Kilrush, #1 on this list · Photo: Chris (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Ireland · 2026

Most affordable towns in Ireland

56 towns on the list grade in the A range. Last place on the list falls to Foxrock, at D−. Between them, 8 counties supply the top ten. No town does better on this list than Kilrush, Clare, at A+. Ballyhaunis is second at A+, and Charleville third at A+.

Cost of living grade: home prices and rents against local incomes How grades work

Kilrush

Clare · 2,649 people

A⁺Cost of living

Overall C⁺·#197 of 320

Strongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D

Ballyhaunis

Mayo · 2,773 people

A⁺Cost of living

Overall B⁺·#83 of 320

Strongest: cost of living A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

Charleville

Cork · 3,970 people

A⁺Cost of living

Overall B⁻·#174 of 320

Strongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health C⁻

The top 100 of 321

Ranked by its measure (Cost of living), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.

The full ranking →

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100 towns

#TownCost of livingGrade · national rankWhat drives it

1KilrushClare · 2,649 peopleA⁺C⁺#197 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D

2BallyhaunisMayo · 2,773 peopleA⁺B⁺#83 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

3CharlevilleCork · 3,970 peopleA⁺B⁻#174 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health C⁻

4CarndonaghDonegal · 2,768 peopleA⁺B⁻#156 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

5TipperaryTipperary · 5,387 peopleA⁺C⁺#206 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

6RoscreaTipperary · 5,542 peopleA⁺B#135 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: health D

7BoyleRoscommon · 2,915 peopleA⁺B⁺#106 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B·lowest: jobs & income D

8ClaraOffaly · 3,403 peopleA⁺B#132 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: health D

9BallinasloeGalway · 6,597 peopleA⁺C#230 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk C⁺·lowest: safety D

10BirrOffaly · 4,726 peopleA⁺C#214 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

11KanturkCork · 2,803 peopleAA⁻#72 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C⁻

12MitchelstownCork · 3,744 peopleAA⁻#61 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

13AthyKildare · 11,035 peopleAC⁻#249 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

14YoughalCork · 8,564 peopleAC#231 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

15MountmellickLaois · 4,905 peopleAC⁺#199 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

16BallyjamesduffCavan · 2,917 peopleAB⁺#91 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health C

17Newcastle WestLimerick · 7,209 peopleAA⁻#58 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

18BlackpoolCork · 3,124 peopleAC#225 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living A·lowest: safety D

19Carrick-on-SuirTipperary · 5,752 peopleAC⁻#251 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: health D⁻

20CahirTipperary · 3,679 peopleAA#37 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁺

21BailieboroughCavan · 2,974 peopleAB⁺#95 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

22KellsMeath · 6,608 peopleAB#130 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: jobs & income D

23BallinaMayo · 10,556 peopleAC⁺#193 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health C⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

24BuncranaDonegal · 6,971 peopleAC⁺#187 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, health B⁻·lowest: walkability D

25PortarlingtonLaois · 9,288 peopleAC#224 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B·lowest: health D

26New RossWexford · 8,610 peopleAC⁻#243 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability C⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

27ThurlesTipperary · 8,185 peopleAB⁻#147 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety C

28BantryCork · 2,929 peopleAA⁻#65 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B⁺·lowest: health C

29Ballybofey-StranorlarDonegal · 5,406 peopleAC⁺#200 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety C⁺·lowest: walkability D

30BallinrobeMayo · 3,148 peopleAB⁺#98 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, safety B·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

31RathanganKildare · 3,263 peopleAA⁺#2 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C

32MonaghanMonaghan · 7,894 peopleAA⁻#80 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁺

33GortGalway · 2,870 peopleA⁻A#44 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

34BundoranDonegal · 2,599 peopleA⁻C#217 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

35MallowCork · 13,456 peopleA⁻C⁺#185 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B·lowest: hazard risk D

36MonasterevinKildare · 5,307 peopleA⁻B⁺#82 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C

37SkibbereenCork · 2,903 peopleA⁻A#35 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health C

38ClaremorrisMayo · 3,857 peopleA⁻A⁺#15 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C

39TuamGalway · 9,647 peopleA⁻C#210 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, safety C⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

40NenaghTipperary · 9,895 peopleA⁻B#118 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health C⁻

41AthboyMeath · 2,596 peopleA⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

42CashelTipperary · 4,805 peopleA⁻B#129 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

43Cherry OrchardDublin · 8,280 peopleA⁻D#281 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

44ArklowWicklow · 13,399 peopleA⁻C⁺#207 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

45CallanKilkenny · 2,678 peopleA⁻A⁺#7 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: walkability C

46CastleislandKerry · 2,536 peopleA⁻A⁺#11 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁺

47FermoyCork · 6,720 peopleA⁻B#133 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B·lowest: hazard risk C

48MoateWestmeath · 3,013 peopleA⁻A⁻#74 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

