Ranked in the top 15 most expensive countries to live in the world, real estate in Ireland often comes with a hefty price tag. Between Brexit and Covid-19 sending Irish expats fleeing for home, a housing shortage, and people migrating toward larger properties with better homeworking setups, overall property prices are up across the entire nation.
Here are the top five most expensive places to live in Ireland, ranked by mean house prices at the end of 2020.
- Dublin Region (€451,610)
Comprised of four areas: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (€598,000), Dublin City (€431,046), Fingal (€407,195), and South Dublin (€370,199), and taking top spot for not only the most expensive place to live in Ireland, but also the most expensive city in the eurozone, is Dublin. Home to the country’s most exorbitant street, Temple Gardens, with an average property cost of €3.1 million, Dublin City is the capital of Ireland’s culture, too.
Found in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are coastal villages Killiney and Dalkey, dubbed as the “Amalfi Coast of Ireland” with spectacular views atop dramatic cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea. Many of the wealthiest and most famous residents of Ireland have chosen properties built into the peaceful hillside here, contributing to the area’s substantial market values.
- Wicklow County (€388,608)
The “Garden of Ireland” sits on Dublin’s doorstep and features a great variety of landscapes, from mountains to sea. Renowned for stunning scenery including countryside and coastal cliff walks, the quality of outdoor life in Wicklow is unbeatable.
With a median house price of €330,000, Wicklow is the second priciest county and home to the most expensive Eircode area outside of Dublin: the coastal town of Greystones. Less than an hour’s drive away from the heart of Dublin and boasting the title of “The World’s Most Livable Community”, homes in gorgeous Greystones are well sought-after and have an average property price of €497,608.
- Kildare County (€322,033)
Another county with a quick commute to the capital is Kildare, the home of horse racing in Ireland and its only international motor racing track. Although landlocked, “the thoroughbred county” features many rivers and canals for leisurely boating as well as popular walking and cycling routes.
A number of big-name employers call Kildare home including Hewlett Packard, Intel Ireland Ltd., and Oral B Laboratories, producing fabulous employment opportunities there. The region is also a transport hub of major roads well-connected to Dublin and other main cities, is close to international sea- and airports, and has designer outlet shopping, making it an ideal spot for travelers and luxury shoppers preferring the quiet countryside to lively cities.
- Meath County (€293,665)
Many of County Meath’s residents travel to the greater Dublin area for work, preferring the lower home prices and rich farmland to the busyness and expenses associated with living in the capital. “The royal county” with lush pastures and magnificent beaches was the seat of Ireland’s high king once upon a time. For any history buffs, Meath offers several historical and archeological attractions as the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East.
Another part of the commuter belt with four major motorways (M1, M2, M3 and M4) connecting the area to nearby Dublin and other cities, Meath is known as the country’s most accessible county, giving its residents the best of both rural and city life.
- Cork County (€269,896)
Labelled “the Rebel County” thanks to its long, tumultuous history of challenging authority, County Cork is popular amongst both tourists and residents for a number of reasons. Big employers such as Apple, Siemens, and Pfizer draw workers to the area, in addition to the natural beauty, colorful cottages, and sprawling countryside.
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, Cork (often touted as “The Real Capital of Ireland”) comes with a cost of living tremendously lower than that of the big smoke. Despite being the second most important city in Ireland, it is small enough to get around by foot and has a much calmer, warmer atmosphere than what comes to mind when you think about most major cities.
