You’ve made the decision to move to Ireland – in this blog post, I list the best cities to live in Ireland, the best websites to search for rental properties, and how much rent you can expect to pay per month.
In July 2020, my husband and I relocated from living in Queenstown New Zealand, to my home country of Ireland. Having lived abroad for over 10 years (also living in Whistler in Canada, and Sydney, Australia), it was a huge deal for us moving to Ireland. Despite being an Irish citizen (I’m from the cool city of Cork) and living in Ireland from the age of 3 up to 23 (when I moved to Australia) – there was still a lot for me to get my head around in moving to Ireland.
We faced a lot of hurdles in I’ve put together this incredibly detailed blog post to help you successfully find a place to rent in Ireland.
Is it hard to rent in Ireland?
I’ll start off by saying, it can be very difficult to find decent housing to rent in Ireland. It is a very competitive market and the demand FAR outweighs the supply! As a result, rent can be quite expensive (depending on the area you wish to move to). Before starting your search there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself first –
- How much rent can I afford?
- What area do you want to live in? Try to narrow it down to at least 5 areas.
- What does your ‘ideal rental property’ look like? How many bedrooms does it have? Does it have a garden? Parking? etc.
Related Read: Visiting Killarney National Park + 8 Things To Know Before You Go!
What do I need to do to be successful in finding a place to rent in Ireland
1. Join the local housing groups on Facebook
Just search in the Facebook search bar for relevant groups to join. I’ve found the best Facebook groups in the largest cities.
- In Cork – Cork – Rent, Let, House Hunting
- in Dublin – Rent in Dublin
- In Galway – Galway House Hunting for Sound People
- In Limerick – Rent in Limerick
- In Donegal – Donegal Property Rentals
2. Sign up with Irish letting agencies
Register your interest with Irish letting agencies like Sherry Fitzgerald and DNG that way you will be alerted when a new property is advertised and can be first in.
3. Good rental references are essential
Ensure you have good previous rental references (even if they are from overseas) and enough money for a deposit (typically one month’s rent) and your first month’s rent.
4. You will need a PPS number
You will need to have a PPS number before applying to a rental property as the landlord needs it to register your tenancy with the Residential Tenancy Board (RTB). Here is where to apply for your PPS Number.
5. View properties in person
Try to arrive in Ireland before you plan on starting a long-term rental, and stay in short-term accommodation (I’ve listed a whole bunch at the end of this article) so that you can search for properties without rushing/panicking and get to know the areas. You may fall in love with a specific area that you never previously thought of.
To get from property to property it may be a good idea to rent a car in Ireland, in the beginning. Public transport outside of the cities can be unreliable to say the least. We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
How much is the average rent in Ireland?
It can be quite expensive to live in Ireland especially if you plan on living in one of the big cities like Dublin or Cork. Dublin especially can be extortionate for rent; depending on the area, expect to pay up to €2,300 per month!
Yes, the average rent in Dublin now stands at €2,300 per month!
In Cork, on the other hand, the average rent in the city is now around €2,000. In Cork county areas, the average rent is now €1,458. At the other end of the scale counties like Leitrim, Donegal, Longford and Roscommon are significantly cheaper.
Best cities to rent in Ireland
Below is a list of the most popular counties (that is what states are called here in Ireland) with expats. They are popular for various different reasons e.g most of the jobs are located in Dublin or Cork, Dublin has a lot of tech jobs and Cork a lot of Pharmaceutical jobs. Whereas counties like Mayo and Donegal are more rural and scenic and offer a more relaxed lifestyle – rent is also cheaper in these counties.
Cork
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. It is known for the stunning West Cork area (gorgeous beaches!) and its lively city center filled with bars, restaurants, shops, and, of course, the famous English Market.
There are a lot of jobs in the Pharmaceutical industry here thanks to large companies like Pfizer and Novartis located in Ringaskiddy. Tech giant Apple’s European Headquarters is located on the Northside of the City. The most desirable areas to rent in Cork include Douglas, Ballincollig, Cobh, Carrigaline, Kinsale, and Cork City. The average rent in Cork City is around €2,000, and in Cork County is €1,458.
Related Read: 22 BEST Things to Do in Cork with Kids (Popular Attractions & Hidden Gems)
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and the largest city in Ireland. It is where most people aim to live when moving to Ireland but rents here are notoriously expensive – same for buying property. You will struggle to find an affordable rental property in the City Center with average rents in the CBD at just under €2,200 per month.
Dublin is a tech hub with giants like Google, Facebook, and Twitter located in the city’s aptly named Silicon Docks and Microsoft located out in Leopardstown.
Areas like Howth and Skerries are desirable and the most expenisive because they are pretty, safe seaside areas. Cheaper areas to rent in Dublin include Swords, North City Central, and CityWest. The average rent in Dublin as a whole now stands at €2,300!
Galway
Galway is a quirky city and is a big student town (the National University of Ireland is located here). It’s one of my favorite cities in Ireland and it’s filled with artists and Irish music. Galway is also the gateway to the stunning Aran Islands.
The most desirable areas to rent in Galway include Galway City, Clifden (a very beautiful area), Oranmore, Cong, and Spiddal. Average rents in Galway City are €2,114.
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in Ireland and is a popular student city. I attended the University of Limerick and loved living in Limerick during my student years. Some of the most desirable areas to rent in Limerick include Castletroy (where the University of Limerick is located); Croom; Adare and Ennis Road.
The average monthly rent in Limerick is €2,107. In fact, the people of Limerick have one of the highest amounts of disposable income compared to anywhere else in Ireland.
Mayo
Mayo seems to be a particularly popular area with expats – particularly those of retirement age or close to retirement. It’s located on the Wild Atlantic Way and has gorgeously wild beaches as well as charming towns like Westport. The best areas to rent in Mayo include Westport, Ballina, and Claremorris. The average price of rent in Mayo is a super-reasonable €1,222 per month!
