Move to Ireland
Everything a future Ireland settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Ireland at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
2 years
to permanent residency
5 years
to citizenship
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Spouse of Critical Skills permit holder receives Stamp 1G with full work rights immediately.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Ireland
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$2,522
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$133,437
GDP per capita
12.5%
Corporate tax
4.6%
Unemployment
2.1%
Inflation
Low inequality — the wealth gap won't slap you in the face daily.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
9.19/10
🏛️ Full democracy
97
/100Freedom House score
#2 of 163
Global Peace Index
#5
Press freedom rank
Is Ireland safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Irish
Primary language
Very High
English proficiency (#2 globally)
Most people speak decent English. You can survive without Irish, but your landlord will respect you more if you try.
❓ Moving to Ireland — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Ireland?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Dublin ranks #1 in Ireland with a score of 64/100. City-centre rent starts around $2522/month.
How much does it cost to live in Ireland?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $2522 to $2522/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $3,668.
How do I get permanent residency in Ireland?▾
The path to permanent residency in Ireland typically takes 2 years. Citizenship is possible after 5 years.
Is Ireland a democracy?▾
Ireland scores 9.19/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Full democracy." It ranks #2 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Ireland safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.