Moving to Ireland from Estonia

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Estonia to Ireland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Estonia to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 69.4% more expensive than Estonia overall. A €67,000 salary in Estonia would need to be roughly €114,000 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Irish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Ireland cheaper than Estonia?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 20.6% more

Groceries

pay 48.9% more

Transportation

pay 65.4% more

Housing

pay 2.5 times more

Childcare

pay 49.1% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 35.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Ireland?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → €114,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

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 44% more than cities in Estonia.

Estonia

Narva 40%

Ireland

Cork 69%
Carlow 66%
Athlone 65%
Drogheda 64%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Ireland

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Estonia to Ireland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
3,145 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Estonia live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Estonia and Ireland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

EE
1.5
IE
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

EE
75%
IE
75%

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Estonia leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

EE
$3,741
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

EE
34.7
IE
38.8

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Estonia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

EE
13.0
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EE
7.8t
IE
6.0t

Estonia generally does better on environment, though Ireland leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

EE
35.4
IE
32.3
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EE
13.1%
IE
8.1%

Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Estonia leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

EE
8.3%
IE
4.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

EE
$34,418
IE
$131,592

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Estonia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

EE
79.3 yrs
IE
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EE
1.5
IE
3.4

Estonia generally does better on family life, though Ireland leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Estonian Tax and Customs Board (2016), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Ireland vs Estonia

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tallinn Rain: 27.3 in/yr (693 mm)
48° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tallinn Dublin
Jan–Mar 31°/21°F (0°/-6°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 57°/41°F (14°/5°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 65°/51°F (19°/10°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 40°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Tallinn Dublin
Jan 29°/20°F (-1.4°/-6.6°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.8°/-7.5°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 36°/24°F (2.0°/-4.3°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 47°/32°F (8.2°/0.1°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 59°/41°F (14.9°/5.0°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 66°/49°F (19.1°/9.7°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.1°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 68°/53°F (19.9°/11.6°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 58°/45°F (14.5°/7.2°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 48°/38°F (9.1°/3.3°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.3°/-1.2°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.6°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Can you move from Estonia to Ireland?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Estonia 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.

Estonia passport

Estonia passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
Estonia passport holders can enter Ireland without a visa.
Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Estonia

Visa Free
Ireland passport holders can enter Estonia without a visa.

Data: 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 Estonia?

Day-to-day costs in Ireland run about 69% higher than Estonia on average; specific cities can swing further.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €67,000 comparable salary, that's around €28,500 in Ireland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

With 32.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Estonia and Ireland.

Is Ireland safe for expats?

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Estonia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Estonia. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Estonia?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Estonia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 38.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 34.7 in Estonia. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Estonia: 79).

What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Estonia?

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 48°F in Tallinn. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Tallinn gets 27.3 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Estonia, the official language is Estonian.

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At a Glance

EE IE
Population 1,366,475 5,484,367
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Estonian English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +372 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112