EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-16
Ireland vs Sweden: taxes, salary and cost of living
For someone shortlisting Ireland and Sweden, headline tax rates tell only part of the story. The monthly household budget produces a more useful comparison.
Ireland vs Sweden at a glance
| Indicator | Ireland | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 23% | 25% |
| Income tax | 20-40% | 29-55% |
| Social contributions | 19.05% | 38.42% |
| Tax burden | 27.5% | 42.6% |
| Average monthly salary | €5,180 | €3,750 |
| Studio rent | €1,500 | €900 |
| Monthly food estimate | €400 | €360 |
| Gasoline | 1.72 €/L | 1.55 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.35 €/kWh | 0.22 €/kWh |
Salary advantage and purchasing power
Ireland records the higher listed monthly salary. The gap is €1,430, approximately 38.1% relative to the lower figure. Within the numeric EuroCosts sample, Ireland ranks 6 of 27 for salary and Sweden ranks 11 of 27. Currency conversion and salary methodology can materially change a relocation budget.
Housing pressure and everyday spending
Sweden has the lower listed studio rent by €600, a 66.7% difference relative to the higher rent. Ireland sits 35 of 37 and Sweden 27 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Sweden also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
After subtracting only the listed rent and food estimates, the simplified remainder is €3,280 in Ireland and €2,490 in Sweden. This leaves €790 more in Ireland, before utilities, transport, healthcare, childcare or personal taxes not already reflected in salary.
VAT and personal tax context
Ireland has the lower listed tax burden by 15.1 percentage points. Standard VAT is 23% in Ireland versus 25% in Sweden. Neither measure is a substitute for an individual payroll simulation.
Driving and mobility costs
Sweden has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.17 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €8.5 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
Choosing by relocation scenario
The better choice between Ireland and Sweden changes with the user: salary-led relocation favours the stronger income-to-cost balance, budget-led relocation favours recurring expenses, and business decisions require separate legal and corporate-tax analysis.
Where the comparison lands
Ireland produces the stronger simplified monthly remainder in this dataset, while Sweden leads on listed rent. Your income source determines which advantage matters more.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Ireland comparisons · Explore Sweden comparisons