Anyone thinking of emigrating?

Absolutely, it's all perspective.

Tax in Ireland works out much better for us than the 2 states we lived in. That's on a full year basis including tax return. As for what you get for it in the US? Almost nothing. You literally pay to visit state parks. A fine military, failing infrastructure, no public services, and additional local taxes to cover the rest.

Our health system is a mess so we pay €200 a month for private health insurance in Ireland so no waiting around. We get a service on par with $1,700 a month insurance in the US. Then the drug payment scheme provides our whole family with meds in Ireland for €114 a month. The same meds in the US cost thousands. Braces? €3,200 versus $13,000. Cable tv and internet €59 versus $109. Mobile monthly €15 versus $59.

Regarding minimum wage of $15 (€13) in your state, people there actually pay hefty tax on minimum wage. Here, after credits it's likely zero. Throw family income supplement into the mix, rent allowance, fuel allowance, childrens allowance and other benefits, and it's a very different picture. Then social housing (which yes, lots of people have) and you can't compare €80k "starter homes" to irish prices(which are ridiculous). I also owned a house there. At $5,500 a year for property tax, I'm sure you can see the balancing effect versus mortgage. US property tax also sometimes includes the bin charge but at €48 here per month for pur bins here it's no comparison.

Then the schooling for kids is a huge ordeal. You effectively get what you pay for in the US. More property tax paid = better public school. Here, it's a mixed bag but at least not based on our wealth.

All in all, property issues aside, my point was that it's not "impossible" to move back. It's actually no more difficult than it would be to move from Ireland to the US. We moved over and back twice. My other point is that no, it's not any more expensive to the US here. It just isn't. I work in accounting and have done fairly robust analysis on a regular basis.

I wish you all the best whether you move back or not. But don't be too hard on yourself either way. I've been through the consideration far too many times. Some things are much cheaper here (for one) and some things are much cheaper there (for another).

Since, you asked, I've lived and worked in Dublin for various American IT companies in sales with foreign language skills, and can safely say that I know Dublin more than well, - albeit it was 2017 when I was there last. I gotten exposed myself, first hand experience. I loved the city, everything, except the housing issue. I've had many colleagues at work who felt the same and in the end left Dublin, just because of housing. At a certain age nobody wants to share a flat other than with their boyfriend/girlfriend or married partner. Other than that Dublin and Ireland is easy to settle in to, mentality is in general open minded and friendly and also forward thinking, - but again, except housing.

Health care has gotten better, I think, - my experience goes back to 1999 and it certainly improved, car insurance is still more expensive than most places in Europe, but there is more competition now, and it's also better now than it was back in 1999. Certain things certainly changed for the better, but housing isn't one of them.

The issue with sky high rents in Dublin are the bidding wars for it, the other issue is that this subject has not only very very little international coverage, but also Irish people interestingly like to play the issue down, saying London or Paris is also equally expensive and other cities also have issues with greedy landlords or sex for rent issues. Well, I've never experienced those bidding wars in these cities like London or Paris, also the choice is greater and I've also always had a single viewing with no other punters present. Certainly zone 1 in London is expensive to very expensive and mostly zone 2, but finding a one bedroom or studio for under 1000 pounds is possible with considerable ease in zone 3, and without all these bidding wars, having to deal with with 40 or 50 punters. ( at least that was my experience in Dublin back in 2017, things may have changed, demand subsided due to the pandemic? - I don't know. )

Ludwigshafen in Germany is actually an example of something run down. Last time I was there which was actually more than a while back, it felt, somewhere in Eastern Europe just a few years after they've opened up. Ludwigshafen is mainly run by BASF, it seems the only big employer as well and that is always tricky. Pirmasens is even worse after the shoe industry left for China and other places in Asia. But, then France and Alsace is around the corner, so it's good for short trips at least, and the food is exceptional.

The whole city is cleaned daily every early morning as cleaners go around with large machines spraying everything and removing litter and emptying bins.

Posters should go to a third world country or even some UK cities to see what a dirty city really looks like.

Always liked the idea of moving to portugal (porto) and giving it a go...anyone currently living there?

Düsseldorf is a lovely city. It's lively, has great shopping, beautiful architecture, an amazing selection of bars and restaurants, great nightlife and there's a hell of a lot of money floating around here. I've seen more Bentleys, Ferraris and lambos in the last few months than I have in my entire life up to that point.

You might say it's pretty average but it has every amenity Dublin has and more.

The one thing it doesn't have is my family and friends.

