Living in Dublin: Housing, Work and Everyday Life
Dublin is small for a capital, friendly and full of energy, and it has become one of Europe’s key business cities. Many of the world’s largest tech, pharmaceutical and financial companies have their European base here, which means a steady stream of employees on assignment and teams arriving for projects.
This guide is for people moving to Dublin for work, and for the companies planning their stay. It covers what living in Dublin is really like, what it costs, where to live and how to handle the part most newcomers find hardest: finding somewhere to live.
Living and Working in Dublin: What to Expect
Visiting Dublin and living in Dublin are two quite different experiences. As a visitor you see Temple Bar, Trinity College and the pubs. As a resident, your days are shaped by your commute, your neighbourhood and, above all, your rent.
The good news is that Dublin is easy to settle into. It is English-speaking, compact and sociable, and people are generally open and easy to talk to. Many newcomers say they felt at home faster than they expected.
The work scene is international. In areas like the Docklands and Grand Canal, it is normal to work alongside colleagues from all over the world, and English is the working language almost everywhere.
The challenge is housing. Dublin has a serious shortage of rental homes, and that shapes almost every decision you make when moving here.
Housing and Rent in Dublin
Finding a home is the single biggest hurdle when moving to Dublin. Demand far outstrips supply, good flats are let quickly, and new tenants pay significantly more than people who have been renting for years.
According to the Residential Tenancies Board, the average rent for existing tenancies in Dublin was €1,960 a month in the first quarter of 2026, and new tenants paid around €375 a month more. Crowdsourced data from Numbeo ranks Dublin among the three most expensive cities in Europe for a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre. Broadly, there are three ways to live in Dublin:
- Private rental. Your own flat, usually unfurnished, often on a 12-month lease.
- House or flat share. Cheaper, but less privacy and hard to arrange from abroad.
- Furnished temporary accommodation. Ready from day one, flexible length, common for assignments.
For project work and the first months of a longer move, furnished accommodation is often the most practical start. It gives you a proper base while you learn the city and decide where you actually want to live.
Relocating a team? If your company is sending employees or a project team to Dublin, we can arrange furnished accommodation for everyone, with one point of contact. Request accommodation
Cost of Living in Dublin: Rent, Bills and Monthly Budgets
Is Dublin expensive? Yes, mainly because of rent. A one-bedroom flat outside the centre costs around €1,960 a month, and one person should expect around €2,370 a month for housing and bills combined. Everyday costs like groceries and transport are closer to other Western European cities. It is housing that pushes the total up sharply. Monthly average rent from Numbeo:
- One-bed, city centre: €2,180
- One-bed, outside the centre: €1,960
- Three-bed, city centre: €3,940
- Three-bed, outside the centre: €3,050
Food, childcare and going out come on top, and depend a lot on lifestyle. Cooking at home and shopping at discount supermarkets keeps costs down, while regular meals out quickly add up.
Everyday Costs: Bills, Groceries and Eating Out
Day-to-day spending is manageable if you cook at home. Energy bills and eating out are where costs add up.
Monthly bills
- Utilities (mid-sized apartment): €250
- Broadband: €47
- Mobile phone plan: €17
- Gym membership: €59
Eating and drinking out
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €20
- Dinner for two, mid-range: €90
- Pint of beer: €7
- Cappuccino: €4.35
Whether bills are included in the rent varies, so always check before you sign. In private rentals they usually come on top. In furnished accommodation arranged through Kassoe Housing, utilities and wifi can be gathered into one bill with the rent, which makes monthly costs easier to predict.
Transport, Commuting and Choosing Where to Live
Dublin has no metro, so the right neighbourhood depends on where you work and which line gets you there. The Luas trams, DART trains and Dublin Bus cover most of the city, and a TFI Leap Card gives you cheaper fares across all three. A monthly pass costs around €96.
Areas worth considering
- Docklands and Grand Canal: close to many tech employers, modern flats. Luas Red and DART.
- Rathmines and Ranelagh: south of the centre, lively, popular with professionals. Bus and Luas Green.
- Drumcondra and Phibsborough: north side, close to the centre, often better value. Bus and Luas Green.
- Sandyford: business district with newer apartments. Luas Green.
- Dún Laoghaire and Clontarf: coastal and quieter. DART.
See our locations for the areas we cover.
Furnished Accommodation for a Work Assignment in Dublin
For companies sending people to Dublin, housing often decides whether an assignment gets off to a good start. Employees need a home from the day they arrive, in a market where even experienced locals struggle to find one.
Kassoe Housing arranges fully furnished accommodation for companies and their employees across Europe. We start from your needs: how many people, where the work is, when they arrive and how long they are staying. Whether it is one consultant for three months or a full project team, you have one point of contact.
Utilities, wifi and cleaning can be gathered into one bill, lease terms are flexible, and our team of administrators and local property managers handles the practical side during the stay.
Read more about what we offer, or request accommodation and we will come back with a proposal. For larger or recurring needs, you can also send a tender request.
FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Dublin per month?
Rent is the biggest cost. According to Numbeo , a one-bedroom apartment costs around €2,180 a month in the centre and €1,960 outside it. Adding utilities, broadband, a mobile plan and a transport pass, one person should expect around €2,370 a month for housing and bills alone, before food and leisure.
Is Dublin expensive?
Yes, mainly because of rent. Numbeo ranks Dublin among the three most expensive European cities for a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre. The RTB puts average rent for existing Dublin tenancies at €1,960 a month, with new tenants paying around €375 more. Groceries and transport are closer to other Western European cities.
Is Dublin expensive for a family?
It can be. According to Numbeo, a three-bedroom apartment costs around €3,050 a month outside the centre and €3,940 in it. Private childcare averages around €1,160 a month per child. Families often look at suburbs along the DART or Luas lines to get more space for their budget.
Is it cheaper to share a home in Dublin?
Yes, sharing is the most common way to cut rent in Dublin, and many newcomers start that way. The downside is less privacy, and rooms are hard to secure from abroad. For people relocating for work, furnished accommodation arranged in advance is often the simpler option for the first months.