How Much Does Dublin Cost? 2026 Budget Guide | Prices & Tips
Dublin is a mid-to-high cost European capital, requiring a daily budget between $88 / €75 and $918 / €780 depending on the level of comfort and dining preferences. While public transport is reasonably priced, high demand for accommodation often drives the bulk of expenses, with 4-star hotels averaging $257 / €218 per night. Visiting during May or September, when temperatures range from 12–16°C (54–61°F), helps avoid the highest peak-season price hikes. The city remains more expensive than Lisbon or Prague but is often more accessible than London for short-term visitors. Those who utilize public transport caps and casual dining can manage costs effectively without sacrificing the experience.
Is Dublin expensive to visit?
Dublin is a moderately expensive city — expect to spend $88–$918 / €75–€780 per day depending on whether you choose a hostel dorm or a luxury hotel.
On This Page
Daily Budget
How much to budget per person per day in Dublin
$88
per person /day
$424
per person /day
$918
per person /day
Trip Costs by Duration
Total estimated costs per person, excluding flights
| Trip Costs by Duration | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip | $265 | $1,271 | $2,754 |
| 5-Day Trip | $441 | $2,119 | $4,590 |
| 7-Day Trip | $618 | $2,966 | $6,426 |
per person — Excludes international flights
Budget Buffer
Recommended contingency for unexpected expenses
Setting aside a 15% buffer is advisable to cover hidden costs such as the 12.5% service charge often added to group restaurant bills or the $5.89 / €5 refundable Leap Card deposit. These funds also help manage the $3.53 / €3 booking fees for taxis or the $14 / €12 entry fee for sites like St. Patrick's Cathedral.
How Does It Compare?
See how Dublin stacks up against other popular destinations
What Things Cost
Real prices for common tourist expenses in Dublin
Food & Drink (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant Typical for a burger or pasta dish in a casual city-center spot. | $24 €20 |
| Pint of Domestic Draft Beer Expect to pay ~$10–$12 / €8.5–€10 in the Temple Bar area. | $8.24 €7 |
| Regular Cappuccino Specialty coffee shops often charge ~$5.3 / €4.5 for oat milk options. | $4.88 €4.15 |
Transport (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| TFI 90 Minute Fare (Leap Card) Allows unlimited transfers between Dublin Bus, Luas, and DART/Commuter Rail for 90 minutes. | $2.35 €2 |
| Daily Transport Cap (Dublin Bus & Luas) Once you spend ~$6.59 / €5.6 in a day, further travel on these modes is free. | $6.59 €5.6 |
| Dublin Express Airport Transfer Fastest coach service to the city center; booking online saves ~$1.18 / €1. | $11 €9 |
| Taxi Initial Charge (Special Rate) Applies Sat/Sun 00:00–04:00. Standard daytime initial charge is ~$5.18 / €4.4. | $6.36 €5.4 |
Accommodation (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hostel Dorm Bed (Garden Lane Backpackers) Higher-end starting rate for a shared dormitory bed in a central location. | $31 €26 |
| 4-star Hotel Nightly Rate Standard real-time rate for 4-star hotels; equivalent to approximately $304 / €258. | $257 €218 |
| 5-star luxury Hotel (Weekend Average) Average price for luxury accommodation on a weekend, roughly $600 / €510. | $508 €432 |
Activities (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Guinness Storehouse (Standard Adult) Using the high-end rate for peak times. Includes one pint of Guinness. | $42 €36 |
| Book of Kells Experience Includes the Old Library and digital exhibition. Book weeks in advance. | $25 €22 |
| Kilmainham Gaol Museum Entry Must be booked online; tickets often sell out 28 days in advance. | $9.42 €8 |
| St. Patrick's Cathedral Admission Standard international adult rate; includes a multi-lingual audio guide. | $14 €12 |
Connectivity (1)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Saily Ireland eSIM (20 GB Plan) One of the best value data options for a longer stay (~$31 / €26). | $26 €22 |
Food & Dining
What to eat and what it costs
Dining out involves a wide cost range, with an inexpensive meal at a casual city-center spot costing around $24 / €20. Alcohol is a significant budget factor, as a standard pint of draft beer costs $8.24 / €7 in most areas but can reach $10–$12 / €8.5–€10 in the tourist-heavy Temple Bar district.
Cheap Eats
Where locals eat — real places, real prices
Bunsen
$12–$19 / €11–€16Temple Bar / Wexford St · Local chain
Arguably the best burger in Dublin; no reservations, so go early.
Boojum
$11–$15 / €9.5–€13Multiple locations · Local chain
Huge portions for ~$12 / €10; perfect for a quick, filling budget lunch.
Leo Burdock
$14–$21 / €12–€18Christchurch · Street food area
Dublin's oldest chipper; take your fish to eat in the nearby park.
777 (Taco Tuesday)
$11–$11 / €9–€9George's Street · Local chain
On Tuesdays you can get two gourmet tacos for just ~$11 / €9.
Keogh's Cafe
$4.71–$14 / €4–€12Trinity College · Bakery
The best scones in Dublin for ~$4.71 / €4; perfect for a cheap breakfast.
Getting Around
Transport costs and the smartest ways to move
The Transport for Ireland (TFI) 90-minute fare is the most efficient option at $2.35 / €2, allowing unlimited transfers between bus, Luas, and DART. For heavy travel days, the daily cap of $6.59 / €5.6 on bus and Luas ensures costs remain low, while the Dublin Express airport transfer provides a fast link for $11 / €9.
