Ireland: Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Returns

Ireland's Rent Pressure Zone rules effectively prohibit short-term letting of investment properties across most of the country. We look at long-term rental returns across 31 counties, and why traditional letting is the dominant strategy for Irish property investors.

Data last updated: March 2026

What Could You Earn?

Estimated gross income for a typical 3-bedroom house in Ireland, based on median values. These are starting points. In the dashboard you can adjust everything to match your own property and circumstances.

Typical property price
€300K
Long-term rental income
€2,025/mo
before expenses
Short-term rental income
Not available
RPZ rules prohibit investment short-term rental

Key Takeaways

  • Almost all of Ireland is a Rent Pressure Zone. Investment properties cannot operate as short-term rentals, making Ireland primarily a long-term rental market.
  • Dublin has the lowest long-term rental returns but the highest capital appreciation. Investors here are typically buying for growth rather than income.
  • Ireland's Local Property Tax at 0.18% is among the lowest in the developed world, which helps offset the lower yields compared to the UK or US.
Interested in a specific area?
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Ireland Markets

Estimated monthly income for a 3-bedroom house in each area, before expenses. Click any area to see the full breakdown in the dashboard.

City / areaPriceLong-term /monthShort-term rules
Dublin
Eastern and Midland
€517K€3,188RPZView details →
Kilkenny
Southern
€289K€3,188RPZView details →
Kildare
Eastern and Midland
€318K€2,500RPZView details →
Limerick
Southern
€274K€2,400RPZView details →
Cork
Southern
€307K€2,050RPZView details →
Galway
Northern and Western
€304K€2,000RPZView details →
Sligo
Northern and Western
€214K€1,822RPZView details →
Kerry
Southern
€296K€1,800RPZView details →
Waterford
Southern
€273K€1,700RPZView details →
Wexford
Southern
€316K€1,700RPZView details →

All figures are estimates based on median values for a 3-bedroom house in each area. Individual properties will vary. Use the dashboard to adjust assumptions to your own situation.

Compare Any Location

The dashboard covers 10 counties across Ireland. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.

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