Live and work in Dublin
Irish capital Dublin is also known as the ‘City of Living Culture’. Located on Ireland’s east coast, the city is split into two parts by the River Liffey. Moving to this city is becoming increasingly popular for several reasons.
The city has a rich history and is known for its cosy atmosphere, great Irish pubs, not to mention its wonderful Celtic music. Moreover, there are dozens of special attractions in the city. Dublin has a vibrant nightlife and Irish culture. We could tell you a lot more about what it’s like to live and work in Dublin. On this page, therefore, you can read more about Dublin and Ireland in general.
Latest jobs in Ireland
Working in Dublin
Working conditions in Dublin
Living and working in Dublin is incredibly fun thanks to its beautiful nature and unique culture. There are 10 public holidays in Dublin, of which St Patrick’s Day is considered the ultimate, bank holidays. Furthermore, both Irish and English are the official languages of Ireland. So, in principle, you should be able to get by just fine in Dublin.
A typical working day lasts from 09:00 to 17:30, with an hour break between 12:00 and 14:00. A typical working week is 39 hours.
Salaries in Dublin
The minimum wage in Ireland in 2022 is around €1775 per month. In addition, the average income of workers in Ireland in 2022 is €3,683 per month.
A standard tax rate of 20% will be deducted from your monthly income. You may also have to pay more tax. The exact tax rate depends on how much you earn and your place in the tax system. Click on the following link if you want to find out exactly how your tax rate is calculated in Ireland: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax/how_your_tax_is_calculated.html
Once you have signed an employment contract, you will need to apply for a PPS (Personal Public Service Number) and then give it to your employer. You apply for this number at your local Social Welfare Office. For this, you will need a passport and a bank statement. It is important here that you request a declaration of wage tax deduction (if necessary) at the tax office. This will give you a Tax Credit Certificate, which will calculate your place in the tax system and your tax rate.
Besides income tax, and social charges tax, USC (Universal Social Charge) tax is also deducted from your salary.
Public holidays in Dublin
If you’re going to live and work in Dublin, of course you’ll want to know exactly which days you’re off. Below you will therefore find a list of public holidays in Dublin:
- New Year’s Day (1 January)
- St. Patrick’s Day (17 March)
- Day of Remembrance and Recognition (18 March)
- Easter Monday
- 1st Monday in May: May Bank Holiday
- 1st Monday in June: June Bank Holiday
- 1st Monday in August: August Bank Holiday
- Last Monday in October: October Bank Holiday
- 25 December: Christmas
- 26 December: Saint Stephen’s Day
Work culture in Dublin
Before you start living and working in Dublin, you’ll naturally want to know a thing or two about Dublin’s work culture. In this section, we will therefore tell you more about it.
First of all, the Irish are very friendly and modest and the working environment is usually very friendly and informal. For instance, everyone calls each other by first name and they never get straight to the point, instead starting with small talk. Teamwork is also central in the workplace. In general, people work together a lot and support each other.
In addition, sociability and humour in the workplace is incredibly important to the Irish. Even after a hard day’s work, the Irish enjoy going to the pub with their colleagues. The Irish see this as an opportunity to meet new people and build relationships.
Networking in Dublin
One of the advantages of moving abroad is that you get the chance to expand your international network. You can benefit a lot from an international network in the future. You can learn a lot about your field, different (work) cultures and it also increases your chances of finding a new job abroad.
Want to get in touch with other expats in Dublin? Then join the Facebook groups Expats in Dublin and Expats in Ireland.
Want to get in touch with other professionals in your field? Then you can, for example, attend various networking events and job fairs in Dublin. For a list of all events, check websites such as Eventbrite, Meetup and Network Ireland.
Living in Dublin
Advantages of living and working in Dublin
Filled with architectural highlights, Dublin has a lot to offer expats. From the cosy Irish pubs and beautiful monuments to the cheerful and hospitable locals. The city has an atmosphere you can hardly ignore and you will find a mix of historic buildings and modern architecture.
