Rental Prices · Ireland · Official CSO Data · 2025Q4
Average rent in Ireland — €1,695/mo by county
Rent figures are from CSO table RIQ02 (RTB data). The national average rent, weighted by private-rented households, is €1,695/month · 2025Q4. Dublin is the most expensive county at €2,165/month; Donegal is the most affordable at €1,001/month — a gap of €1,164/month across the same country.
CSO
RIQ02
RIQ02
About this rent measure
Average monthly rent from CSO table RIQ02, compiled from RTB data. The published metadata does not specify the exact tenancy population or whether the figures are adjusted for differences in property characteristics. This dataset is distinct from the RTB/ESRI Rent Index.
National Average
€1,695/mo
Weighted by private-rented households · CSO RIQ02 · 2025Q4
Most Expensive
€2,165/mo
Dublin
Most Affordable
€1,001/mo
Donegal
Counties Tracked
26
All 26 counties
CSO table RIQ02 (RTB data) · 2025Q4. Average monthly rent from CSO table RIQ02, compiled from RTB data. The published metadata does not specify the exact tenancy population or whether the figures are adjusted for differences in property characteristics. This dataset is distinct from the RTB/ESRI Rent Index. % Renting from Census 2022.
Average rent by county — all 26 counties ranked
| County | Avg Rent (all) | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | Annual Change | % Renting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dublin | €2,165/mo | €1,741 | €2,253 | +4.3% | 24.1% |
| 2. Wicklow | €1,751/mo | €1,213 | €1,719 | +5.7% | 13.3% |
| 3. Kildare | €1,734/mo | €1,244 | €1,592 | +7.3% | 14.9% |
| 4. Limerick | €1,681/mo | €1,235 | €1,521 | +13.6% | 17.7% |
| 5. Galway | €1,665/mo | €1,110 | €1,499 | +9.1% | 20.4% |
| 6. Cork | €1,566/mo | €1,153 | €1,472 | +9.1% | 17.8% |
| 7. Meath | €1,558/mo | €1,097 | €1,525 | +7.1% | 12.5% |
| 8. Louth | €1,454/mo | €1,121 | €1,332 | +8.6% | 15.1% |
| 9. Carlow | €1,349/mo | €970 | €1,122 | +10.3% | 16.2% |
| 10. Westmeath | €1,285/mo | €924 | €1,203 | +10.0% | 18.0% |
| 11. Waterford | €1,284/mo | €931 | €1,141 | +10.8% | 15.9% |
| 12. Laois | €1,270/mo | €980 | €1,211 | +12.6% | 12.9% |
| 13. Offaly | €1,219/mo | €877 | €1,122 | +8.9% | 13.1% |
| 14. Kerry | €1,218/mo | €897 | €1,164 | +9.7% | 14.4% |
| 15. Clare | €1,217/mo | €853 | €1,106 | +10.8% | 13.9% |
| 16. Kilkenny | €1,216/mo | €891 | €1,085 | +6.7% | 12.7% |
| 17. Sligo | €1,203/mo | €830 | €1,046 | +12.8% | 16.5% |
| 18. Wexford | €1,203/mo | €918 | €1,117 | +7.9% | 14.0% |
| 19. Longford | €1,140/mo | €874 | €1,071 | +11.2% | 17.3% |
| 20. Mayo | €1,135/mo | €816 | €1,077 | +11.2% | 15.2% |
| 21. Cavan | €1,129/mo | €806 | €1,060 | +11.1% | 16.0% |
| 22. Roscommon | €1,115/mo | €797 | €1,028 | +9.9% | 13.7% |
| 23. Tipperary | €1,101/mo | €750 | €1,010 | +10.6% | 13.4% |
| 24. Monaghan | €1,050/mo | €753 | €943 | +12.3% | 15.0% |
| 25. Leitrim | €1,019/mo | — | €945 | +10.6% | 14.7% |
| 26. Donegal | €1,001/mo | €717 | €912 | +10.1% | 13.6% |
Cheapest counties to rent in Ireland
The most affordable counties for private renting, ranked by average monthly rent. The county census pages show the underlying census data for each.
