| Index | Dublin | California | National |
| Cost of living | 215 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 446 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 128 | 127 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Dublin? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Dublin stands at 215, making it 115% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Dublin may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Dublin falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs significantly influence the Dublin cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 345.7%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Dublin does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 10.9% higher than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 13 residents in Dublin to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 31% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 69% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Dublin affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Dublin, the median home price is 411.7% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 191.6% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Dublin boasting a median household income of $225,947, 177.8% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Dublin, the groceries index is 10.9% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Dublin, healthcare costs are 17% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
The Dublin cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $285,340 | $23,778 | $6,657 | $8,561 |
| Renters | $184,062 | $15,339 | $4,294 | $5,522 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| San Miguel CDP (San Luis Obispo County), CA | 2,800 | 130 | 29.5% |
| Cherryland, CA | 16,430 | 160 | 60.4% |
| Ashland, CA | 24,254 | 162 | 62.0% |
| Hayward, CA | 163,491 | 173 | 72.6% |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 31,094 | 169 | 69.4% |
| Dublin, CA | 65,416 | 215 | 115.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Brentwood, CA | 65,405 | 173 | 72.6% |
| Port Orange, FL | 65,435 | 108 | 7.7% |
| Halton Hills, ON | 65,483 | n/a | |
| Haverhill, MA | 65,500 | 128 | 28.3% |
| Cheyenne, WY | 65,554 | 105 | 5.3% |
| Dublin, CA | 65,416 | 215 | 115.5% |