Renting in Dublin vs Communting

brummytom

Jesus, I haven't been on this website in years. Anyway, I've got an interview in Dublin in a fortnight, for a company based in the city centre.

Obviously, just in case I'm successful, I've been looking at the cost of living there. Fcuk me.

As a non-driver, where would be the best places to look at renting that would be fairly convenient for commuting into the city? Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

ongarite

Not enough details for anyone to make a suggestion..
What's your max monthly rental budget?
Rent alone, with your family or house share an option?
What's the start and finish times so people can suggest places based on train or bus routes and timetables

bren2001

Depends where in the city centre you are located and what public transport serves it i.e. if the office is close to the LUAS, anywhere on the LUAS line. Same goes for the Dart and relevant bus services. Just work back along the route until you find something that satisfies your requirements.

The further you go outside of the city, the cheaper it gets but the longer you spend commuting. Really up to you and your budget how much you are willing to fork over.

s15r330

I started working in Dublin in November 15, I lasted 7 months living out in Blanchardstown.
I'm from the Longford/Westmeath area. My fiance is a teacher in a permanent position down here so she couldn't move to Dublin.
We could have found a place in the middle to live but then we are away from family (she is from Galway).

Trains could have been an option but my hours aren't fixed, I could make the last train home one day and not the next, also I can be in different locations to the office and public transport wouldn't make sense.

After the 7 months I had enough of forking out stupid money for rent and living away from the other half and my dog was at home etc.

So I moved home. As public transport didn't suit, and I drive I decided to commute.

I bought a little 1.4tdi Audi a2, runs on the smell of diesel and I have a place with free parking in Dublin. It's still 5km from the office but I just cycle the rest and if i'm in an awkward place I just drive directly to there.

People may say its a waste of time commuting as i could spend 3.5 hours per day in the car but at the end of the day i'm home (I wouldn't be a fan of Dublin anyway)

Depending on where you're coming from and if public transport is an option you could commute.

Even driving 5 days a week my monthly fuel bill is less that what i'd spend on the train. I don't take tax and insurance into account as i'd have to pay those anyway.

brummytom

brummytom wrote: »

...........
As a non-driver, where would be the best places to look at renting that would be fairly convenient for commuting into the city? Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

If you can stomach a stroll, train journey and another stroll the likes of Maynooth mightn't be bad. 2 bed flats for €1200/€1300 a month. Houseshares aren't too bad. You're looking at an hour each way though at best door to door, home to work. Less than ideal for many.

There are pockets of value about, a friend got a houseshare near UCD for €450/month in a house that wasn't too bad to be fair.

Lux23

I have always preferred to live near or in the city centre to commuting, but it really depends on where you might do your socialising, would you travel home at the weekends etc. I live on the South Circular Road, near Dolphin's Barn and Cork Street and I walk to work over near Smithfield. Our rent is pretty low because the location is a bit rough but we can walk into to Camden Street in 20 minutes.

uck51js9zml2yt

I work with people who travel 2 hours each way from longford!

Caliden

Jaxx Bald Murk wrote: »

I work with people who travel 2 hours each way from longford!

Do they not value their time?

20 hours a week spent commuting is madness.

Arcade_Tryer

Caliden wrote: »

Do they not value their time?

20 hours a week spent commuting is madness.

You'd have to wonder about the mental capacity of a person who would choose that. Surely there are other choices? Is the money that good? Would love to know their preferences.

s15r330

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

You'd have to wonder about the mental capacity of a person who would choose that. Surely there are other choices? Is the money that good? Would love to know their preferences.

There are reasons for everything. I'm stuck doing that commute. I can't leave Dublin for another 1.5 years as I am tied to a training contract with a big 4 accounting firm, which opens a lot of doors afterwards career wise.
My fiance is a teacher in a permanent position in the midlands and we are saving for a house deposit/wedding.
Short term pain for long term gain.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

Arcade_Tryer

s15r330 wrote: »

There are reasons for everything. I'm stuck doing that commute. I can't leave Dublin for another 1.5 years as I am tied to a training contract with a big 4 accounting firm, which opens a lot of doors afterwards career wise.
My fiance is a teacher in a permanent position in the midlands and we are saving for a house deposit/wedding.
Short term pain for long term gain.

Yeah, that scenario I understand. But some folk seem to be in it for the long haul; and without the windfall you expect after qualifying and so on.

Samuel T. Cogley

SkyQ app/Netflix these days a 2 hour commute isn't too bad. Okay I lie - it's not impossible any more though. I know someone who used to commute from Tipp! Anyway commute aside. D5 is a good bet, you'll find various degrees of cheapness based on the area and the DART line will take you right into the centre in a matter of minutes. This is assuming a house share.

