Where I Can Live
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Europe · English, Irish · updated 2026-10

Moving to Ireland: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,750 a month to live in Dublin, and a family of four about $7,900, including rent. Ireland usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 2 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. Most work routes need a job offer or an investment.

Monthly budget
$3,750
Very high cost
Safety
79
Very safe
Stability
84
Very stable
Family
85
Excellent
Main city
Dublin
Language
English, Irish
Permanent residence
2 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in Ireland?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in Ireland, per month in US$

One person
$3,750
Family of four
$7,900
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Dublin centre
$2,200
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$4,050
Estimate
Price level
102
US = 100
Income per person
$7,280
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
79
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.65
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.75
Rule of law+1.55
Control of corruption+1.51
Government effectiveness+1.63
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (84/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
85
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.793
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.9
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
83 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$7,395
per person / year
Education spending
2.9%
of GDP

Spouses of Critical Skills holders can work without a separate permit. Rent in Dublin is among Europe's highest.

Visa & residence routes

Job offer
Critical Skills Employment PermitShortage roles from about €40,000, or any role from about €68,000.
Job offer
General Employment PermitMost roles from about €36,000, with a labour market test.
Investment
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme€50,000 and an innovative business.

Some passports also get: Working Holiday Authorisation.

Who gets easier access to Ireland

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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The Common Travel Area lets British and Irish citizens live and work in each other's country without permission.

Flag of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Working Holiday Authorisation (9 nationalities)

Working Holiday Authorisation: 1–2 years of open work for young people.

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Visiting: 82 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 116 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
2 yrs
Stamp 4 after 2 years on a Critical Skills permit (5 otherwise)
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.irishimmigration.ie

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Ireland?

About $3,750 a month for one person and $7,900 for a family of four in Dublin, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $2,200 a month and a 3-bedroom around $4,050. Prices are 102% of US levels. Ireland is the 73rd cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Ireland safe to live in?

Ireland scores 79/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 13th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.65 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Ireland politically stable?

Ireland scores 84/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 14th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Ireland good for families?

Ireland scores 85/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 9th of 76. Life expectancy is 83 years and under-5 mortality is 3.9 per 1,000 births. Spouses of Critical Skills holders can work without a separate permit. Rent in Dublin is among Europe's highest.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Ireland?

Usually 2 yrs of legal residence. Stamp 4 after 2 years on a Critical Skills permit (5 otherwise).

How long until I can become a citizen of Ireland?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Ireland without a job offer?

Most routes need a job offer from a local employer or a significant investment. Citizens of EU / EEA free movement and Common Travel Area countries can move freely.

Who can live and work in Ireland without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.) The Common Travel Area lets British and Irish citizens live and work in each other's country without permission. (Common Travel Area: United Kingdom.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Ireland can move