Accommodation in Dublin
Dublin city centre
The standard of living in Dublin can be compared to the standard of living in Amsterdam. For example, a 1-bedroom flat in Dublin city centre costs an average of €1,895. For a 3-bedroom flat in the heart of Dublin, you’ll pay an average of €3,274. Since rental prices in Dublin are on the high side, many people choose to look for a flat outside the city. Renting the same rooms outside the city centre or in areas around Dublin is obviously slightly cheaper.
Below are some websites where you can find accommodation in Dublin:
- https://www.nestpick.com/
- https://www.spotahome.com/dublin
- https://housinganywhere.com/s/Dublin-Ireland
Dublin neighbourhoods
Are you moving to Ireland and still looking for a flat in Dublin? Read more about the most popular neighbourhoods in Dublin below and find out which one suits you best:
Temple Bar
Temple Bar is one of the city’s most famous spots and famous for its dynamic atmosphere and positive energy. This is clearly palpable! This district has a history dating back to the Vikings. There is a lot of live music played in the pubs here and many street performers entertaining passers-by. Moreover, a Saturday market is held here where you can taste artisanal cheese and delicious oysters.
Francis Street
This antiques district has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century. As you browse around the eclectic mix of furniture shops, chic art galleries, art shops and cafes, you’ll soon lose track of time!
The Liberties
You can safely call this neighbourhood the authentic old Dublin. This district was once famous for its market traders and whisky distilleries. There are great sights to be found in this district, such as John’s Lane Church with the tallest church tower in the city and The Fumbally, an alternative café with delicious food and freshly ground coffee.
Guinness, Ireland’s iconic dark beer, is brewed here at St James’s Gate. Visit the Guinness Storehouse where you can tap your own perfect pint. Learn all about the Guinness brewing process here and relax in the beautiful Gravity Bar, with panoramic views over the city.
Public transport in Dublin
The public transport network in Dublin is very extensive. For example, you can travel by bus, tram and DART.
The ov network in Dublin consists mainly of bus lines. There are also two tram lines (Luas). If you want to visit areas around Dublin, the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) is the best means of transport. The DART is the train of the Dublin region of Ireland.
A Leap Card is very popular. This is a kind of ov chip card for public transport in Dublin and cheaper than individual tickets. If you want to travel a lot on public transport for 3 days, the Leap Visitor Card is recommended. This card gives you 72 hours of unlimited access to all public transport in and around Dublin (including DART). The card costs €16 and the 72 hours starts from the moment you use the card for the first time. Checking out is not necessary with the Leap Visitor Card. Checking in is. There are also Leap Visitor Cards that are valid for 24 hours (€8) and 7 days (€32).
How does the bus in Dublin work?
There are several buses in Dublin: the regular bus (bus company Dublin Bus), airport transfer buses and hop on hop off buses. Regular buses in Dublin are often double-deckers and they are easily recognisable by their distinctive blue/yellow colour. There are dozens of stops and bus routes in and around Dublin city centre and you can even travel to the coastal town of Howth with bus company Dublin Bus. This town is 18 km away from Dublin city centre.
In addition, you can also use the airport transfer buses in Dublin called the Airlink buses. These double-decker buses take you from the airport to Dublin city centre and vice versa in just under half an hour. The nice thing is that you never have to wait long for an Airlink bus, as a bus departs from the airport to the city centre every 10-15 minutes. A return ticket costs around €9.
And then there are the popular hop on hop off buses in Dublin. This bus takes you past all the famous sights in Dublin. You can already buy a ticket for the hop on hop off bus from €25. With this ticket, you can travel unlimitedly on this bus and get on and off as many times as you want at a famous Dublin landmark.
Eating in Dublin
Ireland is not necessarily known for culinary delights. Still, you can eat deliciously in Dublin, as there are many different restaurants. Moreover, Dublin is also multicultural.
