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Ireland vs Spain

Spain is {pct} {word} than Ireland. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in Spain to match Ireland.

Ireland vs Spain at a glance — Spain is 26% cheaper than Ireland overall. Average net salary: $1,900/mo vs $3,300/mo. Top income tax: 47% vs 40%.

IrelandSpain
Cost of living
Cost of living index135100
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)40%47%
VAT / sales tax23%21%
Social security (employee)4%6.4%
Corporate tax12.5%25%
Capital gains33%28%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$3,300/mo$1,900/mo
Minimum wage$2,772/mo✓$1,652/mo✓
GDP per capita$131,592✓$38,627✓
Inflation (annual)2.2%✓2.7%✓
Life expectancy83 yr✓84 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Digital-nomad visaNoYes

✓ = official statistics (Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is Ireland cheaper than Spain?

Spain is about 26% cheaper than Ireland overall — its cost-of-living index is 100 versus 135 for Ireland.

How much do you need to earn in Spain to live like in Ireland?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Ireland is worth about $55,720 in Spain. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Ireland or Spain?

Ireland has the lower top income-tax rate — 40% versus 47% in Spain.