City in County Cork, Ireland
Cost of living in Cork
How much a month costs in Cork
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $3,380–4,730 (€3,000–4,200).
Prices in Cork
Typical 2026 ranges in EUR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | EUR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | €1,400–2,000 | $1,580–2,250 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | €1,100–1,550 | $1,240–1,740 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | €25–45 | $28–51 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | €100–190 | $113–214 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | €11–16 | $12.4–18.0 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | €24–42 | $27–47 |
| Cappuccino | €3–4 | $3.4–4.5 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | €5–7 | $5.6–7.9 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | €2–3 | $2.3–3.4 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | €10–15 | $11.3–16.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | €15–30 | $17–34 |
| Gym membership (month) | €35–60 | $39–68 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | €15–25 | $17–28 |
Value for money: 15/100
A value score of 15/100 means Cork gives more quality of life per dollar than 14% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 88/100. It's the 6th most affordable of 7 places we cover in Ireland.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Ireland
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
Cheaper alternatives to Cork
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Sibiu | Romania | $1,160–1,690 |
| Santiago de Compostela | Spain | $1,580–2,250 |
| Toledo | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Córdoba | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Coimbra | Portugal | $1,800–2,590 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Cork?
About $2,250–3,150 on a lean budget, $3,380–4,730 for a comfortable month and $6,190–9,560 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Cork?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs €1,400–2,000 ($1,580–2,250) a month in the center and €1,100–1,550 ($1,240–1,740) outside it.
How much does food cost in Cork?
A local meal is €11–16 ($12.4–18.0); a mid-range restaurant is €24–42 ($27–47) per person.
Is Ireland expensive?
Prices in Ireland are about 85% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Cork
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Cork City Council
- Cork Airport
- Transport for Ireland
- Irish Rail
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.