So you’ve decided to move to Cork Ireland – in this blog post I list the best areas to live in Cork, where to search for rental properties and how much rent you can expect to pay per month.
This July my husband & I re-located from living in Queenstown New Zealand to my home country of Ireland. Having lived abroad for 10 years (with stints living in Whistler Canada and Sydney Australia as well as New Zealand) it was a big deal for us moving to Ireland. Despite me being an Irish citizen (I’m from the cool city of Cork) & living in Ireland from the age of 3 up to 23, when I left for Australia – there was still a lot for me to get my head around in re-locating to Ireland.
We faced a lot of hurdles finding a suitable rental property in Ireland and so I’ve put together this incredibly detailed blog post to help you successfully find a place to rent in Cork. I also have a blog post on moving to Ireland (everything about work visas, finding a job and more)! I’ve also written a detailed blog post about renting in Ireland!
Finding a suitable home to rent in Cork
As you can imagine, it can be very difficult to find decent housing in Cork. It is a very competitive market and rent can be quite expensive (depending on the area you wish to move to). Before starting your search there are a couple questions you should ask yourself first –
- How much rent can I afford?
- What area do you want to live in? Try to narrow it down to at least 5 areas.
- What does your ‘ideal rental property’ look like? How many bedrooms does it have? Does it have a garden? Parking? etc.
What you need to be successful in finding a place to rent in Cork
- Join the local housing groups on Facebook such as Cork – Rent a house, Rent in Cork and Rooms to rent Cork to find apartments and rooms for rent.
- Register your interest with local letting agencies like …. that way you will be alerted when a new property is advertised and can be first in.
- Ensure you have good previous rental references (even if they are from overseas) and enough money for a deposit (typically one months rent) and your first months rent.
- Utilities are typically not included in the monthly rent price in Ireland so make sure you have additional savings to pay electricity/gas and WiFi.
- Try to arrive in Cork before you plan on starting a long-term rental, stay in short term accommodation like this one so that you can search for properties without rushing/panicking and get to know the areas. You may fall in love with a specific area that you never previously thought of.
How much is rent in Cork?
It has recently been announced that the average price of renting a house in Cork is now €1574!!!
But rent prices can vary massively throughout Cork – the further away from the city you go the cheaper rental prices become. For example the area of Macroom a 40 minute drive from Cork City is significantly cheaper than say Douglas a desirable neighborhood less than 15 minutes from the CBD.
For properties in Cork City expect to pay at least €1200 per month for a small one-bedroom apartment. A small drive from the City in Douglas a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment is currently for rent for €1800 per month. Whereas in Bandon a large town in West Cork (a 35 minute drive from the CBD) you can rent a 3-bedroom house for €1200 per month.
If you really want to save money on rent, you can rent a room in a house for about €500 per month in Ballincollig and other similar areas like Douglas and Carrigaline.
The best areas to rent in Cork
There are loads of different areas in Cork, below I’ve listed the 6 most desirable areas to rent. All the areas below also have decent public transport into the City Center.
- Cork City – the properties here are typically smaller and more expensive but you’re paying for convenience being in the hustle and bustle of the city. Cork is a vibrant and compact city with loads of great restaurants, fantastic shopping and is overall quite safe. The famous English Market, Shandon Bells and St Finbarrs Cathedral are some of the must-visit attractions in this city.
- Ballincollig – on the west side of Cork City, Ballincollig is a large spread-out town with a big population. There’s a shopping center as well as a few restaurants and bars. There are several supermarkets here – Dunnes, Tesco and two SuperValus. The lovely Regional Park on the outskirts of the town is a great place for a walk.
- Douglas – another large town with lots of shops (there’s two shopping centers here), restaurants and Cafes. It has outgrown its size however and traffic here can be a nightmare! There’s some great pubs here like O’Sullivans and Barrys – in fact it’s a great alternative to Cork City for a night out. Supermarkets here include Tesco, Dunnes and a newly opened Aldi.
- Carrigaline – the largest town in Cork by population size, this town has grown significantly over the years thanks to its proximity to the large pharmaceutical companies in nearby Ringaskiddy. There’s several Cafes, restaurants (mostly takeaway or casual options) and hairdressers/barbers. Supermarkets here include Dunnes, Lidl and SuperValu. Carrigaline is a 25 minute drive to Cork City (it’s a single lane motorway after Douglas and traffic at peak hours can be at standstill)
- Kinsale – possibly the prettiest (and most touristic) town in Cork, Kinsale is the gateway to West Cork and all its fantastic beaches. It’s also the foodie capital of Ireland so there are plenty of great restaurants. Supermarkets here include an excellent SuperValu, Lidl and Centra. This is an extremely sought-after area (particularly with overseas residents) and so rental prices are expensive and places get snapped up very quickly. Driving to the city from here will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Glanmire – just 9 km from the center of the city it’s a small town with some pubs, takeaways, hairdressers and supermarkets like Aldi and SuperValu. This area is particularly popular with families. There are good and regular buses into Cork City.
Best websites to search for rental properties in Cork
- To rent a room only in Cork – Rooms to Rent is your best option
- Daft.ie is great for houses and apartments for rent
- Myhome.ie has a small selection of houses for rent in Cork
- Let.ie is another good rental property website
- Local housing groups on Facebook such as Cork – Rent a house, Rent in Cork and Rooms to rent Cork direct from the Landlord.
Applying for a rental property in Cork
If you’ve found the place you want to rent, then, there are several documents you will need to give to the Letting Agent or Landlord. Make sure to have these with you at every property viewing to give you better chance at being successful (first in best dressed as they say).
The documents you should have at every viewing include:
- A form of I.D like your drivers licence, passport and your PPSN (Personal Public Service Number)
- References from past landlords
- A current work reference
- A current payslip or bank statement that shows your income
The best short-term apartments to rent in Cork while you search for your long-term property
Cork City Center Self Catering Apartments ( €3000 per month approx.)
Located near Cork City Hall and Saint Finbarres Cathedral this modern apartment is very centrally located. The one-bedroom apartment is 26m2 and has a kitchen (including fridge, microwave and oven), dining room and separate bedroom. Free WiFi is also included in the rate.
River View Apartment ( €2705 for two weeks)
A luxurious apartment with river views and a terrace just a few minutes walk from the city center. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. This is a quiet part of town.
Oakleigh House ( €2105 for two weeks)
This popular one-bedroom apartment is a 6 km walk from the city center and is spacious with a full kitchen. Past guests have been impressed with how bright, clean and spacious it is. This apartment tends to sell out quick, FYI!
College View Apartments (approx. €100 per night)
Located directly opposite the University (UCC), this apartment is just a 5 minute walk from the center. The apartment is large and bright and comes with a full kitchen.
The Grasslands Holiday Home (approx. €130 per night)
Nestled in a slightly rural location but just a short drive from Fota Wildlife Park and Cobh – this property is a great way to get a feel for the smaller communities of Ireland. The house has 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living and dining area and 3 bathrooms. As well as a large garden.
Thanks for reading my blog, Aimee
I hope this blog post has helped you to get your head around renting in Cork (and Ireland in general). Hopefully now you’re well equipped to go out and find your dream rental property.
Thanks for reading and if you’re interested I have lots more blog posts on Ireland – like the coolest airbnbs in Ireland. things to do in West Cork and Ballyhoura in Limerick much more!