1 bed apartments, D7/D8 quays area are probably some of the 'cheaper' options with something 'cosy' and a bit older in terms of fit coming in around €1200-€1300 per month.

s15r330

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

Yeah, that scenario I understand. But some folk seem to be in it for the long haul; and without the windfall you expect after qualifying and so on.

Oh for sure, a friend of mine did Longford to Sandyford for 5 years, imagine being on the m50 everyday, nothing would pay me to do that!

amtc

I work with a guy who does carrick on shannon to carrickmines every day and another who does it via bus from carlow. Honestly they look wrecked.

I can get home to d15 over the m50 in 20 minutes if I leave at 4 or 6. One time I had to use public transport...took me 3 hours and was like a demon!

odyssey06

I think we need a bit more input from the OP... their idea of commuting might be somewhere on the LUAS\DART line, or say Donabate, rather than somewhere in another county.

And unless your family is in that county, I wouldn't recommend they look for a commute that far.

Ciaran_B

brummytom wrote: »

Jesus, I haven't been on this website in years. Anyway, I've got an interview in Dublin in a fortnight, for a company based in the city centre.

Obviously, just in case I'm successful, I've been looking at the cost of living there. Fcuk me.

As a non-driver, where would be the best places to look at renting that would be fairly convenient for commuting into the city? Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Lots of factors to be considered; what part of the city will you be working in? Budget? Mode of transport - bike, public?

OldGoat

brummytom wrote: »

Jesus, I haven't been on this website in years.

Get laid yet?


Welcome back Brum.

cournioni

OSI wrote: »

Most places that are commutable by public transport are as, or nearly as, expensive as living in Dublin itself.

Don't agree there. My missus has lived in Dundalk and commuted into the IFSC for 7 years. Huge savings made.

€240 a month maximum spent on transportation (1 hour direct bus) and shared rent between €350-€437.50 per month over that term. Living expenses certainly not as high as in Dublin either. If she was to live beside where she works it would be €825 for shared rent in a smaller and inferior apartment.

bren2001

cournioni wrote: »

Don't agree there. My missus has lived in Dundalk and commuted into the IFSC for 7 years. Huge savings made.

€240 a month maximum spent on transportation (1 hour direct bus) and shared rent between €350-€437.50 per month over that term. Living expenses certainly not as high as in Dublin either. If she was to live beside where she works it would be €825 for shared rent in a smaller and inferior apartment.

Why a range and why so specific?

cournioni

bren2001 wrote: »

Why a range and why so specific?

Well the rent started out at €350 and then rose to €437.50 within those seven years. Personally, I would take commuting any day (within reason obviously) over the quality of some of the homes I've seen in Dublin.

The OP stated commuting vs renting in Dublin so I'm sure he/she is looking for specifics.

Cookie_Monster

cournioni wrote: »

Don't agree there. My missus has lived in Dundalk and commuted into the IFSC for 7 years. Huge savings made.

€240 a month maximum spent on transportation (1 hour direct bus) and shared rent between €350-€437.50 per month over that term. Living expenses certainly not as high as in Dublin either. If she was to live beside where she works it would be €825 for shared rent in a smaller and inferior apartment.

does she not value the time she wastes commuting? Lets say an hour each way as mentioned, so ten hours a week or 480 odd a year. Even at a tenner an hour thats nearly 5k opportunity cost to consider...

And that is only if you seriously undervalue your free time. 20-25 would be more reasonable

Caliden wrote:

20 hours a week spent commuting is madness.

Mostly, but my commute tends to triple in during the summer by choice so it's not always so

mickoneill31

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

does she not value the time she wastes commuting? Lets say an hour each way as mentioned, so ten hours a week or 480 odd a year. Even at a tenner an hour thats nearly 5k opportunity cost to consider...

And that is only if you seriously undervalue your free time. 20-25 would be more reasonable


Mostly, but my commute tends to triple in during the summer by choice so it's not always so

Commuting doesn't have to be wasted time. I spend 50 mins on a bus each day. Its a handy time to study. I'm less likely to do it when I get home

Idbatterim

Don't agree there. My missus has lived in Dundalk and commuted into the IFSC for 7 years. Huge savings made.

€240 a month maximum spent on transportation (1 hour direct bus) and shared rent between €350-€437.50 per month over that term. Living expenses certainly not as high as in Dublin either. If she was to live beside where she works it would be €825 for shared rent in a smaller and inferior apartment.

value for money on this option is a joke in my opinion. You are losing out on all of the reasons dublin is expensive and getting none of the benefits! Factor in the commute. look at where you are going back to every night and for the weekends in particular, Dundalk! not dublin. Also it depends on the years in questions, but even now you can get a decent room in Dublin for E600 no problem...

bren2001

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

does she not value the time she wastes commuting? Lets say an hour each way as mentioned, so ten hours a week or 480 odd a year. Even at a tenner an hour thats nearly 5k opportunity cost to consider...

