Irish people move to the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States for work, lifestyle, and family, with recent surges to Australia driven by high costs and poor work-life balance in Ireland, while other popular spots include Canada, Germany, and the UAE, depending on career goals like tech, finance, or trades.
Today, the ethnic Irish are the single largest minority group in both England and Scotland, most of whom eventually made it back to Ireland. The dispersal of the Irish has been mainly to Britain or to countries colonised by Britain.
Most Irish people in Australia live in the major cities, particularly Sydney (especially eastern suburbs like Bondi, Coogee, Eastgardens) and Melbourne, with significant communities also in Queensland and other large urban centers, drawn by job opportunities and lifestyle, continuing historical settlement patterns along the east and south coasts.
In general, tuition fees and the Ireland vs. Australia living cost are higher in Australia compared to Ireland. Consumer prices in Australia, including rent, are 1.8% lower than in Ireland. Rent prices in Australia are 18.8% lower than in Ireland.
Find Koroit in the Great Ocean Road region between Port Fairy and Warrnambool. This little township holds its own, confident and always true to itself and the rolling green pastures fringing it. Character-filled Koroit is one of Australia`s most complete examples of an early Irish settlement.
At the 2021 census, the most commonly nominated Anglo-Celtic ancestries were: English Australian: 8,395,928. Irish Australian: 2,410,833. Scottish Australian: 2,176,777.
Ireland and Australia have a reciprocal health care agreement (RHCA) that entitles visitors from Ireland to Australia to receive medically necessary treatment as public inpatients or outpatients in Australian public hospitals, on the same terms as Australian residents (i.e. free of charge).
For most people, a household salary of €100,000 would put a family in the category of “rich”. And if you earned that last year, you were among the top 6.6pc of employees, Revenue figures show. The average gross pay for a PAYE worker nationwide was €42,100 in 2024, while the Dublin average was €49,500.
Higher wages: 30% pointed to better salaries in Australia, particularly in critical sectors such as construction, healthcare, and education. Cost of living: 24% are emigrating due to Ireland's high cost of living.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
They were also found to have most similarity to two main ancestral sources: a 'Northwestern France' component which reached highest levels in the Irish and other Celtic populations (Welsh, Highland Scots and Cornish); and a 'West Norway' component related to the Viking era.
You are able to stay in Australia for up to 90 days. If you wish to stay longer, please refer to the information at the top of this page to see if there are any long-stay visa options.
While England has historically been the largest source of immigrants and remains a top country of birth, India has recently seen the largest increase and is likely to become the #1 birthplace, leading a significant shift with China, Philippines, and Nepal also prominent in recent migration trends, with over 30% of Australians now born overseas.
A 'good' salary in Ireland generally ranges from €50,000 to €70,000 per year. This would allow a single person or small family to live comfortably, especially outside of Dublin.
Pushed out of Ireland by religious conflicts, lack of political autonomy and dire economic conditions, these immigrants, who were often called "Scotch-Irish," were pulled to America by the promise of land ownership and greater religious freedom.
Since Brexit and as of 2025, Irish citizens are the only nationality in the world with the right to live and work in both the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Most Irish people in Australia live in the major cities, particularly Sydney (especially eastern suburbs like Bondi, Coogee, Eastgardens) and Melbourne, with significant communities also in Queensland and other large urban centers, drawn by job opportunities and lifestyle, continuing historical settlement patterns along the east and south coasts.
Con: High cost of living
Ireland is notorious for its high cost of living. The country ranks as the second highest in price levels for consumer goods and services in the EU at 34% above the average. If you're emigrating from the UK, you may be used to high prices already.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
The Living Wage for 2025/26 is €15.40 per hour. This is a €0.65 (4.4%) increase from the 2024/25 rate of €14.75 per hour. The new Living Wage rate is €1.90 above the current National Minimum Wage of €13.50 per hour.
If you live in Australia, Ireland or another specified agreement country5, the agreement generally allows you to submit a claim for an Australian or Irish payment.
Top 10 Countries with Free Healthcare
Australia is increasingly becoming a top destination for doctors from the UK and Ireland seeking career advancement, fresh clinical experiences, and a healthier work-life balance.