National Overview
The Irish rental market in 2026 remains highly competitive. According to the latest RTB Rent Index and Daft.ie reports, national average rents have continued to rise due to ongoing supply shortages, though the pace has moderated compared to 2022 — 2024. The national average two-bedroom rent stood at approximately €2,080 per month in late 2025 (Daft.ie Q3 2025), up 4.3% year-on-year.
Dublin Rental Prices
Dublin remains the most expensive rental market in Ireland:
| Area | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin City Centre (D1, D2) | €1,850 — €2,200 | €2,350 — €2,800 | €3,000 — €3,800 |
| South Dublin (D4, D6, D14) | €1,700 — €2,100 | €2,200 — €2,700 | €2,800 — €3,500 |
| Dublin North (D3, D5, D9, D13) | €1,550 — €1,900 | €1,950 — €2,400 | €2,500 — €3,100 |
| Dublin West (D15, D20, D22) | €1,450 — €1,750 | €1,800 — €2,200 | €2,300 — €2,800 |
| Dún Laoghaire / DLR | €1,600 — €2,000 | €2,100 — €2,600 | €2,700 — €3,400 |
Cork Rental Prices
Cork City and suburbs are the second most expensive rental market:
| Area | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork City Centre | €1,300 — €1,600 | €1,700 — €2,100 | €2,200 — €2,700 |
| Cork Suburbs (Douglas, Bishopstown) | €1,200 — €1,500 | €1,550 — €1,900 | €2,000 — €2,500 |
| Cork County / Town areas | €900 — €1,200 | €1,200 — €1,500 | €1,500 — €2,000 |
Galway Rental Prices
Galway City's rental market is tight, with limited availability:
| Area | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galway City Centre | €1,250 — €1,500 | €1,600 — €2,000 | €2,100 — €2,600 |
| Galway Suburbs (Salthill, Knocknacarra) | €1,150 — €1,400 | €1,500 — €1,850 | €1,900 — €2,400 |
| County Galway | €800 — €1,100 | €1,050 — €1,400 | €1,350 — €1,800 |
Limerick Rental Prices
Limerick has more affordable rents compared to Dublin, Cork, and Galway:
| Area | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limerick City Centre | €1,000 — €1,250 | €1,300 — €1,600 | €1,700 — €2,100 |
| Limerick Suburbs (Dooradoyle, Castletroy) | €950 — €1,150 | €1,200 — €1,500 | €1,550 — €1,950 |
| County Limerick | €700 — €950 | €900 — €1,200 | €1,150 — €1,500 |
Other Key Locations
| City/Town | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford City | €900 — €1,200 | €1,100 — €1,500 | €1,500 — €1,900 |
| Kilkenny | €950 — €1,200 | €1,200 — €1,500 | €1,500 — €1,900 |
| Athlone | €900 — €1,150 | €1,100 — €1,400 | €1,400 — €1,800 |
| Dundalk | €850 — €1,100 | €1,050 — €1,350 | €1,300 — €1,700 |
| Sligo Town | €750 — €1,000 | €950 — €1,250 | €1,200 — €1,600 |
| Bray / Greystones (Wicklow) | €1,300 — €1,600 | €1,700 — €2,100 | €2,200 — €2,800 |
Rent Trends (2020 — 2026)
- 2020: Pandemic lockdowns caused a temporary dip in city-centre rents as remote working took hold
- 2021 — 2022: Rapid recovery with double-digit rent increases as demand returned
- 2023: RPZ cap reduction to 2% and new tenant protections helped slow in-tenancy increases
- 2024 — 2026: Sustained supply shortage keeps prices high; new tenancy starting rents continue to climb
Saving on Rent
- Consider sharing: see our Sharing Accommodation guide
- Look in commuter towns within 30 — 45 minutes of major cities
- Check the rent-a-room scheme (Rent-a-Room relief)
- Ensure your rent increase complies with RPZ rules
- Check if you're eligible for HAP or other social housing supports
What the official data shows for 2026
Daft.ie's Q3 2025 report (published November 2025) put the national average rent for a two-bedroom apartment at €2,080 a month, up 4.3% year-on-year, with Dublin inflation lower (2.7%) than the national average and the strongest growth outside the capital — Cork city up 9.3%, Galway and Limerick up 6%, and Waterford up 11.4%. Daft's Q1 2026 data showed Cork's average two-bed at €2,213, Galway at €2,304, and Limerick pushing past €2,000. Only about 1,900 homes were available to rent nationwide in late 2025 — down 21% year-on-year — so prices are being driven by scarcity as much as by demand. Rents are now roughly a third above pre-Covid levels and two-thirds above the 2007 Celtic Tiger peak.
What you will actually pay in 2026
As a practical guide (ranges reflect condition, location and furnishings): Dublin — one-bed €1,450-€2,200, two-bed €2,200-€2,800, three-bed €2,600-€3,800, with city-centre and south-Dublin postcodes at the top of each range; Cork — one-bed €1,200-€1,600, two-bed €1,600-€2,000 (city centre up to €2,400 for new builds), three-bed €2,000-€2,700; Galway — one-bed €1,250-€1,600, two-bed €1,700-€2,200, three-bed €2,200-€2,800; Limerick — one-bed €1,000-€1,300, two-bed €1,300-€1,800, three-bed €1,700-€2,300; Waterford — two-bed €1,200-€1,600. Outside the cities, two-beds typically run €800-€1,400, with the cheapest rents in the northwest and Midlands.
Bills on top of the rent
The advertised rent rarely includes utilities. Budget for: electricity and gas (€150-€300 a month for a two-bed in winter, less in summer), broadband (€40-€60), bins (€20-€40), and TV licence if you watch live TV (€160 a year). In shared accommodation, bills are usually split per person (see our sharing guide). Under the 2026 rent rules, the rent itself can only rise by the lower of inflation or 2% a year, but your energy bills are not capped — switching supplier via comparison sites (Bonkers.ie, Switcher.ie) routinely saves €200-€400 a year.
Action steps
- Use Daft.ie's rent report and the RTB Rent Index to benchmark the going rate for your area and property type before you bid.
- Budget 30-35% of net income for rent; above that, consider sharing or a cheaper area.
- Factor in deposit (1 month) + first month's rent as upfront cash.
- Ask the landlord for the BER — a C-rated home can save €500+ a year in heating bills versus an E/F-rated one.