✦ Compare countries
Ireland vs United Kingdom
United Kingdom is {pct} {word} than Ireland. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United Kingdom to match Ireland.
Ireland vs United Kingdom at a glance — United Kingdom is 9% cheaper than Ireland overall. Average net salary: $2,900/mo vs $3,300/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 40%.
| Ireland | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Cost of living index | 135 | 123 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 40% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 23% | 20% |
| Social security (employee) | 4% | 8% |
| Corporate tax | 12.5% | 25% |
| Capital gains | 33% | 24% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $3,300/mo | $2,900/mo |
| Minimum wage | $2,772/mo✓ | $2,050/mo |
| GDP per capita | $131,592✓ | $57,602✓ |
| Inflation (annual) | 2.2%✓ | 3.9%✓ |
| Life expectancy | 83 yr✓ | 81 yr✓ |
| Quality of life | ||
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | High |
| Digital-nomad visa | No | No |
✓ = official statistics (Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →
⚖ Related comparisons
? Frequently asked questions
Is Ireland cheaper than United Kingdom?
United Kingdom is about 9% cheaper than Ireland overall — its cost-of-living index is 123 versus 135 for Ireland.
How much do you need to earn in United Kingdom to live like in Ireland?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Ireland is worth about $68,567 in United Kingdom. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Ireland or United Kingdom?
Ireland has the lower top income-tax rate — 40% versus 45% in United Kingdom.