Accommodation Overview
Lodging is the primary expense, with shared dormitory beds at central hostels like Garden Lane Backpackers starting around $31 / €26. Those seeking comfort will find 4-star hotels average $257 / €218 per night, while weekend luxury at 5-star properties reaches approximately $508 / €432.
Accommodation Budget in Dublin
Budget
Hostels, budget hotels, shared facilities
Mid-Range
3-star hotels, boutique stays, great locations
Luxury
5-star hotels, suites, premium amenities
💡 Prices vary by season. Book 2-3 months ahead for best rates.
Money-Saving Tips
Insider tricks to stretch your budget further
- 1 Purchase a Leap Card immediately to access the $2.35 / €2 90-minute fare instead of paying higher cash fares.
- 2 Hit the daily transport cap of $6.59 / €5.6 early in the day to enjoy free subsequent travel on Dublin Bus and Luas.
- 3 Book Kilmainham Gaol Museum ($9.42 / €8) exactly 28 days in advance online, as it is the city's best value historical site and sells out instantly.
- 4 Avoid drinking in Temple Bar after 19:00, where pint prices can soar above $12 / €10, and instead head to local pubs in Smithfield or Stoneybatter.
- 5 Look for 'Early Bird' menus in the Creative Quarter for multi-course meals at significantly lower prices than the standard $24 / €20 dinner rate.
- 6 Use the Dublin Express airport transfer for $11 / €9 rather than a taxi, which can cost $35–$47 / €30–€40 to the city center.
- 7 Eat at Boojum or Bunsen for filling meals under $18 / €15, avoiding the $24–$35 / €20–€30 mid-range restaurant prices.
- 8 Visit 777 on 'Taco Tuesday' for discounted dishes at one of the city's popular upscale Mexican spots.
- 9 Drink tap water, which is perfectly safe and free; restaurants provide it upon request, saving on $3.53–$4.71 / €3–€4 bottled water costs.
- 10 Check for student or senior discounts at St. Patrick's Cathedral, which can reduce the standard $14 / €12 admission.
Seasonal Pricing
When prices rise and fall throughout the year
Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec
+30–50%
Jan, Feb, Nov
-25–40%
May, Sep
May and September offer mild weather 12–16°C (54–61°F) and lower hotel rates compared to the peak summer crowds.
Events to Watch
- ● St. Patrick's Festival (mid-March): +100% hotels
- ● All-Ireland Finals (July): High hotel demand
- ● New Year's Festival: +50% prices
Free Things to Do
The best experiences that cost absolutely nothing
- 1 National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology (Kildare Street)
- 2 National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History (Collins Barracks)
- 3 National Gallery of Ireland (Merrion Square)
- 4 The Chester Beatty Library (Dublin Castle grounds)
- 5 Phoenix Park (home to free-roaming fallow deer)
- 6 St. Stephen's Green (central Victorian park)
- 7 The Science Gallery at Trinity College (rotating exhibitions)
- 8 The South Wall Walk out to Poolbeg Lighthouse
- 9 The Garden of Remembrance (Parnell Square)
- 10 Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
- 11 Walking through the Trinity College campus grounds (excluding the Long Room)
- 12 Bull Island and Dollymount Strand for coastal scenery
Worth the Splurge
Premium experiences that justify the price tag
Jameson Distillery Bow St. Premium Experience
The flagship Bow St. tour is highly immersive and includes a comparative tasting (~$41 / €35).
Carne Asada for Two at 777
A massive 24 oz Côte de Boeuf sharing dish (~$100 / €85) in one of the city's coolest spots.
Dublin All-Inclusive Pass (1 Day)
Value if you visit 3+ major paid attractions like Guinness and EPIC in one day (~$93 / €79).
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in Dublin
Day Trip Costs
Popular day trips from Dublin and what they cost
Howth Cliff Walk
$5.89 / €5 by DART (Train)
Free
$41 / €35
Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains
$26 / €22 by Bus
Free
$59 / €50
Payment & Money
How to pay and what to know about money
Euro (EUR)
1 € ≈ 1.18 $
No
Excellent; contactless is the norm everywhere from pubs to buskers.
10–12.5% in restaurants is standard unless a service charge is already included. Round up ~$1.18–$2.35 / €1–€2 for taxis.
Use bank-affiliated ATMs (AIB, Bank of Ireland) to avoid the high fees of Euronet machines which can cost ~$4.71–$7.06 / €4–€6 per withdrawal.
Connectivity
eSIM: $8.83–$31 for 3GB to 20GB (opens in new tab)
Local SIM: $18–$24 / €15–€20 for unlimited data/30 days
WiFi: Excellent in most city cafés, pubs, and on the Dublin Bus network.
A Saily or Airalo eSIM is most convenient, but a local Lycamobile SIM from a newsagent (~$18 / €15) offers more data.
Why you can trust this guide
35+ countries • 8 years analyzing travel data
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
- All neighborhoods verified by walking them
- Curated locations based on walkability & safety
- Real-time availability via live partner maps
- Prices based on Booking.com & Numbeo averages
Methodology: This guide combines on-the-ground neighborhood research, current hotel pricing data, and real traveler feedback to provide honest, actionable accommodation recommendations for Dublin.
Updated: February 16, 2026
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