Renting vs Buying in Ireland (2026): The Real Numbers
Ireland is unusual. In most countries renting is cheaper month to month and buying only wins over time. In Ireland, rents have risen so far that in several counties — including Dublin — the monthly mortgage payment is already lower than the average rent. The obstacle is not the repayment. It is getting to the deposit.
The 2026 starting numbers
| Input | Typical Irish figure (2026) |
|---|---|
| Median sale price, nationally | ~€385,000 |
| Median sale price, Dublin | ~€475,000 |
| Median sale price, outside Dublin | ~€340,000 |
| Average registered rent, nationally | ~€1,336/month |
| Average registered rent, Dublin | ~€2,165/month |
| Typical mortgage rate | ~3.5–3.7% |
The Dublin inversion
On a €475,000 Dublin home with a 10% deposit at 3.6% over 30 years, the repayment lands near €1,930 a month — against an average Dublin rent of about €2,165. The mortgage is roughly €235 a month cheaper than renting, and unlike the rent it is partly buying you the asset.
That inversion holds in a handful of counties and is the strongest financial argument for buying anywhere in Western Europe right now. It exists because Irish rents have risen faster than Irish mortgage rates — private rents were up 4.5% in the year to July 2026 against general inflation of 3.4%.
But the deposit is the real gate. Central Bank rules cap first-time buyers at 90% loan-to-value and four times gross income. On a €475,000 Dublin home that means €47,500 saved and a household income near €107,000 to borrow the rest. Neither is easy while paying €2,165 a month in rent — which is precisely the trap.
What buying costs on top of the repayment
- Stamp duty — 1% up to €1 million, 2% on the portion above. On €475,000 that is €4,750. Low by international standards.
- Legal fees — typically €1,500–€3,000 plus VAT and outlays.
- Valuation and survey — roughly €150 and €300–€600 respectively.
- Local Property Tax — modest, banded by value, but ongoing.
- Mortgage protection and home insurance — both are conditions of the loan, not optional.
- Maintenance — budget 1% of value a year; management fees on apartments run €1,500–€3,000.
Help to Buy changes the arithmetic
For new builds, the Help to Buy scheme refunds up to €30,000 — or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is lower — from income tax and DIRT you have already paid over the previous four years. On a €400,000 new build that is the entire 10% deposit covered by tax you have already handed over.
The First Home Scheme can bridge up to 30% of the remaining gap as shared equity, reduced to 20% where it is combined with Help to Buy. Together they are the difference between "impossible" and "achievable" for a large share of Irish first-time buyers — and they are the single biggest reason to model your own numbers rather than a national average.
The honest summary
In Ireland the rent-versus-buy question resolves differently from almost everywhere else: if you can assemble the deposit, buying usually wins quickly, and in Dublin it can win from month one. The binding constraint is the Central Bank's 10% deposit and 4× income cap, not the monthly repayment. Which means the highest-value financial move for most Irish renters is not agonising over the comparison — it is working out whether Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme can close the deposit gap.
Run your own Irish rent vs buy comparison
Enter your rent, deposit, price and rate — the calculator uses Irish figures in €.
Try the Rent vs Buy Calculator (Ireland) →Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ireland in 2026?
In several counties, including Dublin, buying is already cheaper month to month. On a €475,000 Dublin home the mortgage lands near €1,930 against average Dublin rent of about €2,165 — roughly €235 a month cheaper to buy. The obstacle is the deposit, not the repayment.
How much deposit do you need to buy a house in Ireland?
Central Bank rules cap first-time buyers at 90% loan-to-value, so 10% deposit — about €47,500 on a €475,000 Dublin home. Borrowing is also capped at four times gross income, which means a household income near €107,000 for that purchase.
How much is stamp duty in Ireland?
One per cent of the purchase price up to €1 million and 2% on the portion above it. On a €475,000 home that is €4,750 — low compared with the UK or Australia.
Can I use Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme together?
Yes. Help to Buy refunds up to €30,000, or 10% of the purchase price if lower, from income tax and DIRT paid over the previous four years, on new builds. The First Home Scheme can bridge up to 30% of the remaining gap as shared equity, reduced to 20% when combined with Help to Buy.
Related
- Rent vs buy calculator (Ireland)
- Help to Buy & the First Home Scheme
- The true cost of buying a home in Ireland
- Saving in Ireland: DIRT & State Savings
- Full home-buying cost calculator (Ireland)
Sources
- CSO — Residential Property Price Index and median sale prices (2026)
- Residential Tenancies Board — average registered rent by county
- Central Bank of Ireland — mortgage measures (LTV and LTI limits)
- Revenue.ie — stamp duty on residential property; Help to Buy scheme
- FirstHomeScheme.ie — shared equity eligibility and caps
Figures compiled September 2026 from public sources and not individually verified; worked examples are illustrative models, not quotes. Rates, scheme limits and Central Bank rules change — confirm on revenue.ie, centralbank.ie and firsthomescheme.ie before relying on them. General information, not regulated financial advice.
Cite this article
Randive, A. (2026). Renting vs Buying in Ireland (2026): The Real Numbers. DecisionsCalc. https://decisionscalc.com/articles/renting-vs-buying-ireland/