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Cork vs Galway cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฎ๐ช Cork
๐ฎ๐ช Galway
At a glance
- No big gaps item by item โ pick by vibe and weather.
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Cork | Galway | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 17$19.8 | โฌ 17$19.8 | similar |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 11$12.8 | โฌ 11$12.8 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 36$41.9 | โฌ 40$46.5 | Cork โ10% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 3.8$4.42 | โฌ 3.9$4.53 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 6.5$7.56 | โฌ 6.5$7.56 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 12$14 | Galway โ8% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 1.6$1.86 | โฌ 1.6$1.86 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 2$2.33 | โฌ 2$2.33 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 13$15.1 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 8$9.3 | โฌ 8$9.3 | similar |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 2.4$2.79 | โฌ 2.2$2.56 | Galway โ8% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 25$29.1 | โฌ 25$29.1 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 140$163 | โฌ 150$174 | Cork โ7% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 1,600$1,860 | โฌ 1,600$1,860 | similar |
| Laundry | โฌ 14$16.3 | โฌ 14$16.3 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 20$23.3 | โฌ 20$23.3 | similar |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 17$19.8 | โฌ 17$19.8 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 75$87.2 | โฌ 75$87.2 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 35$40.7 | โฌ 30$34.9 | Galway โ14% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 14$16.3 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Cork โ7% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cork or Galway?
Cork is 8% cheaper than Galway. Daily budget $317 vs $335; a month $6,569 vs $7,388.
Which is easier to travel, Cork or Galway?
About the same: Cork 1.2/5, Galway 1.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Cork and Galway?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cork is about $6,569 and Galway about $7,388 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.