Is Dublin Expensive To Visit In 2023?
Whenever you see a list of expensive cities in the world, you’re bound to see Dublin there. The Irish capital is often known for its outstanding pubs, rubbish weather, and of course its sky-high prices.
Going out for a couple of pints on Saturday could cost you the same amount that you spend in a week in a country in Southeast Asia. Having said that, there are plenty of ways you can get around these ridiculous prices and still have a brilliant time (we’ll show you how; keep reading).
This post will give you an answer to the question “Is Dublin expensive to visit in 2023?” as well as some ways to deal with the prices for things like eating out in restaurants, staying in hotels, and much more, so you can enjoy yourself while visiting as a tourist.
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Let’s Clear Things Up, Is Dublin Expensive To Visit For Tourists?
The sad reality is that regardless if you’re visiting Dublin as a tourist, living as a foreign student, or a resident, it’s going to cost you a fair bit. According to Expatisan, a site that measures the affordability of living abroad, for a single person alone, their estimated monthly cost is in and around €3,333. So yeah, the city is pricey.
How Expensive Is Dublin?
A trip to Dublin can be as costly as you want it to be, but with some good planning, you can definitely get by for half the price of most people once you put your mind to it.
Fortunately, we’re here to do all the dirty work for you, so grab a pen and paper, and a hot cup of coffee because we’re about to do a complete breakdown of how expensive a visit to Dublin will be.
Cost Of Flights To Dublin
The cost of a flight to Dublin varies depending on a wide range of factors, including what time of year it is, how many people are flying, and the airline.
For the cheapest flights to Dublin, you want to be travelling in the shoulder months, e.g., March, October, etc. Fewer travellers are boarding planes because nobody has money, so the demand is lower. For example, on Kiwi.com, a return flight from JFK to Dublin in March costs only 352.55 euros. From the USA, that price is an absolute bargain.
If you’re adamant about visiting Dublin during the high season, e.g summer months or winter months, you’re going to pay a hell of a lot more for flights because everyone is flying then. Looking at the same route to fly in July to Dublin from New York, the price is then 565 euros. If you left that price for another month or two, it would go up even more.
Tips For Getting Cheap Flights To Dublin
- Fly from airport hubs like London Heathrow, New York JFK, and Amsterdam Schiphol.
- Fly from anywhere that has a direct Aer Lingus route into Dublin.
- Be flexible. If flights are cheaper the following day, wait it out if you have the time.
- Utilize budget airlines like Ryanair, which has dozens of direct routes into Dublin Airport.
Cost Of Accommodation In Dublin
Accommodation prices in Dublin have seriously increased over the years. Even to stay in a hostel, it’s exorbitant. The vast majority of travellers end up staying in various neighborhoods outside of the city centre and taking public transport in because it’s cheaper. If you lower your expectations in terms of location, you’ll be able to stay in Dublin for cheap.
Hotels In Dublin
The most expensive place you can stay in Dublin is a hotel. They cost an insane amount of money, even in the middle of nowhere. It’s extremely rare that you’ll find a hotel offer for less than 50 euros a night.
Of course, staying in a hotel in Dublin has advantages, such as being much more luxurious, having high-quality facilities (though not always), and having friendly staff.
While hotel deals of great value are few and far between, the odd one does pop up every once in a while, especially midweek, because they need to sell the rooms to make money even when it’s quiet. Here are a few to keep an eye on in the run-up to your Dublin vacation.
B&Bs In Dublin
A great alternative to hotels is B&Bs, especially if you’re travelling with young children. The last thing you want to do is take them to a hostel to save a few quid.
There is an abundance of bed and breakfasts in and around central Dublin and in the suburbs, like hotels, the closer to the city you are, the more pricey they’ll be. Sometimes you can bag a nice B&B for less than 50 euros, but you have to be lucky and keep an eye on the prices.
Check these ones out for some deals!
