h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought about posting this on the Ireland researchers page but that seems to have lain dormant for a while...

In about a year and a half I will have returned from travelling and will be looking for a job, house etc. I had always thought I would return to Belfast, but now I'm thinking about not.
I want to stay in Ireland though (I think, for the time being) and am now toying with the vague idea of moving to Dublin.

So, I wanted to know what people think of living there, if they've had any experience of it.
Is it really that expensive? Will it be next to impossible to buy property? Whereabouts is good to live for somebody in their mid 20s, just starting out?!

It's a wonderful place to live from every possible point of view except that HOUSING IS VERY EXPENSIVE - ruinously so. Make strenuous attempts to win the lottery first

I've only visited Dublin but I'd agree that it has a lot to offer, especially to younger people. It's one of the most vibrant and exiting cities I've been to and tis small enough to to feel intimidating.

Erm, I'm selling my house in Belfast if you're interested!

But Dublin is a way more exciting place to live. Big drug and crime probs at the mo, and transport is hellish, though. As well as the expensive housing, and drink, and cigs, and petrol.......

Petrol is much cheaper in Dublin than in Belfast. It is about 89 cents a litre (that's about 55p for you Sterling zone people).

But drink and housing are certainly more expensive. A new small three-bedroom house about 10 miles from the centre of Dublin at present costs about €230,000 (£145,000). I don't know how that compares with the England, but it is certainly more expensive than Belfast.

Jobs are still reasonably easy to come by here, particularly if you have any sort of technical qualifications.

Petrol here is a whopping 78p a litre and climbing.

Civil Engineer at your service, hopefully that's a plus!

If the wages reflect the cost of living it might be a feasible option...
I'll just have to cut down on the etc!

I live in London, but I visited Dublin last year, I was shocked at the cost of food and stuff, however I fell in love with the city itself, it has some beautiful areas and the people are very friendly, so a move there would probably be well worth the extra cost of living.

I believe that Engineering and Technical salaries are much better in the Republic. But do your own research.

In my experience London is more expensive than Dublin in every way.

Transport by car or bus in Dublin can be troublesome - the roads aren't very good - but if you get accomodation somewhere along the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) line then it's much easier.