Moving to Ireland from Washington
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Washington to Ireland — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Washington to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 9.8% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly €60,400 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 Washington?
The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 6.1% less
Groceries
pay 20.6% less
Transportation
pay 34.3% more
Housing
pay 14.6% less
Childcare
pay 62.5% 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.
What salary do you need in Ireland?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €60,400
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 8% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Washington to Ireland, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Washington and Ireland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Ireland performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Ireland performs significantly better than Washington 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 Washington leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Ireland performs significantly better than Washington across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Ireland vs Washington
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Seattle | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/38°F (10°/3°C) | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 74°/55°F (23°/13°C) | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/41°F (11°/5°C) | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Seattle | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/37°F (8.4°/2.7°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) |
| Feb | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.7°C) | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) |
| Mar | 54°/39°F (12.1°/4.1°C) | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) |
| Apr | 58°/42°F (14.7°/5.7°C) | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 65°/47°F (18.2°/8.5°C) | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) |
| Jun | 70°/52°F (21.1°/11.1°C) | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) |
| Jul | 76°/56°F (24.3°/13.1°C) | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) |
| Aug | 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.3°C) | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) |
| Sep | 71°/52°F (21.4°/11.2°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/46°F (15.4°/7.7°C) | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 51°/40°F (10.5°/4.4°C) | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) |
| Dec | 46°/36°F (7.6°/2.0°C) | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service
Can you move from Washington 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 holder visiting Ireland
Visa Free
Ireland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Washington?
Generally yes: Ireland runs about 10% cheaper than Washington 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 €15,100 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 Washington and Ireland.
How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Washington?
Ireland performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 60°F in Seattle. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Seattle gets 37.5 in.
What language do they speak in Ireland?
The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Washington, the official language is English.
