Moving to Ireland from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Ireland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 6.6% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly €63,549 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Ireland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €63,549
To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 11.2% less
Groceries
pay 24.3% less
Transportation
pay 49.1% more
Housing
pay 22.9% less
Childcare
pay 54.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.2% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Ireland cost about 20% less than cities in California.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Ireland
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from California to Ireland, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Ireland.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Ireland performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Ireland performs significantly better than California across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though California leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Ireland performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Ireland. To live, work, or study long-term in Ireland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ireland's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Ireland
Visa Free
Ireland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Ireland than California?
Yes — Ireland is on average about 3% cheaper than California. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Ireland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €15,887 in Ireland on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Ireland?
Usually fine from major cities in Ireland. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Ireland compared to California?
Ireland performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Ireland compared to California?
The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Ireland?
The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In California, the official language is English.