49CastleblayneyMonaghan · 3,926 peopleA⁻C⁺#188 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, safety C⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

50EnniscorthyWexford · 12,310 peopleA⁻D#284 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability C⁺·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

51DuleekMeath · 4,899 peopleA⁻B⁺#104 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: walkability D⁻

52CavanCavan · 11,741 peopleA⁻C#223 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: safety C⁻

53FerrybankKilkenny · 5,766 peopleA⁻B⁺#102 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

54NavanMeath · 33,886 peopleA⁻B#121 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

55LoughreaGalway · 6,322 peopleA⁻B#143 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A⁻, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D

56LongfordLongford · 10,952 peopleA⁻D#276 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

57KilcullenKildare · 3,815 peopleB⁺A⁺#9 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability D

58MacroomCork · 4,096 peopleB⁺A#24 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁺

59ClonmelTipperary · 18,369 peopleB⁺C⁺#184 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

60RoscommonRoscommon · 6,555 peopleB⁺A⁻#53 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

61ListowelKerry · 4,794 peopleB⁺C⁺#208 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

62SligoSligo · 20,608 peopleB⁺C#226 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk D

63ShannonClare · 10,256 peopleB⁺B#120 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

64NewbridgeKildare · 24,366 peopleB⁺B⁻#150 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B⁻·lowest: safety C

65PortlaoiseLaois · 23,494 peopleB⁺C⁻#262 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety D

66TrimMeath · 9,563 peopleB⁺A⁻#76 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C

67Carrick-On-ShannonLeitrim · 4,743 peopleB⁺B⁻#169 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety C⁻

68KildareKildare · 10,302 peopleB⁺B#138 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁺

69KinnegadWestmeath · 3,064 peopleB⁺B#136 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

70KilkennyKilkenny · 27,184 peopleB⁺B⁺#112 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C

71DonegalDonegal · 2,749 peopleB⁺A⁻#66 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability B⁻

72AthloneWestmeath · 22,869 peopleB⁺C#240 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: safety D

73BalbrigganDublin · 24,322 peopleB⁺C⁻#256 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B·lowest: health D

74EnnisClare · 27,923 peopleB⁺B⁻#165 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B⁺, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D

75BandonCork · 8,196 peopleB⁺A#48 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

76EdenderryOffaly · 7,888 peopleB⁺C#239 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

77KingscourtCavan · 2,955 peopleB⁺B⁺#101 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

78MullingarWestmeath · 22,667 peopleB⁺C⁺#201 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

79SallinsKildare · 6,269 peopleB⁺A#23 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety B

80StamullenMeath · 3,720 peopleB⁺B⁺#90 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D

81CarrickmacrossMonaghan · 5,745 peopleB⁺B#128 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

82Muinebeag (Bagenalstown)Carlow · 2,945 peopleB⁺B⁺#97 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

83BallymunDublin · 22,321 peopleB⁺C⁻#245 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

84WexfordWexford · 21,524 peopleBC#237 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: safety D

85DeciesDublin · 2,713 peopleBC⁻#250 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

86CarnaDublin · 2,897 peopleBC⁻#270 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

87KylemoreDublin · 2,557 peopleBD#273 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

88MulhuddartDublin · 19,252 peopleBB⁻#168 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

89ChristchurchDublin · 6,778 peopleBC⁺#194 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

90TullamoreOffaly · 15,598 peopleBC⁺#204 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living B·lowest: health C

91BaltinglassWicklow · 2,611 peopleBC⁺#198 of 320 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

92TullowCarlow · 5,138 peopleBC⁻#268 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, safety C⁺·lowest: health D

93KilcockKildare · 8,674 peopleBA⁺#1 of 320 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: hazard risk B⁻

94ClonakiltyCork · 5,112 peopleBA⁻#56 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

95DarndaleDublin · 14,675 peopleBC⁻#244 of 320 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

96TraleeKerry · 26,079 peopleBC⁻#263 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability C⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

97SixmilebridgeClare · 2,832 peopleBB⁺#109 of 320 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, health B⁺·lowest: walkability D⁻

98SummerhillDublin · 11,911 peopleBC⁻#259 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

99CarlowCarlow · 27,351 peopleBC⁻#264 of 320 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability C⁺·lowest: health D

100TallaghtDublin · 15,588 peopleBB⁻#161 of 320 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

Method

How this list is made

Cost of living grade: home prices and rents against local incomes. Towns of 2,500 or more in Ireland are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work

Rankings

More lists across Ireland

Best places to live Best big towns Best small towns Most affordable Safest Healthiest Jobs & income Most walkable Lowest hazard risk Highest incomes Most historic Mildest winters Warmest summers Coolest summers Driest Wettest

County by county

Best places to live, county by county

Cork Dublin Galway Limerick

Photos: Kilrush, Chris (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Ballyhaunis, JohnArmagh (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Charleville, John Salter (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Irish towns against each other only, run #58 of 4 November 2026. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).