Social financial assistance is temporary in nature. If you plan to live in the EU, you need to understand the real cost of living in a particular country. So today we’re talking about Ireland.
Housing
Ireland has a rather specific pricing policy in the housing sector. We’ve already written about prices in Germany or Norway, where apartment or house prices in the city can reach high marks. Meanwhile, in villages, budget apartments are available, say, for 300-400 euros per month.
For most European countries, the housing market situation is similar. But not in Ireland.
The thing is, there is no alternative, that is, budget housing. For example, smart apartments, as in Ukraine. In Ireland, they don’t build high-rise buildings, so the main housing sector consists of private houses. And the prices are accordingly high.
Another nuance: Ireland has very few large cities. For instance, Dublin is a big city. But the demand for this city is even greater, so finding housing is a challenging task. Dozens of people come to view a single property. It’s like a real hunt just for housing. And this nuance allows property owners to raise prices to the skies.
So, for example, Dublin. The price of one room in a shared apartment with other people for one adult starts from 800 euros. And this is still considered cheap.
But in villages and small towns, the situation is even worse. Firstly, Ireland is called “one big village.” The main housing sector here consists of private houses. Dozens of families are competing for one house! The owner arranges viewings and then decides who gets the housing.
Rental prices for a three-bedroom house outside the city range from 1,200 to 1,800 euros per month. The biggest problem is not only the price but that there are no alternatives. Ireland lacks sufficient housing to meet the demand.
Utilities
Private houses mostly have an oil heating system. 300 liters of special fuel oil costs 325 euros with delivery. If you heat for one hour in the morning and two hours in the evening, it lasts about a month and a half.
Electricity in the house will cost 100-150 euros per month. Garbage disposal is approximately 150 euros per six months.
A one-bedroom apartment’s electricity bill is 100 euros per month during periods when heating is not used.
Houses, like apartments, can be furnished or unfurnished. There’s no general rule.
Food
Average prices in popular supermarkets:
Veal mince (400g) — 3.50 euros
Milk (1 l) — 1.30 euros
Smoked meat slices (100g) — 4 euros
Pasta (500g) — 1 euro
Carrots 500g — 0.75 euros
Potatoes — 1.40 euros per kg
Tomatoes (1 kg) — 5 euros
Flour (1 kg) — 1.30 euros
The average weekly grocery basket for one person is approximately 100 euros.
Healthcare
If you are on social welfare, you have a medical card. This means doctor visits, basic procedures and operations, and medications are paid for by the state. If you are working, you do not have such a card. And you must pay for everything yourself. It’s hard to name specific prices as it depends on what specific help you need. Be prepared that just one visit to your family doctor will cost 50 euros.
Transportation
Diesel at an inexpensive gas station — 1.7 euros per liter. Car insurance for a year is the most expensive item here. On average, it’s 1,200 – 3,000 euros per year, depending on the car’s year of manufacture, engine, and mileage. Calculate how much money will be spent on this over 10 years. You also need to pay a road tax — approximately 300 euros per year.
Bus connections are quite specific. Many villages do not have public transportation. So Ireland is a country where you need a car.
Bus ticket prices also vary greatly. For example, the price of a direct bus from one county to the capital (approximately 120 kilometers) for an adult is 13 euros. And the price of a connecting bus, for example, from one village to another (10 kilometers), is 14 euros. There are no monthly passes for all types of transport for 49 euros, as in Germany.
Additional Expenses
Mobile communication: contract cost for two (adult plus child) 45 euros/month
Internet — 50+ euros/month
Clothing. In Ireland, there are local network companies that sell not only food but also clothing. And it’s quite inexpensive. For example, you can buy pants for 10-15 euros, an off-season jacket for 15-20 euros, sneakers for 20 euros. For Ireland, this is a very low cost.
A family of three spends approximately 3,000-3,500 euros per month on a modest life (including housing rent and a car).