settle in. Irish people are quite friendly, and there is a sense of small-town charm in them, which you will love, as most expats do.
One of Ireland’s major flexes is the breathtaking scenery God has blessed them with. If you have seen the show “Vikings,” you probably know what this claim is in reference to. Huge green mountains and water bodies are a sight for sore eyes. Ireland's lifestyle involves Irish people who love to take good advantage of this, so you will come across many opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and exploring nature. This is great for those who seek a balanced Irish lifestyle that is also in harmony with nature.
The education system in Ireland is quite good, which makes it a great choice for people to live with their kids here. You can rest assured that the schools and universities in Ireland will provide quality education to your kids. Also, if you want to study like many expats in Ireland, it is a great choice and a popular one among many across different countries.
For instance, Ireland is home to quite prestigious educational institutions such as the University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin. The English-speaking institutions in Ireland attract students from all over the world, which means there is plenty of diversity on campuses that contribute to the lifestyle of Ireland.
Judging from the music, literature, films, art, and historic places, Ireland has a unique cultural and historically strong identity. There are plenty of events that occur throughout the year such as St. Patrick’s Day, that are a testament to that. Living in Ireland in 2025, you can also visit its historic landmarks, such as the Newgrange and the Dublin Castle, to see the breathtaking beauty of Ireland.
No country is perfect, of course. There are plenty of downsides to moving to Ireland as well that will challenge you for sure if you decide to live there. Let's look at some of those downsides:
The cost of living in Ireland is a significant drawback since it is pretty expensive to live there, especially if you want to live within a major city like Cork or Dublin. Among those costs are the housing prices, which seem to keep rising with time, making it more challenging for newcomers to get affordable accommodation in Ireland. The daily expenses, such as your groceries or utility bills, tend to be higher compared to other European countries, too.
Now, if you don’t have any Viking blood, you might find it extremely challenging to cope with the extreme weather conditions in Ireland. When it gets cold, it tends to get cold. Picture frequent rain and overcast skies. So, if you love the sun, you might find Irish weather quite gloomy. Other expats in Ireland report that the seasonal changes will also impact your outdoor activities.
There have been improvements in Ireland’s public transportation, but it still sort of lags behind other European countries. For example, the rural areas in Ireland do not have reliable transport options, so you will need to own a car to manage your daily commute. There is public transport in the main cities of Ireland, but those cities are rather expensive to live in. So, expats often cite the lack of a proper public transportation network, which adds to the high cost of living in Ireland.
Don’t take this the wrong way. The healthcare system in Ireland is top-notch but the problem is with the long waiting times for public services. If you opt for private healthcare instead, you are signing up for a quick but a very expensive route. Also, the healthcare model in Ireland is a sort of mix of private and public healthcare so you’ll need to adjust to that if you are considering moving to Ireland.
Salaries in Ireland are fantastic, but the income taxes on those salaries tend to eat up a lot of the income. The taxes in Ireland are quite high among European nations. Even though the Irish economy is strong and the salaries are pretty good, the high tax rates tend to offset those perks. Expats in Ireland often complain about high taxation.
Want to know the cost of living in Ireland in 2025? Here are some of the major expenses you will encounter as an expat in Ireland.
If you buy a one-bedroom apartment in Dublin, it will cost you about 1500 to 2500 euros. If you decide to live in Cork instead, the same apartment might cost about 1200 to 200 euros per month.
The utility bills such as the heating bill, water bill and electricity bill will cost you 150 to 200 euros per month. If you add internet bills to that, count another 40 to 60 euros in that list.
Ireland issues public transport passes on a monthly basis which cost about 120 to 150 euros per month. If you decide to buy a car instead, the price of petrol might change and vary but its usually around 1.70 to 1.80 euros per litre.
Let's discuss some of the steps you will need to take if you want to move to Ireland:
If you are a European Union citizen, you don’t have any restrictions to live and work in Ireland but if you are not a European citizen, you will need to get a work visa or a study visa to enter Ireland.
Before moving to Ireland, understand that you will need to immediately, open a bank account in Ireland to simplify your transactions and you should know that if you plan to make a online money transfer to send cash back home, you will have to deal with international transfer charges and currency exchange rates too.
When you land on Irish soil, you will need to register with a GP (General Practitioner) and you will also need to look at some of the private insurance options if you want comprehensive health coverage since the healthcare system in Ireland is a private-public mix model. This of course will be added to the total cost of living in Ireland.
Like any other country, Ireland is not perfect in all aspects. It has its own set of pros and cons, but that doesn’t mean it should be ruled out for having drawbacks. Ireland is a developed country with amazing landscapes, a growing economy, and great living standards. The government has much to offer to expats who wish to build a life in Ireland and earn enough to send money online back home to financially support their loved ones. Once you get a good picture of Ireland's lifestyle, you might not want to pass up on the chance to move there.
Yes, Ireland offers a welcoming environment, job opportunities, and a high quality of life for expats.
The cost of living varies by city, with Dublin being the most expensive. Average monthly expenses range from €2,000 to €3,500.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa, but non-EU citizens must apply for the appropriate visa before moving.
Dublin, Cork, and Galway are popular choices for their job opportunities, cultural offerings, and amenities.
Public healthcare is available but may involve waiting times. Private healthcare options are also widely used.