As Irish cuisine is increasingly being ‘rediscovered’, Dublin’s best chefs are revisiting old recipes and using fresh local produce. Think salmon, shellfish and Irish beef. You can taste this new Irish cuisine best in restaurants with class. Here are some restaurant tips:
The Winding Stair
This is one of the most popular restaurants of the moment. The fairly simple dishes are extremely well prepared with very good and tasty ingredients. Examples include fish such as hake and haddock. Just keep in mind that this restaurant works with shifts.
Red Torch Ginger
Red Torch Ginger is the best Thai restaurant in town and almost unusually hip for a Thai restaurant. The place is packed with young people. The restaurant has an extensive menu and you can choose from all kinds of finger food, salads and curries. There is also an extensive drinks menu with all sorts of different cocktails and gin tonics.
Simons Place coffee shop
In the George’s Street Arcade, a covered market, sits Simons Place. A coffee and lunch shop with homemade cakes, scones and madeleines. Delicious for breakfast or coffee.
Nightlife in Dublin
If Dublin is known for anything, it is its vibrant nightlife! And of course especially the cosy Irish pubs. At any time of the day you have the opportunity to drink a Guinness. But of course also an Iris Tea or an Irish whiskey. The Irish often pop into the pub after work for a beer before going home.
Dublin’s most famous and popular nightlife area is undoubtedly the Temple Bar District. The famous red pub Temple Bar is a real landmark. In addition, the streets around Temple Bar are full of pubs and cosy restaurants. But of course there’s more than just Temple Bar alone, in the Temple Bar District you’ll also find some cheaper nightlife.
If you like something a little more exclusive, we recommend Dawson Street. Either way, Dublin is full of incredibly fun and cozy clubs and pubs where you can spend an evening/night out.
Dublin’s landscape and nature
Dublin is a good base for nature trips. The famous green hills can already be seen from the city centre. The impressive coastline with its beautiful cliffs is not far from there either. Below we list the most beautiful nature spots near Dublin:
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains are actually one of the most beautiful places in Ireland. Located just under an hour’s drive from Dublin, this mountain range offers many glimpses into the great Irish countryside!
Lake Guinness
This lake obviously has something to do with the beer Guinness. In fact, the lake belongs to the former Guinness estate. Moreover, the dark colour of the water resembles the colour of Guinness beer and the shape resembles a large pint. The trip there is already stunning over friendly Irish valleys. Many famous films and series are shot in this region, including Vikings.
Glendalough
This the most famous place in the Wicklow Mountains. Glendalough literally means ‘valley of the two lakes’ and you will find the ‘Lower Lough’ and ‘Upper Lough’. On a clear day, it is possible to look deep into the crystal-clear water and far across the valley. At the foot of the Lower Lough lies an ancient and, above all, mystical monastery.
Where is Dublin located?
Dublin is located in the province of Leinster on the east coast of Ireland. The River Liffey runs straight through the city, making Dublin into two parts, so to speak.
The population of Dublin
Dublin will have a population of about 1,256,000 in 2022. Irish people are very friendly, sincere and hospitable. Lonely Planet has even once named Ireland the friendliest country. The Irish are happy to chat with you over a Guinness beer and humour is very important to them. They like black humour, but also have self-deprecating humour.
The Irish are also very down-to-earth and approachable. They spend a lot of time in the pub getting to know new people and family is also very important. They treat everyone equally and love music and good food.
What to do in Dublin Ireland
Guinness
Dublin’s Guinness brewery first opened its doors in the second half of the eighteenth century. Since then, the brewery has become Ireland’s national drink. Although there are very few pubs across the country where the jet-black beer cannot be found.
Today, the former Guinness brewery is home to the Guinness Storehouse. Here you can take the Guinness Experience tour. During this tour of the former brewery, you will learn all about Guinness and the brewing process. At the top of the tower is a café where you can have a delicious pint of Guinness with views over Dublin after the tour.
Dublin Bay
This beautiful bay located adjacent to the city centre makes the city very special. Dublin Bay has beautiful beaches spread over a 10-kilometre-wide inlet. You will also find one of Dublin’s finest golf courses in this bay. This is the Royal Dublin Golf Club. Located on an island, this club also has great ecological significance. Indeed, it is the habitat of many different waterbirds and waders that like to linger at Dollymount beach.
