Essentials
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Marine Road or near the East Pier for sea views and proximity to the DART
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Monkstown or Sandycove for a quieter atmosphere with high-end cafes
- City
- Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
- Population
- 33,000 (Greater area approx. 218,000)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber available, average 150-500 Mbps via Virgin Media or SIRO
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€); 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Revolut and N26 are widely used
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Irish Water)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (UK/Ireland standard)
- SIM Card
- Three Ireland, Vodafone, or LycaMobile. Pre-paid 20GB-Unlimited for €15-€25/month
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut is the standard for Nomads; AIB or Bank of Ireland for local accounts
- Accommodation
- Extremely high demand. Renting: €1,800–€2,600 for 1-bed apartments
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, nearly 100% cashless. Apple Pay and Contactless accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Daft.ie (Short-term section), typically €120-€200 per night
- Budget Accommodation
- The Haddington House (mid-range); for budget, hostels in Dublin City (20 mins via DART)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Digital Depot at the LexIcon Library or Glandore (locations nearby in Blackrock)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Wanderlust or Starbucks on Marine Road; Two Pups Coffee (near DLR LexIcon)
- Networking Events
- Digital Dun Laoghaire (local business network) monthly meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Meetup.com groups: 'Southside Socials' and 'Dublin Expats' often meet in local pubs
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (most popular) and Uber (licensed taxis only)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- TIER and Bleeper e-bikes available via app throughout the town
- Best Beach Nearby
- Sandycove Beach and the Forty Foot (famous swimming spot)
- Top Regional Airline
- Aer Lingus (Dublin Airport, 40 mins away via Aircoach)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (HQ in Dublin), Emirates, Delta
- Highway Access
- M50 motorway accessible via the N11 link road
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Dun Laoghaire DART Station (Direct links to Dublin City Center)
- Public Transport Passes
- Leap Card: Reduces fares by 30%. Monthly/Annual TaxSaver tickets available
- Regional Travel
- DART (Train) to Bray/Greystones or Dublin City; Bus 46A to City Center
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Michael's Hospital (Lower George's Street) and Beacon Hospital (Private, nearby)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Dublin (Upper George's Street), charges €18-€22 per drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- West Wood Club (Sandymount/Clontarf) or Anytime Fitness (Dun Laoghaire)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Press (Upper George's St); full wash/dry/fold approx. €15-€20
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Deliveroo, Just Eat, and UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fish and Chips from Teddy's Ice Cream (Pier side) or Hartley's Seafood
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Gourmet Food Parlour or The Carrot's Tail (Vegan specific)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Teddy’s Ice Cream (Legendary 99 cones); Scrumbles Cookies
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lidl and Aldi on Upper George's Street
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.uk (with Prime delivery to Ireland) and Curry's PC World
- Grocery Delivery
- Tesco.ie, Dunnes Stores, and SuperValu
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lower George's Street (The Forty Foot pub, Gilbert & Wright)
- Local Brewery
- The Wicklow Wolf (nearby Bray) or Guinness (Dublin City)
- Wine Bars
- 64 Wine in Glasthule (widely regarded as one of Ireland's best)
- Street Food Stalls
- People's Park Sunday Market (Hot food stalls, 11am-4pm)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Daata (Pakistani/Indian), Mao (Asian Fusion), Oliveto (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The East Pier (2.6km walk), DLR LexIcon (Award-winning library building)
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Maritime Museum of Ireland (located in a 19th-century church)
- Historical Sites
- James Joyce Tower and Museum at Sandycove
- Religious Sites
- St. Michael's Church (Tower remains from original structure)
- Annual Events
- The Coastival (Arts and Culture Festival in July)
- Cultural Districts
- Glasthule Village (Boutique shops and art galleries nearby)
- Theater Venues
- Pavilion Theatre (Marine Road) - central hub for plays and cinema
- Local Markets
- The People’s Park Sunday Market
- Music Scene
- Live music at The Purty Kitchen (Monkstown)
- Street Art
- Murals along the seafront and George's Street lanes
- Cooking Classes
- Dublin Cooking Academy (Blackrock, 5 mins DART ride)
- Art Galleries
- Eblana Gallery (Bespoke Irish art and ceramics)
- Historic Buildings
- The Town Hall (High Victorian style architecture)
- Local Heritage
- Victorian seafront villas and harbor history as the 'Kingstown' port
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Killiney Hill Park (Panoramic views of Dublin Bay)
- National Parks Nearby
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (30 mins drive south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Metals coastal path connecting Dun Laoghaire to Dalkey
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The end of the East Pier; Vico Road (often compared to the Amalfi Coast)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sandycove and the harbor walls for sea-birds
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted. Outdoor BBQs allowed in designated zones only
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- An Post (The Post Office, Upper George's St), DHL Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Fonez Dun Laoghaire (Shopping Center)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Dun Laoghaire Rathdown leisure centers (e.g., Monkstown Pool & Fitness)
- Language Classes
- Active Language Learning (ALL) on George's Street
- Libraries & Study Spots
- dlr LexIcon (Modern, free high-speed WiFi, sea views)
- Community Centers
- Boylan Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- The Token (Dublin City - short DART ride)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Amusement City (Westmoreland St, Dublin City)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €262,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €6,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €217,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,000 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €385,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,800 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €319,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,800 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €510,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,500 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €412,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 12.5% on trading income (increasing to 15% for large corps)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (Standard rate)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents and domiciled individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40%
- VAT
- 23% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in line with EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD)
- Property Tax
- Local Property Tax (LPT) based on market value bands
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty: 1% up to €1m, 2% above that
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific 'Nomad' visa; SARP (Special Assignee Relief Programme) exists for corporate transfers