And that is only if you seriously undervalue your free time. 20-25 would be more reasonable


Mostly, but my commute tends to triple in during the summer by choice so it's not always so

I would have viewed an hour commuting as pretty standard in Dublin. When schools are in, it takes me anywhere between 45-75 minutes depending on a wide variety of factors. If I cycle its 45 when you take into account getting changed etc. I value my time but there is a certain commute time for everybody.

Granted, if I was going to work here forever, I'd move closer but I highly doubt I will.

markpb

cournioni wrote: »

Personally, I would take commuting any day (within reason obviously) over the quality of some of the homes I've seen in Dublin.

People have lives that aren't just work and home. The reason people are happy to live in smaller homes in Dublin (and any city) is because of the facilities around them. If Dundalk has all the things your OH wants, that makes sense for her. For others, living in Dundalk (or other mid sized town) would be a deal breaker.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

does she not value the time she wastes commuting? Lets say an hour each way as mentioned, so ten hours a week or 480 odd a year. Even at a tenner an hour thats nearly 5k opportunity cost to consider... And that is only if you seriously undervalue your free time. 20-25 would be more reasonable;)

An hour wouldn't get you anywhere near Dublin from Dundalk. The train takes 90 minutes plus whatever transport you need at either end!

Valuing peoples time like that is a little disingenuous. If cournioni's OH got their time back by not commuting, they couldn't earn an additional 5k unless they are self employed and have the option to take on additional work.

cournioni

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

does she not value the time she wastes commuting? Lets say an hour each way as mentioned, so ten hours a week or 480 odd a year. Even at a tenner an hour thats nearly 5k opportunity cost to consider...

Whats wasted? She is home for 6.15pm in the evening. She gets to watch her favourite show on the bus on the way home, something which she would do when she gets back anyway, instead we can have dinner and then get out for a bit. If its not nice outside we can relax in superior accommodation to what you can get in Dublin for a reasonable price.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

markpb

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

It's not wasted time, it's inflexible time. You may be able to read and watch TV but you can't do anything else. You can't meet friends, tidy the house, do some gardening, cook dinner or go to the cinema while you're commuting. You can do all those things around your commute of course but your commute takes priority.

Also, if you're travelling by public transport, you're tied to a timetable. You can't stay late in work for five minutes because it'll add another hour to your commute home (if you live in Dundalk, for example).

cournioni

markpb wrote: »

It's not wasted time, it's inflexible time. You may be able to read and watch TV but you can't do anything else. You can't meet friends, tidy the house, do some gardening, cook dinner or go to the cinema while you're commuting. You can do all those things around your commute of course but your commute takes priority.

Also, if you're travelling by public transport, you're tied to a timetable. You can't stay late in work for five minutes because it'll add another hour to your commute home (if you live in Dundalk, for example).

True, but with a good routine that can be easily overcome. Extra cash means a lot of flexibility spending wise to do things in your time away from work. It's also worth noting that during peak hours (usually when work finishes) there are extra busses/trains so you won't have to wait around that extra hour more like a half hour at most.

From what I've seen, from friends and family that have lived in Dublin, they have spent a lot of time away from their accommodation after work as the more affordable accommodation isn't of a standard where you want to spend much time around it. Most end up having to meet friends in pubs, eating out etc and end up spending a lot of money on top of their already high rents.

odyssey06

Not sure how reliable this is but...
Bruno Frey and Alois Stutzer, two economists at the University of Zurich, found that for an extra hour of commuting time, a worker would need a 40% salary increase to justify the time they spend commuting.

markpb

cournioni wrote: »

From what I've seen, from friends and family that have lived in Dublin, they have spent a lot of time away from their accommodation after work as the more affordable accommodation isn't of a standard where you want to spend much time around it. Most end up having to meet friends in pubs, eating out etc and end up spending a lot of money on top of their already high rents.

Any of my friends that spend a lot of time away from their homes (as I did before parenthood came along!) do it because they want to. They like living near their friends, near cinemas, restaurants, pubs, theatres, art galleries, beaches and parks. It's certainly nothing to do with the quality of the accommodation! Did you friends tell you that was the reason?

cournioni

markpb wrote: »

Any of my friends that spend a lot of time away from their homes (as I did before parenthood came along!) do it because they want to. They like living near their friends, near cinemas, pubs, theatres, art galleries, beaches and parks. It's certainly nothing to do with the quality of the accommodation! Did you friends tell you that was the reason?

Disagree. My brother is a prime example, he did it while living in an house/apartment in Rathmines. Shared accommodation for €600 per month (shared) and he did it to get away from it because it was a dump. Ended up spending as much as he was making. He ended up moving out of Dublin very shortly after to a place with all of those amenities for just €350 per month (shared).

He's one of many.