Hostels In Dublin
Hostels are often a choice that backpackers make, but by no means do you have to be a backpacker to stay at a hostel. These days, there are plenty of different styles of hostels to suit all types of travellers.
Throughout Dublin, there are more than a handful of hostels; some beds start at around 25 euros when it’s not busy. We know that’s not cheap compared to other places in the world, but it’s much more economical than spending 50 euros on a B&B for yourself.
Check out our Dublin hostel recommendations.
Camping In Dublin
Yes, you read that correctly, and you can camp in Dublin — not in the city centre, but in various pockets of the county, where there are campsites that offer places for travellers to pitch their tent or hire a mobile home.
For example, a one person tent pitch at a campsite could cost you as little as 12 euros a night in some places. It’s not ideal sleeping outside, especially in Ireland’s cold weather, but it’s well worth it if you really want to see Dublin on a budget.
Look at these Dublin campsites if it’s something you’d be interested in.
Tips For Getting Cheap Accommodation In Dublin
- Stay in residential areas. You’ll be close to some form of public transportation that will take you where you want to go.
- Message the accommodations on Facebook or email them. Nine times out of ten, you’ll get it for less because there’s no added booking fee from a third-party website.
Cost Of Eating And Drinking In Dublin
Food and drink are a huge part of many travellers’ experiences when they go abroad. It’s one of the many ways that you can get a good feel for the local culture.
Restaurants and bars are in abundance in Dublin; some are expensive while others can be quite affordable, you just have to know where to go. Keep scrolling so we can give you the lowdown.
Eating Out In Dublin
When eating out in Dublin, the cheapest dishes start at around 10 euros, but sometimes it can be hard to find something that affordable. The bulk of the expensive eateries in Dublin will be in and around Temple Bar. You can find lots of boojy spots like fancy Italian restaurants, steakhouses, you name it, so you’re better off avoiding that area. Obviously, there are tonnes more scattered all over the place, but this is the priciest spot.
Fast food eateries are usually cheaper to eat. If you’re not a fan of McDonald’s or Burger King and want to try things Irish style, visit a local chip shop or Chinese takeaway. The food is amazing, but not healthy at all. Dubs love these spots to treat their hangovers, plus they’re cheaper than eating out. A bag of chips and a battered sausage can sometimes cost as little as 6 euros.
For lunch, I always tell people to stick to the local delis in garages and corner shops. They offer fresh cold and hot food like chicken fillet rolls, salads, chicken wings, etc. for under 5 euros.
Drinking In Dublin
Awh, you can’t go to Dublin and not go out to experience the nightlife. That’s one of the best parts of the city. But, by no means, is it cheap. Having a drink in the Irish capital is expensive, especially if you’re planning on having more than one or two.
In some places in Dublin, a pint will cost you around 6 euros, but prices can be much higher. No doubt, if you’re coming here, you’re going to want to try Guinness. Just because it’s not imported doesn’t mean it’s cheap; the average price of a pint is around 5.50 euros, but in some of the cheaper pubs you can get it for less; it’s the same for other beers too.
Finding pubs that serve the cheapest pints in Dublin can be tricky, but we know our stuff. Here are the boozers you need to check out for some affordable drinks.
- J&M Clearys, Amiens Street
- The Lark Inn, Meath Street
- The Wind Jammer, Townsend Street
Supermarkets In Dublin
Do you really think most locals in Dublin eat out for every meal? Supermarkets are the ultimate place to grab your groceries for dinner.
Supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl are known to be the cheapest supermarkets in the country. You can easily get a weekly shop there for 50 euros for one person. More expensive chains like Dunnes and Tesco are also good options, but again, they cost a little more.
Most hostels are equipped with kitchens, so that gives you the option to cook there. If there’s no kitchen where you’re staying, you can purchase some affordable microwave dinners and ask the supermarket if you can use their own microwave. A super cheap way of eating in Dublin.
Tips For Eating And Drinking In Dublin
- Purchase your alcohol at supermarkets and pre-drink before going out that night to save money.
