Moving to Ireland from California: Complete 2024 Guide
Everything Californians need to know about relocating from CA to Ireland. Compare costs, weather, jobs, and lifestyle between the Golden State and the Emerald Isle.
Weather
Cooler & Rainier
Housing
Similar to SF/LA
Tech Jobs
Google, Apple, Meta
Flight Time
10-11 hours direct
Why Californians Are Choosing Ireland
Same Tech Companies, Lower Cost
All the major Silicon Valley companies have offices in Ireland: Google, Apple, Meta, LinkedIn, Salesforce. Californians can transfer internally or find similar roles with competitive salaries but much lower living costs than SF or LA.
- Google's European HQ is in Dublin
- Apple's European operations in Cork
- Meta, LinkedIn, Salesforce all in Dublin
Affordable Healthcare
Californians pay some of the highest healthcare costs in America. In Ireland, healthcare is dramatically cheaper - even with private insurance, you'll pay 70-80% less than California's Covered California or employer plans.
- Private insurance: €1,000-2,500/year vs $6,000-12,000 in CA
- No medical bankruptcy risk
- Prescription drugs cost fraction of CA prices
European Adventure Base
Californians love to travel, and Ireland is the perfect European base. Weekend trips to Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome, or Amsterdam cost $50-150 roundtrip. You'll explore more of Europe in one year than most Californians do in a lifetime.
- 2-hour flights to most European cities
- Budget airlines for $50 weekend trips
- 30+ countries within 3 hours
Green & Beautiful Nature
While California battles droughts and wildfires, Ireland is lush and green year-round. Californians who love nature find Ireland's landscapes stunning - dramatic coastlines, rolling hills, and no wildfire smoke.
- No drought or water restrictions
- No wildfire season or smoke
- Stunning coastal scenery everywhere
California vs Ireland: Cost Comparison
| Expense | San Francisco | Los Angeles | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Apartment | $3,000-4,500 | $2,200-3,500 | $1,980-2,750 |
| 2-Bed Apartment | $4,500-6,500 | $3,200-5,000 | $2,420-3,520 |
| Gasoline (per gallon) | $4.50-5.50 | $4.50-5.50 | $7.15 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $500-700 | $450-650 | $400-600 |
| Health Insurance | $600-1,000/mo | $500-900/mo | $90-230/mo |
| Dinner for 2 | $80-120 | $70-100 | $66-99 |
| State Income Tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 13.3% | No state tax |
Important Note for Californians:
While Ireland has higher income tax rates than California (20-40% vs CA's 13.3% max), you save massively on healthcare, housing (compared to SF/LA), and have no state income tax. Most Californians find they have more disposable income in Ireland despite the tax difference.
Weather: California vs Ireland
This is the biggest adjustment for Californians! Ireland's weather is completely different from California's sunny climate. Here's what to expect:
California Weather
- Summer: Hot and dry (75-95°F / 24-35°C)
- Winter: Mild (50-65°F / 10-18°C)
- Rain: Rare (mostly Nov-Mar)
- Sunshine: 280+ sunny days per year
- Humidity: Low and comfortable
- Challenges: Droughts, wildfires, heat waves
Ireland Weather
- Summer: Mild (60-70°F / 15-21°C)
- Winter: Cool (40-50°F / 4-10°C)
- Rain: Frequent year-round (but light)
- Sunshine: 150-180 sunny days per year
- Humidity: Higher, but no extreme heat
- Benefits: No wildfires, no droughts, green year-round
Weather Adjustment Tips for Californians:
What to Bring:
- • Waterproof jacket (essential!)
- • Layers - it's rarely hot or freezing
- • Good umbrella
- • Waterproof shoes/boots
- • Vitamin D supplements (less sun)
What You Won't Need:
- • Air conditioning (rare in Ireland)
- • Heavy winter coats (mild winters)
- • Shorts and tank tops (rarely hot)
- • Sunscreen daily (but bring for summer)
- • Wildfire evacuation plan
Tech Jobs: Silicon Valley to Ireland
Ireland is Europe's Silicon Valley! Many California tech workers transfer to Irish offices or find similar roles. The tech scene is vibrant, English-speaking, and offers great work-life balance.