AlmightyCushion

cournioni wrote: »

Disagree. My brother is a prime example, he did it while living in an house/apartment in Rathmines. Shared accommodation for €600 per month (shared) and he did it to get away from it because it was a dump. Ended up spending as much as he was making. He ended up moving out of Dublin very shortly after to a place with all of those amenities for just €350 per month (shared).

He's one of many.

I haven't spent more than €600 a month for shared accommodation in Dublin and all the places I've lived have been nice. I seen some dumps when I was looking alright but I wouldn't touch them.

Arcade_Tryer

cournioni wrote: »

Disagree. My brother is a prime example, he did it while living in an house/apartment in Rathmines. Shared accommodation for €600 per month (shared) and he did it to get away from it because it was a dump. Ended up spending as much as he was making. He ended up moving out of Dublin very shortly after to a place with all of those amenities for just €350 per month (shared).

He's one of many.

Rathmines is notorious when it comes to accommodation standards. There are other places in Dublin to live.

cournioni

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

Rathmines is notorious when it comes to accommodation standards. There are other places in Dublin to live.

There are, but nothing available at the time... until rents went up.

Let's face it, if you want something reasonably central, you're going to either pay through the nose for it with rent, or its going to be of a poor standard.

Another friend of mine is renting a one bedroom apartment in Ballsbridge (around the Gasworks) for €1650 per month which is no better than college apartment. It's close to where he and his girlfriend work, but absolutely not worth it, nor would living elsewhere in Dublin - where you still have to commute, but just within the city boundary.

Another of my friends paid €1300 per month in Saggart for what was an average apartment. You might as well live in Naas for half of that.

markpb

cournioni wrote: »

Another of my friends paid €1300 per month in Saggart for what was an average apartment. You might as well live in Naas for half of that.

And yet people are paying those rents rather than moving to Naas or Longford. Maybe they think it's worth it to love in Dublin and/or not commute so far.

techdiver

Do some of the posters here think that living in Dublin you have no commute to work? I lived in Dublin during my 20's and early 30's and I loved it. But times and situations change. I am now married with children and decent family homes in decent areas of Dublin for reasonable prices are no longer existent.

Even good areas with family homes involves a hefty premium along with up to an hour commute due to traffic. This includes busses as they many are stuck on roads that cannot accommodate bus lanes.

Example: I live in the Midlands and I leave the house at 7.15am and get the train and am in work 8.50am. A colleague lives in a Dublin suburb and often takes the same amount of time to get in. His bus just gets caught in traffic.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

markpb wrote: »

And yet people are paying those rents rather than moving to Naas or Longford. Maybe they think it's worth it to love in Dublin and/or not commute so far.

You wouldn't be paying a whole heap less in naas. Longford I don't know

cournioni

markpb wrote: »

And yet people are paying those rents rather than moving to Naas or Longford. Maybe they think it's worth it to love in Dublin and/or not commute so far.

Maybe they do, I don't really see the point of living in Saggart though. You might as well be living in the countryside.

markpb

cournioni wrote: »

Maybe they do, I don't really see the point of living in Saggart though. You might as well be living in the countryside.

With the exception of Dublin Bus and the Luas, I'd agree entirely!

cournioni

markpb wrote: »

With the exception of Dublin Bus and the Luas, I'd agree entirely!

Wouldn't like to be commuting to the city centre from Saggart via Dublin Bus or the LUAS daily.

There are Bus Eireann / private stops in the country side that could get you there quicker.

Dr Crayfish

People are talking about renting in ballsbridge and rathmines etc. Crazy rental prices there. I live in D5 and it's a 26 minute or so cycle to work, near Grafton St.
If you look on Daft, places on D5 and D9 go for reasonable prices, for what seem to be nice places. So there's more to Dublin that the south inner city.

brummytom

Thanks to everyone for the replies, lots to think about!

myshirt

Not a lot of love for Saggart here...

What about Monasterevin? Great value there, and you'd be at red cow in 30 mins drive, or a fiver on the bus. About 45 mins to Heuston from Monasterevin train station aswell

At about 200k for a 3 bed semi detached, that's smashing value and very commutable. Monasterevin used to be the butt of many jokes but it is not a bad spot at all.

markpb

myshirt wrote: »

What about Monasterevin? Great value there, and you'd be at red cow in 30 mins drive

In your helicopter? Google Maps says that journey would take 30 minutes right now (8pm on a bank holiday Sunday). I find it hard to believe it would be no worse on a weekday morning.

In fact, I work with people commuting from both Monasterevin and Newbridge and it takes both of them considerably longer than 30 minutes.

And that's before you factor in any crash on the M50 (unless you actually work at Red Cow) or on the N7/M7 in which case you could easily be looking at 90+ minute commute.

Let's not forget the M7 upgrade works which are due to start any decade now. I suspect that'll have an impact on the commute time for a year or two.