Moving to Canada from Ireland
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Ireland to Canada — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Ireland to Canada, you would find that Canada is 9.5% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,700 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly CA$88,142 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Ireland to Canada.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → CA$88,142
To maintain the same standard of living in Canada
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 13.4% less
Groceries
pay 15.1% more
Transportation
pay 39.5% less
Housing
pay 13.7% less
Childcare
pay 19.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.0% less
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 Canada cost about 18% less than cities in Ireland.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Canada
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?
Real numbers on people moving from Ireland to Canada, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Canada?
Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.
- 720,083
- 699,190
- 633,547
- 537,504
- 273,226
- 254,831
- · · ·
-
46.30,502
Ireland
Key Indicator Comparison
How Ireland and Canada stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
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 Canada leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada 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 generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.
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
Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Ireland leads in internet access.
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
Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in top income tax rate.
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
Canada generally does better on family life, though Ireland leads in infant mortality.
Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, 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 | Dublin | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dublin | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) |
| Feb | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) |
| Mar | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) |
| Apr | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) |
| May | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) |
| Nov | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) |
| Dec | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) |
Data:
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service,
Meteorological Service of Canada
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.
Ireland passport holder visiting Canada
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Canada passport holder visiting Ireland
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 Canada than Ireland?
Generally yes: Canada runs about 17% cheaper than Ireland on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Canada?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €65,700 comparable salary, that's around CA$22,036 in Canada for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Canada?
With 42.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Canada can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Ireland and Canada.
Is Canada safe for expats?
Ireland generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 88% of people in Canada feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Canada compared to Ireland?
Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).
What's the weather like in Canada compared to Ireland?
The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.
What language do they speak in Canada?
The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.
