Moving to Ireland from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to Ireland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 15.7% more expensive than Germany overall. A €65,700 salary in Germany would need to be roughly €78,294 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.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and Ireland.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → €78,294
To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 11.4% less
Groceries
pay 1.0% more
Transportation
pay 26.8% more
Housing
pay 34.8% more
Childcare
pay 32.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 37.7% 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 13% more than cities in Germany.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Ireland.
Who's moving to Ireland?
Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.
- 305,197
- 146,211
- 44,229
- 35,190
- 25,371
- 25,104
- · · ·
-
10.16,475
Germany
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Ireland compared to Germany.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Ireland performs significantly better than Germany across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though Ireland leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Germany generally does better on family life, though Ireland leads in life expectancy.
Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Berlin | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) |
Data:
Deutscher Wetterdienst,
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.
Germany passport holder visiting Ireland
Visa Free
Ireland passport holder visiting Germany
Visa FreeData: 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 Germany?
On average Ireland is around 19% pricier than Germany, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Ireland?
Budget about €19,574 for 3 months in Ireland (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ireland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Ireland: 32.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ireland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Ireland safe for expats?
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Germany?
Germany generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 45.2 in Germany. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in Ireland?
The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Germany, the official language is German.
