Moving to Ireland from Slovakia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Slovakia to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 72.9% more expensive than Slovakia overall. A €65,700 salary in Slovakia would need to be roughly €106,122 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?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Slovakia to Ireland.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 €106,122

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 49.9% more

Groceries

pay 25.1% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 2.2 times more

Childcare

pay 72.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.1 times 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 57% more than cities in Slovakia.

Slovakia

Zilina 42%
Nitra 40%

Ireland

Athlone 66%
Sligo 63%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Slovakia to Ireland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
13,573 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Slovakia 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 Slovakia and Ireland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SK
0.7
IE
0.9
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

SK
74%
IE
75%

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Slovakia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SK
$3,230
IE
$8,772
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SK
36.8
IE
40.6

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Slovakia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SK
30.0
IE
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SK
5.5t
IE
6.0t

Slovakia generally does better on environment, though Ireland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SK
33.0
IE
32.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SK
2.4%
IE
22.2%

Slovakia generally does better on infrastructure, though Ireland leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SK
5.8%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SK
$39,300
IE
$115,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SK
78.3 yrs
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SK
4.8
IE
3.5

Ireland generally does better on family life, though Slovakia leads in education spending.

Data: Tax Directorate, Slovakia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bratislava Rain: 22.6 in/yr (574 mm)
61° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bratislava Dublin
Jan–Mar 44°/30°F (7°/-1°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/51°F (22°/10°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/15°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 49°/37°F (9°/3°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Bratislava Dublin
Jan 38°/27°F (3.1°/-2.8°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 42°/29°F (5.8°/-1.7°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.7°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.0°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 71°/51°F (21.8°/10.6°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.4°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.8°/16.2°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (27.6°/15.9°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 71°/53°F (21.9°/11.5°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 60°/44°F (15.6°/6.6°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 48°/37°F (9.0°/2.7°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 39°/29°F (3.7°/-1.5°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Slovakia 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.

Slovakia passport

Slovakia passport holder visiting Ireland

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

Ireland passport holder visiting Slovakia

Visa Free
Ireland passport holders can enter Slovakia 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 Slovakia?

Day-to-day costs in Ireland run about 62% higher than Slovakia on average; specific cities can swing further.

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 €65,700 comparable salary, that's around €26,530 in Ireland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

With 32.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Slovakia and Ireland.

Is Ireland safe for expats?

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Slovakia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Slovakia. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Slovakia?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Slovakia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 36.8 in Slovakia. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Slovakia: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 61°F in Bratislava. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bratislava gets 22.6 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

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

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At a Glance

SK IE
Population 5,431,252 5,275,004
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Slovak English, Irish
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +421 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112