Moving to Massachusetts from Ireland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Ireland to Massachusetts — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Ireland to Massachusetts, you would find that Massachusetts is 29.7% more expensive than Ireland overall. A €65,374 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly $75,299 in Massachusetts to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Ireland to Massachusetts.
What does your salary buy?
€65,374 → $75,299
To maintain the same standard of living in Massachusetts
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 9.2% more
Groceries
pay 38.6% more
Transportation
pay 36.3% less
Housing
pay 28.5% more
Childcare
pay 2.8 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.1% 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 Massachusetts cost about 20% more than cities in Ireland.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Massachusetts
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Ireland to Massachusetts, based on official data.
people moved from Ireland to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
59.105,858
Ireland
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ireland to Massachusetts.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Ireland performs better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Ireland performs better than Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Ireland performs better than Massachusetts across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Dublin | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) | 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) | 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) | 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) | 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dublin | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) |
| Feb | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) | 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) |
| Mar | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) | 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) |
| Apr | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) | 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) |
| Jun | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) | 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) | 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) |
| Sep | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) | 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) | 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) |
| Nov | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) | 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) |
| Dec | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) | 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C) |
Data:
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Ireland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States 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 Massachusetts than Ireland?
Costs in Massachusetts and Ireland are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Massachusetts?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,825 in Massachusetts on a €65,374 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Massachusetts?
Usually fine from major cities in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts compared to Ireland?
Ireland performs better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Massachusetts compared to Ireland?
The average high temperature in Boston is 59°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Boston receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.
What language do they speak in Massachusetts?
The official language in Massachusetts is English. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.
