With the new college year just around the corner, new data has found that new university graduates in Ireland are in some cases spending well above half their income on rent.
The data, from Conveyancing Solicitor, found that new graduates earning between €30,000 and €40,000 annually are spending some 69.9% of their income on rend in Drogheda, the highest ranked city in the study.
Dublin ranks second, with graduates spending 61.8% of their income on rent, followed by Cork (50.4%), Galway (48.8%) and Limerick (46.9%).
‘This mismatch between earnings and housing costs is forcing young professionals to make difficult trade-offs: doubling up with roommates, delaying independence, or turning down city-based roles altogether,’ the report noted. ‘Without relief, many may be priced out of urban job markets entirely.’
Other cities to boast high rent for recent graduates include Waterford (45.6%), Bray (45.2%), Dundalk (43.2%), Athlone (41.6%) and Sligo (41.5%).
More manageable rents
On the other end of the scale, towns like Tullamore and Ballina, where graduates spend 25.5% and 26.6% of their income on rent, respectively, offer more manageable levels, the study found.
The growing burden of rent is linked to a broader trend of housing costs outpacing wage growth. Between 2019 and 2024, average rents in Ireland increased by over 30%, whereas starting salaries have only grown by between 11% and 13%.
‘Uneven landscape’
“Graduates entering the Irish workforce today face a deeply uneven housing landscape,” commented George Levett, legal expert with Conveyancing Solicitor. “Cities like Drogheda and Dublin have become virtually unaffordable for those earning average entry-level salaries of €30,000 to €40,000. When rent consumes more than half your income, it limits mobility, independence, and long-term financial health.
“We’re seeing a growing trend where recent grads either delay moving out, choose remote towns, or pile into shared accommodation just to stay afloat. This isn’t just a housing issue. It’s also an economic one. Companies based in high-rent cities may soon find it harder to recruit fresh talent, potentially leading to talent flight to more affordable regions.”
Top 10 Most Rent-Burdened Cities for Irish Graduates
| Rank | City | Rent % of Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drogheda | 69.9% |
| 2 | Dublin | 61.8% |
| 3 | Cork | 50.4% |
| 4 | Galway | 48.8% |
| 5 | Limerick | 46.9% |
| 6 | Waterford | 45.6% |
| 7 | Bray | 45.2% |
| 8 | Dundalk | 43.2% |
| 9 | Athlone | 41.6% |
| 10 | Sligo | 41.5% |
Top 10 Least Rent-Burdened Cities for Irish Graduates
| Rank | City | Rent % of Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tullamore | 25.5% |
| 2 | Ballina | 26.6% |
| 3 | Letterkenny | 32.0% |
| 4 | Tralee | 36.4% |
| 5 | Ennis | 36.6% |
| 6 | Dun Laoghaire | 40.8% |
| 7 | Carlow | 41.3% |
| 8 | Sligo | 41.5% |
| 9 | Athlone | 41.6% |
| 10 | Dundalk | 43.2% |
