SF vs. Dublin cost of living: two tech hubs, one honest comparison
Silicon Valley pay meets Silicon Docks. We compare San Francisco and Dublin on rent, home prices, tech salaries, and taxes — the numbers that actually decide whether the move works after the offer letter.
San Francisco, CA
Dublin
Side-by-side comparison
Dublin figures shown in EUR and converted to USD at ~€1 = $1.08 for like-for-like comparison. FX rates move — treat the USD column as directional.
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Dublin (EUR) | Dublin (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent (monthly) | $3,300 | €2,400 | $2,592 |
| Median home price | $1M | €565K | $610K |
| Median salary | $140,000 | €62,000 | $66,960 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.278% | 33.1% | 33.1% |
| Mortgage burden | 62.4% | 42% | 42% |
| Childcare (monthly) | $2,350 | €1,650 | $1,782 |
| School quality (0–10) | 78 | 8 | 8 |
| Overall score | 61 | 72 | 72 |
San Francisco stacks federal, California state (up to 13.3%), and FICA — an effective burden that reaches 40%+ for senior tech comp. Ireland's PAYE tops out at 40% plus USC and PRSI, but standard-rate bands and tax credits soften the middle-income hit. High RSU earners often pay less in Dublin; middle earners frequently pay more.
Median rent runs $3,300 in SF vs €2,400 (~$2,592) in Dublin. Home prices diverge sharply — SF's median is $1M vs Dublin's €565K (~$610K). Dublin supply is tight, but SF's floor is higher.
SF's median salary of $140,000 outpaces Dublin's €62,000 (~$66,960). Big Tech in Dublin (Google, Meta, Stripe, LinkedIn) pays well by European standards, but SF senior offers typically lead by 30–60% on total comp — especially in equity.
Dublin households benefit from public healthcare (HSE) plus subsidized private insurance; SF families budget for premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs on top of employer plans. Childcare is expensive in both — Dublin's National Childcare Scheme offsets some cost; SF has no comparable program.
Expect visa costs (US H-1B/O-1 or Irish Critical Skills Employment Permit), international shipping (~$8–15k for a family), a new lease in EUR if leaving SF, and a first-year tax filing in both countries. Budget 3–6 months of buffer above your normal moving reserve.
401(k)s and Roth IRAs don't map cleanly onto Irish PRSAs. RSUs vesting after an SF→Dublin move create dual-tax-residence complexity in year one — the US-Ireland treaty helps, but you'll want a cross-border accountant before your first vest.
The tech-hub bottom line
SF vs Dublin isn't "which is cheaper" — SF is materially more expensive on housing and healthcare, but pays enough to compensate at senior levels. Dublin trades some nominal comp for a shorter commute, EU access, public healthcare, and a lower cost floor. FX and equity strategy usually decide the net outcome.
- • SF: highest tech salaries, highest rent-to-income, out-of-pocket healthcare.
- • Dublin: HSE coverage, lower housing floor, EU work rights, tighter supply.
- • Both: expect a 3–6 month cash buffer to absorb visa, shipping, and setup costs.
- • RSU-heavy comp needs cross-border tax planning before your first vest date.
Model your SF ↔ Dublin move
Simulate the real numbers with your salary offer, RSU vest schedule, and household. FuturePath handles the currency, tax, and cost-of-living math so you can see the after-tax picture before you sign.