Your all-in-one guide to cost of living in Ireland for South Africans
Cost of living in Ireland: Your one-stop guide for all you need to know while planning a move from South Africa. Plus, money transfers with Wise!
Moving to Ireland from South Africa: Go-to Guide!
Moving to Ireland from South Africa is an exciting thought. Whether it’s for job opportunities, to relocate closer to loved ones, or to enjoy the natural beauty of the Irish countryside and the lifestyle that comes with it, there’s a pull for many to head to Ireland.
Although visiting Ireland is a simple process, if you want to stay there permanently, it all gets a little more complicated. However, armed with the right information and knowledge about how to relocate permanently, you can do it.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at the process of moving to Ireland from South Africa, sharing information, tips, and advice you need to know if you want to move there.
Plus, we’ll also be introducing you to Wise, a bank alternative that gives you the option to transfer money from Ireland to South Africa at the mid-market rate¹.
Moving to Ireland from South Africa (quick facts)
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Population | Approximately 5 million⁵ |
| Capital | Dublin |
| Language | English/Irish |
| Weather | The Irish weather is mixed - it can be anything from sunny to rainy in the span of a few hours. However, the climate is generally mild and moist. It typically doesn’t experience extreme temperatures but does have four distinct seasons.⁶ |
| Amount of expats | 600,000 ⁷ |
| Biggest cities | Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Derry |
| Average yearly salary | €45,000 per year⁸ |
Send money with Wise from Ireland to South Africa using the mid-market rate
South Africans living in Ireland can save money¹ by using Wise, a bank alternative, to make international payments to South Africa.
When sending money to South Africa from Ireland with Wise, you can reduce international transfer costs¹.
The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:
While some banks support international payments, they usually add a markup on top of the mid-market exchange rate for this transaction that customers end up paying.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for all transfers, meaning you’ll likely be getting better rates than you may using more traditional international transfer methods, and you’ll know upfront how much each transaction will cost you¹.
Using Wise, you can hold, send, and receive money in 40+ currencies³.
Ireland visa types and requirements
Ireland has two visa categories - short stay and long stay. However, there are many different types of visas within these two categories, and each visa is complex in its own way.
The long-stay visa category has a number of visas that sit under it, with different eligibility requirements.
Let’s take a look at the visas that are most likely to apply for you if you are trying to move to Ireland permanently from South Africa: the Employment visa and the Join Family visa⁹. These visas are complicated, so as always, make sure you consult a professional visa service to give you more clarity on your options.
Visa information for moving to Ireland with the Employment Visa
To be able to get a work visa in Ireland, you first need to qualify for an employment permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI)¹⁰.
There are nine types of permits to choose from¹⁰:
- The General Employment Permit
- The Critical Skills Employment Permit
- The Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
- Reactivation Employment Permit
- Contract for Services and Employment Permit
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
- Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
- Internship Employment Visa
- Sports and Cultural Employment Permit
You will have to pay for the permit.
Although some permits are cheaper, if you are staying in Ireland for a shorter time, most of the permits cost the same as the fees for a General Employment Permit¹¹:
| Fee to obtain the permit¹¹ | Fee to extend/renew the permit¹¹ |
| €1,000 up to 24 months and €500 for six months or less¹¹ | €750 for six months or less and €1,500 up to 36 months¹¹ |
Obtaining a permit may be the hard part of seeking an Employment Visa, however, it is important to know the many intricate requirements and criteria. For example, for some types of permits, you will need to earn €60,000, whilst for others you may need to earn €30,000¹⁰.
You therefore need to look into each permit properly, as well as the requirements that you will be subject to after your permit has been granted.
Generally, to apply for an employment visa for Ireland, you will need to provide¹⁰:
- Your employment contract
- A letter from your employer confirming your job and your salary
- Evidence of qualifications and past work experience
- A bank statement detailing your last six months
Visa information for moving to Ireland from South Africa with the Join Family Visa
You can apply for this type of visa if you have a spouse, partner, or other family members in Ireland. Your family member in Ireland must be either an Irish citizen or they must be legally living there¹².
You can apply if you are¹²:
- Spouse
- De Facto Partner
- Civil Partner
- Adult Dependent
- Child Dependent
- Dependent of Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders.
