Thinking about moving to Ireland? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Ireland stands out for how far English gets you day to day, a quicker path to citizenship and an open, welcoming environment, while it is worth weighing a tight housing market, a higher cost of living and patchier public transport.
Ireland at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living80/100
Cost of living here sits among the pricier EU countries. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €2800 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €1700 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English98/100
English is very widely spoken. You can handle daily life in the cities in English, though some official paperwork is still in the local language.
Safety80/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 80/100 means safe: everyday crime is low and the main cities feel comfortable, including at night, with normal precautions.
Healthcare72/100
Scored 72/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). Solid public healthcare. Many newcomers add affordable private cover for shorter waits and more choice.
ClimateMild
A mild, temperate climate without big extremes. Typical daytime highs: winter around 8°C, spring 12°C, summer 19°C, autumn 13°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~5 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 5 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Ireland's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes20/40% (+USC)
Personal income tax: 20% / 40%, plus USC up to 8% and PRSI ~4.2% (top combined ~52%). As a freelancer: Same brackets, plus a 3% USC surcharge on self-employed income over €100k. Company owners: CIT 12.5% trading (15% for large multinational groups), dividends taxed at full marginal rates (up to ~51% all-in). Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Ireland stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Ireland scores best for:
- How far English gets you day to day.
- A quicker path to citizenship.
- An open, welcoming environment.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Ireland, keep an eye on:
- A tight housing market.
- A higher cost of living.
- Patchier public transport.
Is Ireland right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Ireland actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Ireland lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.