First things first; travelling in Ireland isn’t by any means cheap.

Whether you’re planning an adventurous road trip or solely a city break to Dublin, I’m pretty sure that this question crossed your mind; What do things cost in Ireland?

So for those planning a trip to Ireland, I wanted to show you a detailed insight in my daily budget and the average cost of the everyday expenses, such as accommodation, transport, food and activities to name a few.

To help you figure out your own travel budget, I’ve put together this short guide with all the essentials information, so you know exactly what to save for an incredible trip to Ireland.

My Ireland daily travel budget

After visiting Ireland recently (Januari 2022), it is safe to say that Ireland isn’t the most appealing country for those travelling on a strict budget.

Of course, it’s possible to find cheap stays and budget-friendly restaurants, but keep in mind that the average cost of basically everything is notably higher than elsewhere in Europe.

The good news is that the largest expenses are limited to accommodation and car rental.

For my 9-day road trip through Ireland, I averaged out at a budget of around €150 per day.

To stick to that budget, I didn’t have to watch every single penny, yet I still chose to search for affordable double rooms, especially in cities such as Dublin, Galway and Sligo.

Also, this budget is based on a solo traveller who rented a car with full insurance coverage (this is by far the biggest expense when travelling in Ireland), stayed in private rooms, and dined out at least twice a day.

On top of that, this budget allowed me to visit everything I planned to visit during my road trip in Ireland, including the Cliffs of Moher, Sleeve League Cliffs, and many of the musea in Dublin too.

An average double room in a hotel | €60 to €90 a night

Having now spent 9 days in Ireland, I noticed that private hotel rooms are rather expensive compared to other countries in Europe.

The good news though, is that there is no shortage of incredible luxurious hotels, with prices averaging out at €60 to €90 a night.

In Dublin however, prices are slightly lower, given there’s significantly more competition.

A dorm bed in a hostel | €25 to €40 a night

Ireland is incredibly popular among backpackers, and accordingly, there’s no shortage of affordable hostels.

While I haven’t stayed in a hostel myself, a dorm bed in a hostel will cost you around €25 to €40 a night in Ireland, which is slightly above the average hostel price elsewhere in Europe.

A Meal out | €10 to €25 person

Contrary to other expenses in Ireland, I noticed that dining out was fairly affordable.

I had an excellent burger with fries at Featherblade in Dublin for under €15, and ate one of the best pizzas ever at the Dough Bros in Galway for only €10 – so make sure you check them out both.

Whilst prices still vary significantly from place to place, you can have an excellent meal out for anywhere from €10 to €25 per person.

A good cup of coffee | €2,5 to €4,5

During my road trip in Ireland, I have savoured quite a few cups of brilliant coffee, especially at Brother Hubbard in Dublin, and Coffeewerk + Press in Galway.

Depending on how you prefer your coffee (there are plenty of non-dairy options available), you should take into account that a cup of rocket fuel will cost you anywhere from €2,5 to €4,5 each.

A pint of beer | €5

If there’s one thing Ireland is known for, it will be its lively pub scene and the alcoholic beverages that are served here – for that reason, you should definitely stop by at a traditional Irish pub.

Most pubs will serve large pints at a cost of roughly €5 apiece. However, if you’re in Dublin and decide to go to Temple Bar, prepare to pay significantly higher prices.

Also, it’s good to note, that since 2013, the happy hour specials in terms of alcoholic beverages were forbidden by the Irish government.

Entrance fee to a museum or national park | Around €15 per activity

Ireland had plenty of awesome things to see and do, and luckily for us, the average prices for a museum or national park are relatively low or free of charge, with an average price of €15 per activity.

Some examples include;

€10 | Cliffs of Moher

€22 | Guinness Storehouse

Free | Benbulben Forest Walk

€18 | The Book of Kells and Trinity College Dublin

Free | Slieve League Cliffs

Free | Connemara National Park

€25 | Jameson Distillery

Free | Fanad Lighthouse

Free | Downpatrick Head

Car rental | €60 to €90 per day

All in all, a road trip in Ireland is far from cheap, and with the above in mind, I’d advise booking your rental car well in advance to save a significant amount of money.

Whilst car rental is clearly the largest expense when travelling in Ireland, I noticed that it is still the most affordable, convenient, and fastest manner of transport here.

The price for car rental in Ireland ranges from €60 to €90 per day – this includes free cancellation, theft protection and collision damage waiver.

For car rental in Ireland, I’d highly recommend Rentalcars.com. They offer brilliant service, additional insurance options, as well as a wide selection of cars to choose from. Prices and availability here.

Continue reading | A guide to driving in Ireland: 11 tips to kick-start your road trip

Fuel | €1,84 per litre

As with car rental, the fuel in Ireland isn’t cheap either.

At the moment of writing (April 2022), the fuel price in Ireland is slightly below average in Europe, with gasoline at €1,84 per litre and diesel at €1,94 per litre.

If you follow my Ireland road trip, which involves a lot of driving, taking you to plenty of the country’s absolute highlights, you will use around €150 to €200 worth of fuel.

Toll charges | +/- €2,50

Another expense that you will most likely overlook when planning a trip to Ireland, are the toll charges that you’re required to pay on certain roads.

Depending on your route, you will cross several toll roads, with different rates, depending on your vehicle. For more information about the rates, check the official EToll website here.

Parking | €35 to €40 per day

If you somehow choose to rent a car before visiting Dublin, note that the cost of parking in the city centre will add up relatively quickly.

I had my rental car parked in one of the many parking lots for the night and paid around €25, which if you ask me now, is a waste of money.

On average, the parking in Dublin will cost around €35 to €40 per day.

If you’re keen to see my best tips on driving in Ireland, make sure you read my detailed guide here.

Bus from the airport to Dublin | €10

Whether you’re going solely on a city trip to Dublin or planning out an in-depth itinerary, I highly advise starting your Ireland journey in Dublin either way.

The best way to get there is by jumping aboard the Dublin express, which will take you to the city centre in under half an hour – a return ticket will cost you only €10.

After you’re done in Dublin, head back to the airport where you will either catch your flight back home or pick up your rental car.