Expat Insider 2026 – Dublin

➡️You’re welcome to use these 2026 Expat Insider results. Please remember to credit InterNations as the source, and where possible, include a link to www.internations.org.

In this article:

• In Brief
• A Career Engine
• Housing: Last Place, by a Mile
• A City That Tests Patience
• The Craic Is Real
• Who Moves to Dublin?

In Brief

Dublin lands in 19th place out of 33 cities in the Expat City Ranking 2026, based on the annual Expat Insider survey by InterNations. This follows a 37th place out of 53 in 2024, the last time a city ranking was published. The Irish capital remains a city of extremes: results in the Working Abroad (4th) and Ease of Settling In (8th) Indices are among the best, while Quality of Life (32nd) and Personal Finance (30th) sit at the bottom, weighed down by last places for Travel & Transit and Leisure Options.

Remarkably, the people carry the experience — Dublin ranks 11th for happiness, with 33% of expats completely happy with their life there (vs. 24% globally).

A Career Engine

The Working Abroad Index (4th) is Dublin’s pride. In the Career Prospects Subcategory (4th), around seven in ten expats agree that moving there has improved their career prospects (71% vs. 55% globally) and are satisfied with their personal career opportunities (69% vs. 52%). The local job market is also well regarded (56% vs. 38%), and three-quarters (75%) praise the state of the Irish economy (vs. 59% globally).

The workplace itself keeps pace, with Dublin ranking 5th in the Work Culture & Satisfaction Subcategory. Around seven in ten expats find that the local business culture supports flexibility (72% vs. 56% globally) and are happy with their job security (68% vs. 54%). A similar share is satisfied with their job in general (70% vs. 61%) and their work-life balance in particular (71% vs. 62%) — on ordinary full-time weeks of 40.5 hours (vs. 42.2 globally).

Housing: Last Place, by a Mile

Dublin ranks last in the Housing Subcategory (33rd) — and the numbers explain why. A staggering 88% of expats rate the affordability of housing negatively (vs. 49% globally), with close to three in five (59%) giving it the worst possible rating. What’s more, 84% say it’s hard for expats to find housing at all, nearly two and a half times the global average of 35%. Expats knew what awaited them: the housing market was the top concern before, named by half of the respondents (50% vs. 17% globally) — the highest share in the ranking.

It’s not just housing that’s expensive: 72% rate the general cost of living in Dublin negatively (vs. 40% globally) and two in five (40%) feel their disposable household income isn’t enough for a comfortable life (vs. 29%), resulting in Dublin’s 30th place in the Personal Finance Index. At least the pay is fine — 55% feel fairly compensated, near the global average — but Dublin’s costs swallow the difference.

A City That Tests Patience

Sadly, the high costs don’t even translate into a high quality of life: Dublin ranks second to last in the respective index (32nd). Travel & Transit ranks last (33rd): expats are neither satisfied with the affordability (31st) and availability (33rd) of public transport, nor with the infrastructure for cars (32nd), the ease of getting around on foot or by bicycle (33rd), or the general opportunity to travel (32nd).

Leisure Options come last as well (33rd), with opportunities for recreational sports (53% positive ratings vs. 76% globally) and dining options (64% vs. 75%) both underwhelming — though the famous nightlife holds its own at 76% (vs. 67%). Healthcare (32nd) worries expats as well: only slightly over two in five rate its availability in the city (44% vs. 71% globally) and the quality of medical care (46% vs. 71%) positively. And less then a third (32%) are satisfied with its affordability (vs. 61% globally)!

The weather & climate — which only a miserable 22% rate positively (vs. 58% globally) — had worried 38% before the move (vs. 15%), and it delivers as feared. At least the good air quality (5th) and pleasant natural environment (9th) are a consolation.

The Craic Is Real

What saves Dublin next to work is the Ease of Settling In Index (8th) — it also ranks 8th in all three underlying subcategories. Close to three-quarters (74%) rate the general friendliness of the local residents positively (vs. 63% globally), and a similar share find them friendly towards foreign residents (71% vs. 61%) and feel welcome (71% vs. 64%).

Making local friends works better than in most cities (45% find it easy vs. 39% globally), and the payoff is real: 64% are happy with their social life (vs. 54%), and 55% describe their friends as a genuinely mixed group of locals and internationals (vs. 47% globally).

That warmth shows up in the bottom line — despite a city ranked 32nd for Quality of Life, Dublin’s expats rank 11th for overall happiness. In Dublin, apparently, the people outweigh the infrastructure.

Who Moves to Dublin?

Dublin’s expat community is comparatively young and education-driven: the average age is 43.7 (vs. 49.8 globally), 12% originally moved there to study (vs. 4%), and 9% came looking for an adventure (vs. 4%). Italians are the largest group among respondents (12%), followed by US Americans (9%), Irish citizens with a second nationality, and Brazilians (7% each). Nearly two-thirds (64%) have no children (vs. 47% globally), and for 38%, Ireland is their first home abroad (vs. 29%).

Long-term plans stay modest — 19% want to stay forever (vs. 27% globally), while 24% see themselves leaving at some point in the far future (vs. 14%).