Donegal — €1,001/moLeitrim — €1,019/moMonaghan — €1,050/moTipperary — €1,101/moRoscommon — €1,115/mo
Most expensive counties to rent
What rent data reveals that asking prices don't
- About this measure: Average monthly rent from CSO table RIQ02, compiled from RTB data. The published metadata does not specify the exact tenancy population or whether the figures are adjusted for differences in property characteristics. This dataset is distinct from the RTB/ESRI Rent Index. Asking prices on listing sites are a different measure.
- Rent control: Rent Pressure Zones ended on 1 March 2026 and were replaced by a national system of rent control for private tenancies and student-specific accommodation: annual rent increases are capped at 2% or the rate of inflation (CPI) if that is lower, and for tenancies that start from 1 March 2026 rent can be reset to market level in some circumstances (Residential Tenancies Board, “Rental law changes from 1 March 2026”, checked 22 October 2026). Rents for periods before that date were set under the Rent Pressure Zone rules. Census 2022 shows 24.1% of Dublin households renting privately.
- Census tenure vs market price: A high rented_pct in a county signals structural rental dependency — not enough affordable purchase options to allow ownership. Dublin (24.1% renting privately) and Leitrim (14.7%) sit at very different points on that scale.
- Annual change rate: The year-on-year change in the average rent in the latest period. The IrelandInsights map shows where Census 2022 renting rates are highest.
Renting vs buying by county — the trade-off
Average rents are €2,165/month in Dublin and €1,001/month in Donegal; compare them with county purchase prices on the house prices page.
The IrelandInsights map shows house prices from the Property Price Register alongside Census 2022 rental patterns — allowing direct comparison by area.
Dublin has the highest county average rent in this data. Switch between the rent and ownership layers on the map above to compare counties; the figures update as each CSO release lands.
Map rental pressure by area
Census 2022 private renting rates mapped at electoral division level for all 26 counties. Compare any area's tenure profile against its employment, education, and housing cost data.
Data: CSO / Residential Tenancies Board · 2025Q4 · Census 2022 Housing Tenure
· cso.ie/census
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- → Unemployment Rate Ireland — By Area, Census 2022
- → Education in Ireland — Third-Level by County
- → Working from Home in Ireland — Census 2022
- → Young Population in Ireland — Census 2022
- → Rural Ireland — Census 2022 Data by Area
Elections & Politics
Where to Live
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Ireland by county?
Average rent in Ireland varies significantly by county. Dublin is the most expensive at €2,165/month, while Donegal is the most affordable at €1,001/month. The national average, weighted by private-rented households (Census 2022), is approximately €1,695/month. Average monthly rent from CSO table RIQ02, compiled from RTB data. The published metadata does not specify the exact tenancy population or whether the figures are adjusted for differences in property characteristics. This dataset is distinct from the RTB/ESRI Rent Index.
What is the cheapest county to rent in Ireland?
Donegal has the lowest average monthly rent of the 26 counties in the latest period (2025Q4), at €1,001. The full 26-county ranking is on this page.
How does the average rent in Dublin compare to the rest of Ireland?
The average monthly rent in Dublin is approximately €2,165, compared to a weighted national average of approximately €1,695 and €1,001 in Donegal, the most affordable county. Census 2022 shows that 24.1% of Dublin households rent privately, the highest rate of any county.
What does the CSO rent data measure?
Average monthly rent from CSO table RIQ02, compiled from RTB data. The published metadata does not specify the exact tenancy population or whether the figures are adjusted for differences in property characteristics. This dataset is distinct from the RTB/ESRI Rent Index. Asking prices on listing sites such as Daft.ie are a different measure.