- Eat at fast food restaurants for the couple of days you’re here. The food might be unhealthy, but it’s just for a couple of days.
- Use Google, Yelp, and Trip Advisor to see the cheapest restaurants in your area.
- Ask locals! They don’t like wasting their money, so why would they want you to do it?
Cost Of Tourist Attractions In Dublin
The cost of tourist attractions in Dublin will entirely depend on what you’re interested in. If you’re one for those touristy things that everyone does, like the Guinness Storehouse, you’re going to spend a fair amount. One or two paid experiences are fine, but when you get to the level of doing three or four a day, that’s when it all adds up.
Dublin is full of free things to do. Whether you’re into interesting museums or challenging hikes like Killiney Hill, there’s something for everyone. You could easily get by without spending a penny on attractions and just doing free things if you were really tight for cash.
The Dublin Pass is a great investment if you plan on doing some sightseeing. You pay a fee and get free access to 30 of the city’s most sought-after attractions, as well as a couple of other freebies.
Tips For Sightseeing In Dublin
- Avail of free attractions like the Phoenix Park, the Georgian Doors, and more!
- Purchase the Dublin Pass to get access to 30 attractions.
- Use websites like Get Your Guide and Viator to find the cheapest attraction deals.
- Take a free walking tour of the city to discover the parts only locals know about.
Cost Of Transport In Dublin
Transport in Dublin is generally cheap as long as you stick to buses, trains, and trams. Coming to terms with the way things work around here at the start may be a tad difficult, but once you get used to it, you’ll be fine.
Public buses are cheap as chips to use. Dublin Bus is the main operator, with 136 routes throughout the region. You can visit wherever you want, whenever you want.
The DART is Dublin’s electric-powered rail line. It departs from Connolly Station in the city centre and stops at 31 other stations across the county, including popular areas like Howth.
The Luas is the city’s tram network, which operates on two lines, each of which heads out in a different direction of the city. While it’s great if you’re travelling within the city and to some selected suburbs, it’s quite limited in the grand scheme of things. But if the place where you’re going has a Luas stop, take advantage of it because it’s highly affordable.
The Dublin City Bikes are a great way to get from A to B. The government has been trying to reduce the amount of traffic in the city, so they thought the introduction of these bad boys would be a great alternative. They’re simple to hire, all you have to do is register on their website, choose a subscription, and go pick up your bike. Then you’re on your way. Be sure to return it on time or you’ll be overcharged!
Tips For Using Transport In Dublin
- Buy transport passes – Passes like the Leap Visitor Card and the DoDublin Freedom ticket allow you to get around the city cheaper than others. You need to utilise these at all costs to save yourself some money.
- Dublin Airport transport is limited – Yes, that’s right. The transportation at Dublin Airport isn’t great compared to other major European cities. You can find out more about it here.
So, What’s The Verdict? Is Dublin Expensive?
As you can probably tell, Dublin isn’t the cheapest place in the world. With the rising cost of living, gone are the days when you could bag yourself a cheap lunch on Tuesday afternoon. That’s not to say it was ever a cheap city, but it wasn’t always this expensive. Before we send you off, let us give you a couple of things you can do to keep the cost of your travels to a minimum.
How To Keep Your Costs Down For A Trip To Dublin
- Cut the silly expenses during the day – Between coffees and fizzy drinks that your system really doesn’t need, these add up to a lot more than you think.
- Pack light – Added baggage means more fees.
- Stay at hostels – For low-cost accommodation, there’s no better option than hostels. If you’re travelling solo, you’ll probably already be staying at one, but even if you’re in a couple, try it out; you won’t be disappointed.
- Snack less – Purchasing snacks throughout the day eats into your budget. Limit yourself to two meals a day a couple of days before you take your flight, and your system will adapt.
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Written By Adam
Where In Dublin is owned, controlled, and run by Adam Ryan. He’s a one-man army who knows Dublin like the back of his hand and strives to help anybody planning on visiting Dublin enjoy themselves.