Cost of living comparison
Ireland is 13.7% more expensive than Belgium overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 18.1% less in Ireland
- Groceries
-
pay 0.4% less in Ireland
- Transportation
-
pay 45.5% more in Ireland
- Housing
-
pay 35.0% more in Ireland
- Childcare
-
pay 14.0% more in Ireland
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 35.9% more in Ireland
- Clothing
-
pay 15.7% less in Ireland
The cost of transportation, entertainment and sports, housing, and childcare in Ireland are more expensive than in Belgium. Expenses including restaurants, clothing, and groceries are lower in Ireland.
If you lived in Ireland instead of Belgium, you would:
pay 18.1% less for restaurants
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.07
€17.54
|
$17.71
€16.28
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.84
€9.97
|
$9.75
€8.96
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.78
€2.55
|
$2.15
€1.98
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.46
€2.26
|
$1.66
€1.52
|
|
pay 0.4% less for groceries
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.28
€2.09
|
$1.78
€1.64
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.70
€6.16
|
$4.12
€3.79
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.44
€4.08
|
$5.05
€4.64
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.43
€3.15
|
$3.71
€3.41
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.78
€4.39
|
$4.48
€4.12
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.11
€1.02
|
$1.22
€1.12
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.89
€0.82
|
$0.91
€0.84
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.07
€0.99
|
$1.24
€1.14
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
€1.07
|
$1.58
€1.45
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.76
|
$0.80
€0.74
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.73
€0.67
|
$0.59
€0.54
|
|
pay 45.5% more for transportation
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.91
€6.36
|
$7.11
€6.54
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$45.41
€41.76
|
$119.47
€109.87
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,628.35
€25,406.56
|
$37,943.34
€34,892.05
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$26.01
€23.92
|
$20.48
€18.83
|
|
pay 35.0% more for housing
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$49.35
€45.38
|
$46.92
€43.15
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$815.11
€749.56
|
$1,406.76
€1,293.63
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$705.09
€648.39
|
$1,187.82
€1,092.30
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$154.10
€141.71
|
$159.87
€147.02
|
|
pay 14.0% more for childcare
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$557.50
€512.66
|
$996.31
€916.19
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$13,740.85
€12,635.86
|
$6,771.62
€6,227.07
|
|
pay 35.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.34
€3.99
|
$5.94
€5.46
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.51
€3.23
|
$3.80
€3.50
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.08
€8.35
|
$16.44
€15.12
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.02
€33.13
|
$55.70
€51.22
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.48
€11.47
|
$12.29
€11.30
|
|
pay 15.7% less for clothing
|
Belgium
|
Ireland
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$92.82
€85.36
|
$77.94
€71.67
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.31
€39.82
|
$37.83
€34.78
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.40
€83.13
|
$85.63
€78.74
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$125.11
€115.05
|
$89.10
€81.94
|
|
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