Dublin is a small capital, for it has no more than 600 thousand inhabitants. Although it is not very densely populated compared to other major European cities, the city center can seem quite crowded due to the heavy influx of tourists (more than 7 million per year). Many foreigners dream of living in Dublin.
The city is very large and consists mainly of low buildings. There are parks and green areas, and it is full of cafes and stores that have grown very quickly in recent years. The center is very clean and everything is just a step away.
As a city, Dublin is not particularly beautiful overall, but it has a friendly, international atmosphere. At the last census, there were almost 200 people of diverse origins living here.
Public transportation is a sore point in Dublin. There is no subway, and at rush hour traffic is very heavy and buses rarely adhere to schedules. The transportation system has many opportunities for improvement. It is expensive, unreliable, and travel outside of Dublin is problematic.
Dublin is a safe city in most areas, and if you follow the normal rules of common sense, you should have no problem moving freely around the city, even late at night. There are cases of pickpocketing and robbery, but much less than in other large cities. Drugs and homeless people are also present, but always to a lesser extent than in other European capitals.
The weather in Dublin can be a trauma for those used to the sunny climate. They have to get used to a grey, windy and rainy weather for most of the year.
The schools and the educational system in Dublin are very good. The school model is based on the English system and education up to the age of 17-18 is cheap, while university studies are more expensive.
As for the public health system, unfortunately, the number of structures and personnel is far from sufficient to meet the demands. It is therefore advisable to take out private health insurance, which, although not cheap, is offered by many companies as an additional benefit in the employment contract.
The cost of living is generally high. Ireland has the highest average cost of utilities in Europe, the second highest cost of housing, and the third highest cost of food and beverages.
The Dublin real estate market is in the midst of a housing bubble. Homes for sale typically start at a million euros and continue to rise, and rental prices have skyrocketed in the last three to four years. Rental apartments are expensive and increasingly difficult to find. The houses are not only super expensive, but usually in poor condition. The houses are usually very old, cold and damp. To heat them decently, you have to spend a fortune on heating every winter.
If you have a good job, you spend 40-50% of your salary on renting an apartment, if you have a normal job, you spend 40-50% of your salary on a room. Most singles are forced to share an apartment with other people in order to live in the center or in close proximity. Others prefer to live in the districts around the city and commute daily. The best time to look for accommodation is in the summer, when foreign students learning the language in Ireland return to their home countries.
Dubliners and the Irish in general are very open-minded, passionate, warm, easy-going and have a great sense of humor. They are very curious to learn more about your country and life experiences. In most places you will be greeted with a smile and a friendly conversation. Whether in a cab, bar, bus stop, or store, people will go out of their way to be friendly and talk to you.
People are very funny, the Irish love to have fun and rarely complain, they do not seem to look back but are always optimistic about the future. They are endowed with an innate positive attitude towards life. Forms of racism are hard to find. Tolerance and acceptance are deeply rooted values in society. The country is among the top 10 when it comes to human rights and people’s freedom.
Dublin generally has a relaxed atmosphere, there is no hustle and bustle and people live without any particular stress during the day, while at night the great nightlife begins. It is one of the liveliest nightlife in Northern Europe. The great thing is that although you are in Northern Europe, the mentality and attitude of the people is typically Mediterranean. Much of the social life takes place in the pubs, but there are also many sports and social activities: cinemas, discos, clubs, galleries, theaters and cultural events.
As far as labor is concerned, it was assumed that due to Brexit many companies, especially from the financial sector, would move their headquarters to Dublin; instead, most financial companies have chosen other European cities as locations.
Yet there is no unemployment in Dublin because Dublin is one of only two English-speaking countries that use the euro as its currency (the other is Malta), and Dublin is a natural centre for American multinationals doing business in Europe. All the major companies, led by IT and the financial sector, have a strong presence in Dublin, as do many other multinationals. This means that there are many opportunities in these sectors if you have the necessary qualifications and/or experience.
In short if you work in finance, IT, engineering, accounting or the pharmaceutical sector, you have a good chance of finding a well-paid job in Dublin.
- IT sector: there are good employment opportunities for all IT sectors, financial sector: this sector also offers good opportunities engineering sector: electronic engineer, biomedical, etc.
- health sector: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.
- tourism and hospitality sector: the demand in this sector is very high, but you must have at least a basic knowledge of the language.
- call centers: Many multinational companies have their call center offices in Dublin for the European market, for which native speakers of foreign languages are often required
Remember that Dublin is a very popular and coveted destination. Therefore, even if you have good degree, may be at the beginning you will have to work in a bar or restaurant for a while before you find a job that suits your skills.
In general, Dublin is a very livable and welcoming place where you can have a lot of fun if you find the right company of friends. Dublin is a fantastic city for young people between the ages of 20 and 30 who want to have an experience abroad and have no problem living in a shared apartment.
If you are also interested in working in other Irish cities, I recommend reading the guide to working in Ireland