Temple-Bar
We’ve mentioned it several times now! Dublin’s Temple Bar District is THE nightlife area of Dublin. This cultural nightlife area is also home to Temple-Bar. The pubs in this area provide a great night out and plenty of nightly entertainment. On weekends, book markets are also frequent in Temple Bar Square. Cow’s Lane Market regularly hosts a fashion and design market.
Dublin Castle
At the heart of Dublin city lies the stately Dublin Castle. To visit this impressive castle, you have to take your time. Dublin Castle is in fact spread over about 44,000 square metres. There are two museums, an international conference centre, two cafes, two gardens, a library and a number of government buildings.
Parks
Dublin has a number of insanely beautiful city parks. The largest park is Phoenix Park with an area of almost 7 km². Once intended as a royal park, it was home to many pheasants and deer. This park is also home to Dublin Zoo and the beautiful Ashtown Castle. Other beautiful parks in Dublin include St Stephen’s Green and Meerion Square.
Kilmainham Gaol – former prison in Dublin
The former prison called Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin is a special place. In fact, between 1796 and 1924, criminals, murderers and independence fighters of Ireland were held here. Prisoners were even executed here. Now this place is a popular Dublin landmark and you can visit the former prison yourself. For instance, you will find exhibitions on political prisoners from all over the world and you can take part in a tour of the building.
In this blog, you’ll find even more things to do in vibrant Dublin!
Healthcare in Dublin
Healthcare in Ireland is modern, safe and one of the best in the whole world. However, Irish healthcare is somewhat lacking in luxury. This is reflected in the hospitals with, for example, 30 beds per dormitory. Ireland also has long queues for medical procedures. You can overcome this problem by insuring yourself privately in addition to being publicly insured.
So, to complement public healthcare, you can also opt for private healthcare. Almost half of the Irish population uses this. Examples of private insurers include VHI Healthcare, Laya Healthcare, Irish Life Health and HSF Health Plan. An average private health insurance policy costs around €1,000 for adults and around €500 for children.
Visa and travel insurance Dublin
As Ireland is part of the EU, you do not need a visa to live and work in Dublin. Being able to show a valid ID is enough to enter the country and the city. If you stay in Ireland for more than 3 months, you must start a job or study and have health insurance. If you move to Ireland, you must register with the local social security office in Dublin. Once you have a job, you need to apply for a Personal Public Service Number. This can all be easily arranged online.
So you are automatically insured if you are an EU resident.
The Medical Card allows you to use all public health services without having to pay for them (few people qualify for this category, such as the long-term sick or those on low incomes).
Safety in Dublin
Crime in Dublin, as in the rest of Ireland, is very low. Just watch out for pickpockets and purse snatchers!
Emigrating to Ireland
Moving to Dublin
Moving internationally is, of course, no easy task. There are obviously a few things involved. To get you started with your move to Dublin, we have listed a number of international removal companies. We have also created a checklist for moving abroad. Moreover, in this section you will read what the average costs of moving internationally are and we will share some useful tools with you.
When it comes to choosing a moving company, you obviously want to be well informed about the services and costs. We therefore recommend that you request several moving quotes so that you can compare moving companies. This way, you can make an informed choice and save on the cost of the move. On the ReloAdvisor website, for example, you can request up to 5 free moving quotes.
Usually, moving companies also want to know the volume of your household contents in cubic metres so that they can calculate exactly what the move to Dublin will cost approximately.
The price of an international move depends on many different factors and is different for everyone. However, the average cost for a move to Ireland is between €3,500 and €4,200.
Opening a bank account in Dublin
Opening a bank account in Dublin is quite easy. To do so, you need to go to your local bank branch in Dublin. Make sure you have a valid ID with you and proof of your address in Ireland (e.g. a bank/credit card statement). Examples of major banks in Dublin are KBC Bank, Bank of Ireland and AI Bank.
