Moving to Ireland from Netherlands

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Netherlands to Ireland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Netherlands to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 8.4% cheaper than Netherlands overall. A €65,577 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly €64,953 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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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Netherlands and Ireland.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 €64,953

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 23.5% less

Groceries

pay 1.6% less

Transportation

pay 0.7% more

Housing

pay 1.7% more

Childcare

pay 38.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 14.8% 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.

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 3% less than cities in Netherlands.

Netherlands

Rotterdam 72%
Eindhoven 67%
Zwolle 62%

Ireland

Athlone 66%
Sligo 63%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Netherlands to Ireland.

Living there in 2020
5,708 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands 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

The numbers behind daily life in Ireland compared to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
IE
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
IE
2.8

Netherlands generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
IE
40.6

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
IE
6.0t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NL
44.4
IE
32.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
IE
22.2%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Ireland leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NL
3.6%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
IE
$115,600

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Netherlands leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
IE
3.5

Netherlands performs better than Ireland across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Dublin
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Dublin
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Free
Ireland passport holders can enter Netherlands 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 Netherlands?

Ireland and Netherlands are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

Budget about €16,238 for 3 months in Ireland (based on a €65,577 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?

Netherlands generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

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

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At a Glance

NL IE
Population 17,400,824 5,275,004
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Dutch English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +31 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112