If I could afford to live in Dublin, in an apartment even half the size of the one I have here, I'd move back in a heartbeat.

this is from 2013, but i havent seen a more recent one, the figures now, if anything, are far worse, given inflation and cost of living. 36,000 a year and you are paying wolf of wall street rates of tax, over an absolute pittance.I suppose that is what happens when you have mental welfare, as good as no property tax, now as good as free motor tax. The system is a broken joke...

You do realise this isn't an either/or situation?

I also seem to have missed the daily Pride parades. What time are they on at again?

looking for clarity on this.... does that mean that Ireland's high tax is 50 odd % with anything over €32,000 (sorry not quoting properly) is charged at this?

If so, it is incorrect, with Ireland's brackets current 20% and 40% on personal income... 40% kicks in at €36k roughly at the moment.

But the tax brackets aren't as simple as that.... it would be better to take and example (like what does someone on €40k come home with)

For example (single person examples): Ireland has PRSI, USC and any other levys to also consider. Tax credits are also lower than a lot of countries, but that may be subsidised by other tax credits for low paid earners.. I think personal tax credit is something like €3.5k, so anything over that you pay 20% tax on.

Where in the UK, someone on £36k (roughly €40k), has a tax allowance of £12.5k, so you only pay 20% after that. There is national insurance also, but that is much less than USC, and the 40% tax band kicks in at £37.5k... but what isn't factored in is things that aren't paid for in Ireland, such as council tax and water charges.

Ireland still fares out much worse in the above scenario, but just wanted to show it's not as clear cut as simple tax band comparison.

I've been in Dublin 10 years and not had much issue. Just thinking back though I used to like going into town to have a look around but now I can't be bothered as its very dirty and there are lots of empty units but that could be just the times we live in.

As WFH all over Europe keeps growing then what is the purpose of a city other than a big food court and Dublin does not have the climate for the al fresco part of that, so just leaves the pubs and indoor dining.

If I could get the right job then I'd like to move, give the kids the out door lifestyle.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Just one issue,please don't put the whole of Ireland and then Dublin in the same category. They're like night and day.

As I’ve endured ….

non existent employment laws

incompetent or non existent healthcare from an outpatient rehabilitative point of view

elderly family members in their 80’s losing medical cards

but here Mr Ukrainian, have a gaff, cash, transport and whatever healthcare you need, all paid for by Irish citizens.

the US ? id be there tomorrow now . This country is basically done for.

all politicians are interested in is creating a social media image that will foster and enable them to be voted into power again. All positioning themselves as popular for and with Ukrainians as those votes are desirable as are those of their supporters…

with all the problems in healthcare, public transport, housing and so on, the overall quality of life here is plummeting and about to do so further…we’ll be decades before this is ever repaired. IF ever…..I’m going to bet we’ll leave the EU in the next 20 years, I’m going to put 100 euros on it. Italy, Greece, Poland and France will be gone in the next 10 years

I also hate this country, or what it’s become and what it will further become…. the only way is down…

ive loads of family in the US including a very prominent lawyer with certain connections, I’m never one for knocking on doors for favours but who knows, it was offered before.

to have a country that pays its politicians to work for and then to inform them that they are second class citizens in the country of their birth, where they are citizens, living and paying tax is an incredible amount of bullshît bullying, vomit inducing, thuggish buffoonery….on behalf of politicians, NGOs and more besides…

I recently returned to Ireland.

Dublin has gone backwards with the northside in particular not invested in by the state. Dirty roads, streets. Migrants and refugees shoehorned into tenement type accomodation in the North inner city (as long as its not Ballsbridge it seems ok).

On the other hand the provincial towns and cities have massively improved, country roads and motorways good. Clean roads, pavements, spruced up, painted up

Its shameful how little investment parts of Dublin are getting in comparison. Im a Dubliner and I have little interest in moving to Dublin, other parts of Ireland are highly preferred now.

I highly resent the massive funds and huge amounts of accommodation , hotels, community facilities , going to refugees in the middle of a huge housing crisis and at the same time crucifying levels of taxes for anybody on 60k euro plus and no national healthcare system.

I was on the dart during the heatwave few weeks back, nightmare. Its like it hasnt been upgraded since the 1980s. No attendants at the stations. No comminications almost. There's a lack of policing everwhere. No transport police and no police in most city neighbourhoods to be seen!

Connolly station is grubby and badly planned having one entrance and exit to the place for a main interchange station!

Then the whole area of Talbot is awful with addicts and homeless hostels or tenements stretching throughout the area.

Seen gangs and youths driving their scramblers everywhere no traffic enforcement.

Dublin council and the guards are not fit for purpose state of the place.

Its honestly very disappointing as a returnee to see how many things they are getting wrong especially how they threw the North inner city and parts of the Northside under a bus while frittering money away on other 'social causes'.