Following Brexit, the European tech landscape fractured. While London remains the undisputed financial and venture capital king of Europe, Dublin aggressively secured its position as the European Headquarters for US Big Tech. Google, Meta, Apple, and Stripe all route their EU operations through the Irish capital, driven largely by Ireland's famously low 12.5% corporate tax rate.
For software engineers deciding between a role in London (Silicon Roundabout) or Dublin (Silicon Docks), the decision involves navigating two distinct housing crises, high taxation, and nuanced cultural differences.
Salaries and The Tax Burden
In raw nominal numbers, London still pays slightly better across the board. A Senior Software Engineer in London will typically earn £85,000 to £110,000, while a similar role in Dublin commands €85,000 to €115,000 (roughly equivalent when factoring currency exchange).
Both countries employ heavily progressive tax systems. In the UK, hitting £100,000 triggers the infamous 60% marginal tax trap as your personal allowance is stripped away. In Ireland, the system is similarly aggressive. According to the Irish Revenue Commissioners, any income over €42,000 is taxed at the higher 40% rate, plus Universal Social Charge (USC) and PRSI. Ultimately, your net take-home percentage in both cities will hover around 55% to 60% of your gross pay.
Purchasing Power Parity
Run the numbers live to see how inflation and housing impact the cross-border commute:
The Twin Housing Crises
The primary drawback to both cities is catastrophic housing shortages. London is massively expensive due to sheer scale and global wealth. A decent 1-bedroom flat in Zone 2 will cost £2,000+ per month.
Dublin, however, is arguably worse relative to its size. Driven by massive tech hiring and a systemic failure to build high-density housing, securing a rental in Dublin requires fighting through hundreds of applicants. According to Daft.ie (Ireland's premier real estate portal), average rents in Dublin city center now exceed €2,300 per month for a 1-bedroom. The value-for-money on housing in Dublin is notoriously poor.