Bay Area → Dublin
- Google: European HQ in Dublin
- Meta: International HQ
- LinkedIn: European HQ
- Salesforce: Large Dublin office
- Airbnb: European operations
Cupertino → Cork
- Apple: Major Cork operations (6,000+ employees)
- Amazon: Cork office
- VMware: Cork presence
- EMC: Cork operations
Other CA Companies
- Microsoft: Dublin office
- Oracle: Dublin presence
- PayPal: Dublin & Dundalk
- eBay: Dublin office
Salary Comparison: California vs Ireland
Software Engineer:
Bay Area: $150,000-250,000
Ireland: €70,000-120,000 ($77,000-132,000)
Lower salary but similar purchasing power due to lower costs
Product Manager:
Bay Area: $140,000-220,000
Ireland: €80,000-130,000 ($88,000-143,000)
Better work-life balance in Ireland
Data Scientist:
Bay Area: $130,000-200,000
Ireland: €70,000-110,000 ($77,000-121,000)
More vacation time (20-25 days vs 10-15)
UX Designer:
Bay Area: $110,000-170,000
Ireland: €60,000-95,000 ($66,000-104,500)
Shorter commutes, less stress
Lifestyle: What Californians Notice
Transportation & Commuting
California:
- • Car absolutely necessary
- • Long commutes (60-90 min common)
- • Traffic jams daily
- • High gas and insurance costs
- • Limited public transit
Ireland:
- • Car optional in cities
- • Short commutes (20-30 min average)
- • Less traffic congestion
- • Excellent public transport
- • Walkable and bike-friendly cities
Food & Dining Culture
What You'll Miss:
- • Mexican food (limited in Ireland)
- • Asian food variety (less diverse)
- • In-N-Out Burger
- • Trader Joe's
- • Year-round fresh produce
What You'll Love:
- • Amazing pub culture
- • Fresh seafood everywhere
- • Quality Irish beef and lamb
- • Artisan food markets
- • European food imports
Work Culture & Pace
California Tech Culture:
- • "Hustle culture" mentality
- • Long hours expected
- • 10-15 vacation days
- • Always-on email culture
- • Work defines identity
Ireland Work Culture:
- • Work-life balance valued
- • Standard 40-hour weeks
- • 20-25 vacation days
- • Respect for personal time
- • Life outside work matters
Practical Tips for Californians
Flights from California
Direct flights: SFO and LAX to Dublin (10-11 hours)
Airlines: Aer Lingus, United
Cost: $500-1,200 roundtrip (book 2-3 months ahead)
Pro tip: Red-eye flights from CA arrive in Ireland morning - perfect timing!
Driving in Ireland
Big change: They drive on the LEFT side!
Your CA license: Valid for 12 months
After 12 months: Exchange for Irish license (no test needed)
Pro tip: Many Californians find they don't need a car in Dublin - public transport is excellent!
Your California Phone Number
Port your CA number to Google Voice (free) to keep it for US banking and 2FA.
Get an Irish SIM card (€20-40/month) - much cheaper than AT&T/Verizon international plans.
Pro tip: Irish carriers: Vodafone, Three, Eir. All offer unlimited data plans.
Banking & Money
Keep your US bank account (Wells Fargo, Chase, BofA) and open an Irish account.
Use Wise or Revolut for currency transfers - avoid high bank fees.
Pro tip: Get a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card before leaving CA.
California Expat Community in Ireland
There's a huge California expat community in Ireland, especially in Dublin and Cork. Many organize meetups, watch 49ers/Lakers games together, and help newcomers adjust to Irish life.
Where Californians Gather:
- • American expat Facebook groups
- • Tech meetups (lots of ex-Bay Area folks)
- • Sports bars showing NFL/NBA games
- • Stanford/Berkeley/UCLA alumni groups
- • American Chamber of Commerce events
- • California-themed restaurants and bars
Things You Can Find:
- • Mexican food (limited but exists!)
- • American grocery items at specialty stores
- • Sports bars showing CA teams
- • American-style coffee shops
- • Amazon.ie delivers to Ireland
- • Most US streaming services work
Ready to Trade California Sun for Irish Green?
Join thousands of Californians who've made the move. Get personalized guidance for your relocation from the Golden State to the Emerald Isle.
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