Ireland and the UK sit side by side, share a Common Travel Area, and workers move between them constantly — so "would I keep more of my salary in Dublin or London?" is a genuinely useful question. Here's the side-by-side, with the Irish numbers straight from the IrishPAYE calculator and the UK numbers from the 2025/26 tax rules.
One important note on method: Irish figures are in euro, UK figures in pounds. This compares the same headline salary in each system (€70,000 vs £70,000) to see how each country taxes it — not the exchange-rate value. Both are for a single employee.
Ireland vs UK: take-home compared (2026 / 2025-26)
| Salary | Ireland net (€) | IE kept | UK net (£) | UK kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40,000 | €33,572 | 83.9% | £32,320 | 80.8% |
| 60,000 | €44,925 | 74.9% | £45,357 | 75.6% |
| 70,000 | €50,201 | 71.7% | £51,157 | 73.1% |
| 90,000 | €59,756 | 66.4% | £62,757 | 69.7% |
| 100,000 | €64,532 | 64.5% | £68,557 | 68.6% |
Why Ireland is kinder at the bottom and tougher at the top
At modest salaries, Ireland's €4,000 of tax credits and gentle USC bands keep the effective rate low — which is why €40,000 keeps a bigger share than in the UK. The UK's tax-free personal allowance (£12,570) helps too, but National Insurance at 8% starts eating in early.
Higher up, Ireland gets more expensive for two reasons:
- The 40% band starts earlier. A single person hits 40% at €44,000 in Ireland, versus £50,270 in the UK. More of a good salary is taxed at the top rate.
- USC stacks on top. Ireland's top marginal rate reaches about 52% (40% tax + 8% USC + PRSI) once you pass €70,044. The UK's top marginal rate on the same band is about 42% (40% tax + 2% National Insurance). That ~10-point gap is why the UK pulls ahead as pay rises.
The numbers aren't the whole story
Take-home is one input, not the decision. This comparison deliberately ignores exchange rates, and it doesn't price in the things that vary hugely between the two: rent and house prices, childcare, healthcare, and pensions. A higher UK take-home can be swallowed by London rents; a lower Irish take-home can go further outside Dublin. Treat the table as "how each tax system treats a salary," then layer your own cost of living on top.
Thinking of moving to Ireland?
If Ireland is the destination, see what an Irish salary actually pays, whether €60k–€100k is a good salary in Dublin, and — if you need a work permit — the Critical Skills permit thresholds. For your exact Irish figure, use the take-home pay calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I keep more of €70,000 in Ireland or the UK?
On €70,000 you keep about €50,201 (71.7%) in Ireland; on £70,000 you keep about £51,157 (73.1%) in the UK. The UK keeps a slightly larger share at this level.
Why is my marginal rate so high in Ireland?
Because USC and PRSI stack on top of income tax. Above €70,044 the combined marginal rate is about 52% — see how much tax you pay at every salary for the full breakdown.
Are these figures exact?
The Irish figures are computed live by our engine at 2026 rates. The UK figures use 2025/26 income tax and National Insurance for a single employee, before student loans, pensions or other adjustments.