bunq, Europe’s second-largest neobank, has released new findings from its third annual Working Abroad Index 2025, ranking Ireland against the rest of Europe when it comes to digital nomads relocating to and from Dublin.
The average monthly cost of public transport in Dublin decreased by 10% between 2024 and 2025, going from €155 to €140. In conjunction, the average monthly cost of household utilities in Dublin fell by 12% year-on-year, from €337.38 in 2024 to €297.54 in 2025, one of the largest falls among European capitals, reflecting an easing on energy, service and transportation expenses. However, these drops are not enough to offset Dublin’s high baseline costs, with the city remaining comparatively more expensive than most of its European peers, even as prices fall.
The opposite can be said in Central and Eastern European capitals, which saw high rising costs, with transport becoming more expensive in Bratislava and Sofia, and utility costs increasing in Warsaw. The combination of utility and transportation cost increases since 2024 has had a considerable effect on cost-of-living, notably Sofia which saw a 12% rise in its cost-of-living expenses.
The fall in utility and transportation costs in Dublin contrasted with monthly food prices (per person), as food costs increased by 9% back to €304.77, up 5% compared to 2023. In other words, while Dubliners are spending slightly less on bills and transport, higher food costs and persistently high rent continue to keep total monthly expenses near record levels.
"Living abroad should fit your life, not the other way around," said bunq’s Chief Evangelist, Joe Wilson. "Our research shows where your money goes, so expats can make choices that match their lifestyle - spend smarter, enjoy more, and focus on the experiences that matter.”
The average Dublin coworking space is now €255.50 per month, a 24% reduction from 2024 and the fourth largest reduction in Europe with over two thirds of EU capitals having reduced co-working costs of 5% or more. Even so, bunq claims the savings offered by cheaper co-working spaces and utilities are outweighed by Dublin’s premium housing market (€1,889.29) and overall cost of living (€2,631.60), ensuring it remains in the top three of Europe’s costliest cities for remote workers.
According to bunq's third Working Abroad Index, the following EU capital cities are ranked as the most affordable and therefore most attractive destinations for digital nomads, in terms of cost of living and lifestyle per month.
1. Bucharest - €876.69
2. Sofia - €978.78
3. Budapest - €1,026.51
4. Riga - €1,043.98
5. Athens - €1,094.82
6. Vilnius - €1,150.82
7. Nicosia - €1,178.86
8. Zagreb - €1,213.43
9. Tallinn - €1,268.44
10. Bratislava - €1,298.72
