Moving to Ireland from Massachusetts

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Massachusetts to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 14.8% cheaper than Massachusetts. A $75,000 salary in Massachusetts would need to be roughly €57,000 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle. 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 Massachusetts?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 3.7% less

Groceries

pay 25.0% less

Transportation

pay 45.1% more

Housing

pay 27.7% less

Childcare

pay 64.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 1.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8925 EUR (October 2026)

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?

$75,000 → €57,000

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 18% less than cities in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts

Cambridge 85%
Amherst 66%

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 Massachusetts to Ireland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
35,190 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in United States 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 Massachusetts and Ireland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MA
28.8%
IE
27.9%

Ireland performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

MA
91.9%
IE
97.2%

Ireland performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MA
4.7%
IE
4.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MA
$87,892
IE
$131,592

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Massachusetts leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MA
79.0 yrs
IE
83.0 yrs

Ireland performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all family life metrics.

Weather in Ireland vs Massachusetts

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Boston Rain: 43.8 in/yr (1112 mm)
59° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Boston Dublin
Jan–Mar 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Boston Dublin
Jan 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Can you move from Massachusetts to Ireland?

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

United States passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Ireland without a visa.
Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Ireland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Massachusetts?

Generally yes: Ireland runs about 15% cheaper than Massachusetts on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

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 $75,000 comparable salary, that's around €14,250 in Ireland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

Working remotely from Ireland's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Massachusetts and Ireland.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Massachusetts?

Ireland performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 59°F in Boston. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Boston gets 43.8 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

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

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At a Glance

IE
Population 7,154,084 5,484,367
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +353
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112