How Much a Trip to Ireland Costs

If you’re planning a trip to the Emerald Isle any time soon, chances are you are already thinking about how much a vacation there is likely to affect your bank balance. How much does a trip to Ireland cost when you consider travel, accommodation, and things to do?

The bottom line is you’re likely to spend anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000 if you’re budgeting carefully when traveling to Ireland, but there are a few factors that change these costs.

In this guide, we’ll run through average costs that are accurate at the time of writing - feel free to use it as a base or template for your own budgeting, regardless of where you’re coming from.

Estimating the total cost of a trip to Ireland

To work out the cost of an Ireland trip per person, let’s look at three tiers or “packages” - budget, mid-range, and luxury. As you can probably guess, these tiers go up in cost, and are impacted by flights, where you stay, and what you do when you get to Ireland.

For example, a budget trip to Ireland might mean looking at off-season flights or ferries, and cheap guest house rates. For the luxury tier, we’re assuming money is no object (lucky for some!).

Based on the key factors we’ve mentioned (and which we’ll explore in more detail below), here’s how much you can expect to spend per person, per week:

• Budget: Up to $2,000
• Mid-range: Up to $4,000
• Luxury: $4,000+

If you’re taking your partner, you can double this cost, and quadruple it if you’re taking two kids along, too. That said, there are some deals where you can pay less for a family of four when visiting Ireland, so be willing to compare!

How much does a trip to Ireland cost? An overview

Below, based on our own Ireland travel experiences and what experts currently say, we’ve put together a quick overview of how much you’ll probably spend on flights, accommodation, transport, activities, food and drink, and more.

Flight costs to Ireland

Flight costs to Ireland will obviously change depending on where you’re heading from and when you go. Let’s say you’re traveling from the US for this guide.

Round-trip costs from the West Coast tend to be the most expensive across the year, meaning you can expect to spend around $1,000 per person. That said, budget airlines can reduce this by as much as 60%, and when you travel during the off-peak season (that’s the winter, usually), rates will be even cheaper.

Just be warned that Ireland often suffers the same fate as the UK when it comes to seasonal weather, meaning you’ll usually trade cheaper travel for rainier days and darker nights.

Accommodation prices in Ireland

If you stick to the budget end of the tier list, you may be able to spend as little as $60 a night, provided you choose a hostel room. These tend to be shared with other people, so check before you buy.

For more privacy, Ireland offers tons of guest houses that cost anywhere up to $120 a night, and from there, you’ll find hotels scaling up into the hundreds. Ireland even offers castle rooms in some cases, which - as you’d expect - cost much more, likely $600 a night upwards.

Shave down the cost of staying in Ireland by setting a base outside of the big cities, or again, traveling in the off-season.

Transportation expenses in Ireland

SIMOVO’s Ireland jetsetters recommend hiring a vehicle if you want to make the most of the gorgeous countryside, and you’ll likely need to reserve $100 a day to cover local insurance. That said, keep in mind fuel costs, too.

Traveling by bus tends to be the cheapest option for public transport, and we’d expect you to pay anywhere up to $30 per ticket depending on how far you’re going. The same applies to the rail network - costs really can vary.

A pro tip we also recommend is to get a Leap Visitor Card if you’re heading to Dublin. From around $9-$10 per day, per person, you get coverage for city bus services, some tram connections, and even commuter rail in the heart of the city.

Taxi costs really do vary from city to city, and you can use Uber here, but keep in mind that only the bigger areas are likely to have good driver coverage - and always watch out for surge pricing.

Tour and activity costs in Ireland

If you’re looking at the budget tier, there are lots of free and low-cost things to do in Ireland, such as walking around the countryside, heading to museums, and paying for tour guides. Exploring the Irish pub map, too, isn’t technically expensive depending on what you buy when you get there! Attractions such as Dublin Castle, too, are only $10 per person to visit.

You’re likely to spend around $70-$80 a day, however, if you choose larger tours around, say, the Guinness Storehouse, or take a more organized tour with full itineraries. The more private and exclusive the tours, too, the more these costs will go up.

Food and drink prices in Ireland

The Irish food and drink scene is very laid back, meaning you’ll often be able to pick up cheap meals at supermarkets, in pubs, or from takeaways for less than $20 per person a day.

These costs will, of course, always scale up if you have dinner out each night, so expect $40-$50 per person if you eat out in the cities. There’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy local cuisine even at budget and mid-range prices, too. Luxury dining experiences are those that have lots of special courses - if you’re not much of a gourmet but still enjoy a good meal, you won’t break the bank visiting Ireland.

Additional travel expenses to consider

Always remember to account for any souvenirs you’re likely to take home! These costs vary extremely wildly, so set yourself a comfortable safety net that you can afford to work with.

You should also account for an eSIM for Ireland from SIMOVO, which offers the best-value, most flexible way to stay connected while overseas. Pay for the data you need before you go, and you won’t have to worry about roaming fees when you get back.

Travel insurance is always a must, no matter where you go, and policy rates for Ireland will vary. We’d recommend looking at quotes for around $80 per person per week at an upper rate. This is a must if you’re hiring a car!

Practical tips to manage and reduce travel costs in Ireland

Let’s close our guide with a few quick, final bits of advice to help you plan that perfect Ireland getaway.

• Don’t eat in restaurants every night - there’s lots of authentic local cuisine available from cafes and supermarkets
• Avoid buying a physical Irish SIM - you don’t always know how much a local network will charge
• If you’re struggling with accommodation costs, why not consider camping in the Irish countryside instead?
• Always book flights and rooms as early as you know you’re going to travel
• Take a look at Discover Ireland’s fantastic list of free things to do
• Opt for self-catering accommodation, particularly outside the big cities, for the most affordable guest houses

If you’re serious about saving money on a trip to Ireland, we recommend you check out a SIMOVO eSIM for Europe as a priority - those mobile data costs can really ramp up if you’re not careful!