Fair prices in Ireland — what things really cost

Dublin has a strong independent-cafe scene and a good cappuccino or flat white is normal value at around €3.50–4.50. Prices are highest at the most touristy spots near Temple Bar and Grafton Street; step onto a side street for the same coffee for less.

A main course or an early-bird set menu at a decent mid-range restaurant is fair value for a capital city, and many good places offer two- or three-course pre-theatre menus for around €19–30. Fine dining runs far higher, so look for the set menus to eat well without overspending.

Classic pub grub — a burger, fish and chips, a bowl of stew or a toasted sandwich with a side of chips — is the best-value hot meal in Dublin at roughly €12–16. Neighbourhood pubs away from the tourist core give you more food and a better atmosphere for less.

In an ordinary Dublin pub a pint of Guinness is around €5.50–7. In the Temple Bar tourist strip the same pint can cost €9–11 — sometimes far more — so walk a few streets out to Stoneybatter, Phibsborough or any local pub for the same drink, often better poured, at a fair price.

The Aircoach and the Airlink/Dublin Bus services run from the airport into the city centre for roughly €7–11 one way, every 10–15 minutes, and are the cheapest comfortable option. Buy online or tap a card; there is no train or tram link to Dublin Airport yet.

A metered taxi from the airport to the city centre is about €25–35 and takes around 30 minutes in normal traffic, more in rush hour or at night. Always use the official rank, insist on the meter, and ask for the direct route rather than the longer M50 motorway loop.

A single 90-minute journey on the bus, Luas or DART is only about €2 with a TFI Leap card, versus a higher cash fare, and daily and weekly caps mean a busy day of travel stays cheap. The Leap Visitor Card (1/3/7-day) is the simplest option for short stays.

A 500ml bottle of water from a shop is about €1.50–2; it costs more from vending machines and tourist kiosks. Dublin tap water is safe to drink, so carry a refillable bottle and skip buying bottled water altogether.