You will need to¹²:
- Prove that your relationship with the Irish family member is genuine and pre-existing
- Have a valid passport
- Prove that your family member is eligible to sponsor you
- Prove that your family member lives in Ireland legally
- Prove that your sponsor has enough money to help you financially once you arrive in Ireland
If your family member is an Irish citizen, you will likely be exempt from any visa fees if you are eligible for this visa, since spouses, children, adopted children, and dependents are exempt.
If this isn’t the case, you may have to pay¹²:
Single entry: €60
Multi entry: €100
Transit: €25
Cost of living in Ireland
The cost of living in Ireland varies depending on whether you’re living in a city, town, or in the countryside.
However, on average, it’s estimated that a family of four will spend around 3,388.6€¹³ and a single person will spend around 968.5€¹³. This does not include rent or bills.
To get a better feeling of the cost of living in Ireland, let’s take a look at some general expenses:
| Expenses | Cost in Euros | Cost in ZAR |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | €16¹³ | 316 ZAR |
| Meal, mid-range restaurant (2 people) | €80¹³ | 1,581 ZAR |
| Beer (local) | €5.50¹³ | 109 ZAR) |
| Bread | €1.70¹³ | 34 ZAR) |
| Milk | €1.20¹³ | 24 ZAR |
| Rent in the city centre (1 bed) | €1,450¹³ | 28,668 ZAR |
| Rent outside the city centre (1 bed) | €1,237¹³ | 24,457 |
| Public transport (local, monthly pass) | €100¹³ | 1,977 |
| Fuel (1 litre) | $1.80¹³ | 36 ZAR |
How to open a bank account in Ireland?
Opening a bank account in Ireland is really simple, all you need is proof of address and a type of identification.
Your ID could be:
- Passport
- Driving license
Your proof of address could be:
- Utility bill
- Council tax bill
- Bank statement
However, it might also be useful to take your visa documents and employment and salary details, just in case they require more information.
Banking in Ireland without residency status
You can open a bank account in Ireland even if you don’t have residency status. Some banks will even let you open an account online, without having to go into the branch to set it up. However, this is rare and is typically for digital-only accounts.
When opening a bank account as a non-resident in Ireland, you will need:
- Passport, driving license or valid ID
- Proof of address outside Ireland
Maintenance fees and charges
Most banks in Ireland don’t charge maintenance fees and charges for bank accounts unless you choose to sign up for a premium account or business account.
However, some do, including ATM withdrawals. So, make sure you’re reading the information about the feed and charges to accounts when choosing which bank you want to use.
Finding a job in Ireland
There are so many job opportunities in Ireland, especially if you’re looking for a job at one of the large conglomerates, tech companies, and institutions that base themselves there.
However, it’s also a fierce market due to the number of opportunities.
You can job hunt online easily and the best sites for finding jobs in Ireland are:
How to make friends and socialise in Ireland
Ireland is one of the friendliest countries in Europe and you’re likely to feel that when you’re there. Just like if you moved to any new country, you’ll make friends easily if you choose to put yourself out there and socialise. Join clubs, pick up hobbies, and use social media to build a community.
Healthcare in Ireland
There are both private and public healthcare services in Ireland. If you can show that you intend and are eligible to live in Ireland for at least a year, you will be eligible for either free or subsidised health services.
If you want to look into private healthcare in Ireland, you may want to ensure you have insurance or search for employers that provide this.
It’s always a good idea to be aware of emergency numbers in Ireland:
| Contact Number | |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 112 |
| Police | 112 |
| Fire Brigade | 112 |
Is it worth moving to Ireland from South Africa?
The visas might be complicated, but if you’re set on moving to Ireland, it’ll likely be worth it! It’s a beautiful country with good job opportunities, a great quality of life, and friendly people. So, if you can figure out how to live there and it’s something you want to do - go for it!
Remember, Wise has your back when it comes to sending money from Ireland to South Africa at the mid-market rate¹.
Sources:
- Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.
- Eligibility is subject to verification of customer identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
- Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions.
- Please visit www.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
- Ireland Population - Worldometers
- Education in Ireland - Climate
- International Citizens Group - Moving to Ireland
- Morgan Mckinley - 2024 Ireland Salary Guide
- Immigration Advice Service - Ireland Immigration
- Immigration Advice Service - Ireland Work Visas from South Africa
- Enterprise Ireland - Fees for Employment Permits
- Immigration Advice Service - Join Family Visa
- Numbeo - Cost of Living in Ireland
*Sources last checked as of Wednesday 15th November, 2023.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