Donegal
Located in the very North of the Republic of Ireland and bordering Northern Ireland – Donegal is one of the cheapest areas in Ireland to rent and to buy property. It’s home to some of the best beaches (and surfing) in Ireland and is becoming more and more popular with expats.
The best areas to live in Donegal include Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Donegal Town, and Letterkenny. The average listed rent is now €1,154.
Where is the cheapest rent in Ireland
Rents are consistently high across the country, with the cheapest found in Leitrim – at €517 a month. Along with Leitrim, the cheapest places to rent in Ireland also include Longford and Roscommon, at €572 and €595, respectively.
Best websites to search for rental properties in Ireland
- Facebook Groups are a great place to search. In Cork – try Cork – Rent, Let, House Hunting and Rooms to Rent; in Dublin – Rent in Dublin; in Galway – Galway House Hunting for Sound People; in Limerick – Rent in Limerick; in Donegal – Donegal Property Rentals.
- Daft.ie is great for houses and apartments for rent
- Myhome.ie has a small selection of houses for rent in Ireland
- Let.ie is another good rental property website
If you’ve found the place you want to rent, then, there are several documents you will need to give to the Letting Agent or Landlord. Make sure to have these with you at every property viewing to give you a better chance at being successful (first in best dressed as they say).
Applying for a rental property in Ireland
The documents you should have at every viewing include:
- A form of I.D like your driver’s licence, passport, and your PPSN (Personal Public Service Number)
- References from past landlords
- A current work reference
- A current payslip or bank statement that shows your income
What you need to know about paying for utilities in Ireland
Utilities are typically not included in the monthly rent price in Ireland so make sure you have additional savings to pay electricity/gas and WiFi.When renting in Ireland, you need to set up the utilities accounts (gas, electric, WiFi etc.) in your own name. Ask your landlord which companies supply your gas and electricity, as it’s easier to stick with the same companies. You can of course shop around to get the best deal.
WiFi and TV providers are competitive in Ireland, so make sure you shop around to get the best deal. As well as the above, you will also need to pay for waste collection (we pay around €30 a month in a rural area; it’s typically cheaper in urban areas).
You don’t need to pay water charges in Ireland.
The best short-term apartment rentals in Ireland
I think the best thing you can do when searching for an apartment in Ireland is rent a short-term apartment for a week or more so that you can get a feel for the area and decide if this really is the right area for you to rent in.
Below I’ve listed some of the best short-term apartment rentals available in each area.
Cork:
- River View Apartment – A luxurious apartment with river views and a terrace just a few minutes’ walk from the city center. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. This is a quiet part of town. It costs from €285 per night.
- Oakleigh House – This popular one-bedroom apartment is a 6 km walk from the city center and is spacious with a full kitchen. Past guests have been impressed with how bright, clean and spacious it is. This apartment tends to sell out quick, FYI! It costs approx. €200 per night.
- College View Apartments – Located directly opposite the University (UCC), this apartment is just a 5 minute walk from the center. The apartment is large and bright and comes with a full kitchen. This one costs from approx. €100 per night.
- If you can mange hostel living, then, this is a great way to save money in the beginning. And Sheilas Cork Hostel in the city center is a brilliant option. It’s a cozy, friendly place to stay and rooms here cost from €25 per night.
Dublin:
- Beckett Locke – This Aparthotel is highly-rated on booking.com (scoring 9/10) although the units here are small they come with a dishwasher, toaster, stovetop, air-con, seating area and terrace. It’s location on North Wall Avenue is just 2 km from Dublin City Center. Rates here start at €110 per night.
- Zanzibar Locke – Conveniently located on Ormond Quay Lower this aparthotel is superbly rated by past guests (9.2/10) who say it’s spotlessly clean and centrally located. The units here are small, but, they come with a dishwasher, toaster, stovetop, air-con, seating area. There’s also a lovely garden area on-site plus a gym. Rates here start from €160 per night.
- Pembroke Suite – With an outstanding guest rating of 9.4/10, this guest suite boasts a spacious bedroom with a seating area, kitchenette with a coffee station, toaster, and refrigerator. There’s a private entrance and a lovely outdoor patio. It’s located just 500 meters from the Grand Canal and within easy walking distance of the CBD. This one costs from €170 per night.
- As for the best hostel to stay long-term in Dublin, I choose Jacobs Inn in the city center (just 500 meters from O’Connell Street). It’s a modern and social place to stay. A bed in a dorm costs from €25 per night.
Limerick:
This apartment in Castletroy is near the university and close to a golf course and shopping center, this luxury riverside apartment in the cute village of Adare is another great choice!
Galway:
This luxurious apartment in Salthill, a short walk from the city is gorgeous! And this apartment in Eyre Square in the CBD is a great choice too! As for hostels in Galway – we loved the Nest Boutique Hostel. It’s so stylish and almost like a hotel (without the price tag!)
Mayo:
We love this newly renovated waterfront apartment situated on The Quay area it comes with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Donegal:
This Letterkenny town center apartment or this seaview apartment in Bundoran are excellent options.
Thanks for reading my blog!
I hope this blog post has helped you to get your head around renting in Ireland Hopefully now you’re well equipped to go out and find your dream rental property.
Thanks for reading and if you’re interested I have lots more blog posts on Ireland, like –
How to Spend 3 Days in Cork, Ireland: A Complete Guide
Best Free Things to do in Cork County
15 Best Free Things to do in Cork City
The best beaches you must visit in West Cork
Visiting Blarney Castle + 7 Things You Need to Know
Last Updated on November 8, 2024 by snaphappytravel