Dublin Residents Paying Over The Odds

Living in the Irish capital is proving to be an increasingly bad deal financially.

Although it is where most of the commercial and employment opportunities are accessible, people living in the Liffey-side city are paying, average 4.4% more for their goods and services than consumers in the rest of the State.

That's according to the latest price comparison by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

It's also little relief for hard-pressed Dubliners that the gap has narrowed since the last survey, as that 'drop' was by just 0.1% (from 4.5 per cent in November 2008).

The reality if far more severe. Male Dubliners calling in for a haircut are paying a huge 48% more for a wash, cut and blow-dry than their provincial counterparts, for example, while ladies must fork out nearly a quarter more for a wash, cut and blow dry in Dublin.

Even cooking at home in Dublin isn't cheap either. A basic Irish breakfast could prove a costly experience in the capital, with best back rashers costing 24% more in Dublin compared to the rest of the State.

Going to the cinema costs 11.4% more in Dublin than in other cities or towns, the CSO figures also show.

In all, of the 79 items included in the analysis, average prices were higher in Dublin for 51 items, and lower for 27.

Prices for meat, and fruit and vegetables, are generally higher in Dublin. Eight out of the 10 fruit and vegetable items were more expensive in Dublin, but fish, tobacco and many food and soft drink prices were generally comparable.

Any locals hoping to 'drown their sorrows' will be hard-pressed too as alcohol is the category showing the largest margins across most products; a pint of draught lager is 12% dearer in Dublin, draught cider costs almost 11% more and a small bottle of wine over five per cent dearer.

However, when having a drink at home instead of the local pubs for which Dublin is rightly famous there is a glimmer of hope.

Average prices for take-home drink are broadly the same as the rest of the Irish Republic.

(BMcC/JM)