
Dublin: very safe and summers that need air quotes, on the water
More of Dublin
Day viewTL;DRDublin in one sentence
Finding a flat in Dublin is a blood sport, but the tech scene keeps people showing up anyway. On the ground: English works fine, rent runs ~$2522/mo, PR in ~2 years.
Finding a flat in Dublin is a blood sport, but the tech scene keeps people showing up anyway. On the ground: English works fine, rent runs ~$2522/mo, PR in ~2 years.
Considering relocating to Dublin? Expect rent from $2,522/month, one of the safer cities in its region, English is widely spoken. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.
🗣️From English-Friendly Cities — You won't need a phrasebook on day one.← back🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland
Safety ranks higher because it ignores cost and climate. Livability penalizes expensive or less-connected cities. Compare both rankings
Mid SWE take-home in Dublin
$6,309/mo
Median mid Software Engineer · after 37% tax
$5,033
expenses
+$1,276
you keep
Just you against the world. And the rent.
Expenses = rent + food + transport + utilities · Rent alone: $2,522/mo
How the Livability Score is calculatedShow score breakdown ▸
Total: 77.1/120 raw pts → normalized to 64/100 · Full methodology
🌆 8:01 PM in Dublin right now
Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · EF EPI · Ookla · How is this calculated?
Is Dublin a Good Place to Live?
Is dublin a good place to live? It depends on what you're optimizing for. Dublin has real strengths, but the honest answer requires looking at the data. Here's what the numbers say about settling in Dublin, Ireland.
- ›Full democracy: Democracy index 9.2/10 — solidly democratic — your vote counts and so does everyone else's.
- ›Cost of living: A 1-bedroom in the center runs ~$2522/mo — serious money — hope your salary matches.
- ›Safety: Homicide rate 0.9 per 100k (Numbeo safety index: 46/100) — statistically safer than most places you've already lived.
- ›Irish + English: English proficiency: very high — most locals speak English well enough to argue with you in it.
- ›Climate: Summers peak around 18°C, winters dip to 4°C.
Life in Dublin
✦ Sections reordered for English-Friendly Cities
What It Actually Costs
Beer $8.3 · Cheap meal $24
What It Actually Costs
Beer $8.3 · Cheap meal $24
What It Actually Costs
One day in Dublin
$53.36/day
Beer, coffee, two meals, a metro ride.
Monthly
Numbeo
What Paychecks Look Like
Junior $70k · Mid $120k · Senior $145k
What Paychecks Look Like
Junior $70k · Mid $120k · Senior $145k
What Paychecks Look Like
Annual gross in USD — with what Ireland actually lets you keep
Levels.fyi · as of May 2026
Junior ~ $70k · Mid ~ $120k · Senior ~ $145k — see breakdown
Software Engineer by level
Net = employee rate, your settings
Punch in your actual salary for a personalized breakdown →Cost to Land
1-bed centre: $2522/mo
Cost to Land
1-bed centre: $2522/mo
Cost to Land
The price of showing up (before real life starts)
$7,714one-time
Then it's ~$5,033/mo to actually live here.
Can you afford it?
Enter your salary in the sidebar to see how far it stretches here.
Numbeo
Local tenancy law
IKEA estimate
Irish immigration
Based on local rental laws & Numbeo prices
How Hard to Find a Place?
5/5 · 1–4 months, listings gone in days
How Hard to Find a Place?
5/5 · 1–4 months, listings gone in days
How Hard Is It to Actually Find a Place?
The part Numbeo doesn't tell you
Welcome to the hunger games. You vs. 100 other applicants, and the landlord has trust issues.
What stands between you and a lease
- •Fewer than 1,800 rentals listed nationwide (Feb 2026)
- •Lowest rental supply in 20 years
- •Employer letter + landlord references + bank statements required
- •Often 3 months' rent upfront
Daft.ie Rental Report Q4 2025, worldpropertyjournal.com, remoters.io · 2026-Q1
Tax on Savings
Capital gains 33% · Dividends 51% · No wealth tax
Tax on Savings
Capital gains 33% · Dividends 51% · No wealth tax
Tax on Savings
What Ireland takes from your investments, not your paycheck
Source: PwC / Tax Foundation · 2025 rates · tax-resident individuals
Freelancing in Dublin
Freelancing in Dublin
Living Here as a Freelancer
What it takes to invoice clients from Dublin without an employer holding your hand
How the government sees you