Cork City Guide
22/11/2022
If you’re thinking of relocating to Cork, you’ll be pleased to hear it’s gained a reputation for its friendliness and has rated #1 Small European City for Business Friendliness. Cork describes itself as being ‘alive with opportunity’ and its tech industry proves this.
Cork is a region of Ireland that, despite its tourist appeal, still manages to feel authentically Irish. It is the second largest English speaking city in the EU, so if you’re moving to Cork, you’re unlikely to have to overcome any language barriers.
It has a rich seafaring history thanks to its position on the Atlantic coast, and embraces that history with all the beauty the coastline has to offer.
Housing
If you’re relocating to Cork, you’ll find much of the housing is either flats or semi-detached townhouses. For families, East Cork is said to be one of the better areas to live in because of its amenities, being beside the beach, local attractions and high-quality schools.
For more shops, cafés and restaurant culture, the Douglas area is a good option, but the houses in the Douglas area can be quite pricey. It’s also quite close to the centre, so traffic can get congested during busy times.
For a more relaxed pace, Cobh and Kinsale are worth a look. Both seaside towns, they tend to see their fair share of tourists, but are well outside the city, offering lots of nature and stunning seascapes. Cobh is steeped in history – much of it shipping related and Kinsale boasts some stunning architecture.
Renting a one bedroom apartment in the centre of Cork will set you back, on average €1,111 a month. To keep costs a little lower, opt for a place in the suburbs where the average one bed apartment will cost around €945 per month. If you’re moving with a family, or want a spare bedroom for visitors, you can rent a three bed apartment in the suburbs for around €1458, or in the centre of Cork for around €1823.
If you’re keen to take the plunge and get onto the housing ladder, you can buy a small apartment in the city centre for around €143,000, or a large flat for around €238,000. In the outskirts of Cork, a small apartment is a little less expensive at around €94,000, whereas a large apartment will demand a budget of a further 50%, setting you back around €156,600.
If you’re looking to buy in Cork, you’ll need a deposit of around 10% if you’re a first time buyer, but if you’re looking to move up the property ladder, you’ll be looking at a deposit of around 20% of the property price. You can expect to borrow around 3.5x your income, or if living with another earner, 3.5x your combined income.
Visa requirements
UK citizens do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland. Under the Common Travel Area ( CTA ), UK and Irish citizens can live and work freely in each other's countries and travel freely between them. ... Ireland's Citizens Information service has advice about moving to and living in Ireland.
If you are outside of the UK or EU, you’ll need to apply for a long stay type D visa if you plan to stay in Ireland for more than 3 months, whether you’re working, settling permanently, or studying.
The requirements for the visa will depend on where you are relocating from, but you can find out more on the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service website, which also includes links to the visa forms for different nationalities, or speak to your IC Resources recruiter for more information.
The cost of living in Cork, Ireland
The cost of living in Cork is around 4.5% less expensive than London if we don’t take into account rent. If you include rent, it works out even less expensive, as rental rates in Cork are around 41.6% lower.
An estimated cost of living in Cork for a family of four is around €2,660.96, excluding rent.
You’ll want to set aside around €146.06 per month for basic utility bills for an 85m2 apartment, and a further €44 per month for internet of around 60Mbps or more. If you have to pay for childcare, full-time childcare will set you back around €960 a month.
You can expect a bill of around €15 per person for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant, whilst a McDonald’s meal on the fly will cost around €8.5 per person. A beer to wash it down with will cost a further €5. If wine’s more your thing, you’ll be able to enjoy a mid-range bottle of red for around €10.00.
Of course, a trip to the supermarket is always more telling when it comes to the real cost of living. Expect a loaf of bread to set you back about €1.73, whilst a litre of milk costs about €0.94.
Salaries in Cork
The average salary for a graduate semiconductor engineer in Cork is around €38,000 and an engineer with 10 years experience can command a salary up to approx. €90,000 but, like most areas, the technology sector is more generous than many, with skills high in demand. A Software engineer in Cork could expect to be on a salary of around €42,000 whilst a project manager could command up to €57,000.
Commuting and Public Transport around Cork
Buses run by Bus Eireann run between Cork City and the suburbs such as Cobh, which takes around half an hour, and Douglas, which takes around 9 minutes. The easiest way to get around Cork though is by car or motorbike. Not least because it will give you the freedom to explore off the main track. There’s a rail network in the east that runs from Cobh right through to Midleton, and heading west, to Mallow (home of the famous Mallow Castle).
There’s also a bike share scheme which includes over 30 bike dock locations. Bikes are available for hire from 6am to midnight and journeys of 30 minutes or less are free. If you fancy trying to get around by bike for a few days, you can sign up for a 3-day pass using a credit card.
Schools
Education is available free of charge to all children from the September after their 4th birthday to the age of 16 in Cork, although for those who wish to pay for smaller class sizes or different teaching provision, private schools cost around €8,000 per year.
Education in Ireland is made up of first level education, second level education and third level education.
Most children in Ireland start school at around four or five, but it’s only compulsory from the ages of six to 16, or until they have completed three years of Second level education.
First level education is primary education. Children usually start in the September after their fourth birthday, but they can choose to delay school until they are 6. Many primary schools in Ireland are privately owned by religious communities or boards of governors and are state-funded.
Students usually start the second level cycle at the age of 12. Second level education involves a 3-year junior cycle, then following a Junior certificate, a 2 or 3-year senior cycle. Whether 2 years or 3 are taken, depends on whether an optional transition year is taken after the junior cycle examination (JCPA).
In their last 2 years of the senior cycle, students choose one of 3 programmes which each lead to a state examination. The route they choose will determine whether they opt for a university, or a vocational course.
If students choose to go on to university, they’ll then move into third level education.
Global technology companies in Cork
Cork is a popular technology hub within Ireland, with the technology sector in the southern region employing around 29,000 people. In Cork, IT companies from overseas employ over 33,000 people. It’s also the home to Coder Dojo and iWish, which inspires young women to pursue careers in STEM.
Cork is particularly active in AI, IoT, SaaS and Medtech.
Companies that have made Cork their home include Apple, Dell, Amazon, SonicWall, Qualcomm, Trend Micro, and VMware to name just a few.
In your spare time
Cork was the last stop on the Titanic’s fateful voyage, so you’ll find the area steeped in Titanic history.
You could take a ferry across to Spike Island and discover Irelands’ history of captains and convicts and tour C19th century prison cells, a fortress and some truly spectacular walks. You could take some spectacular walks along the mainland too, such as the Ballycotton Cliff Walk, or enjoy open spaces such as Fitzgerald Park. There’s always the popular Blarney Castle to visit too, with its spectacular gardens and rich history.
Dublin is just a three hour drive away from Cork. You can read more about relocating to Dublin here.
If you would like to discuss opportunities in Cork or a potential career move, please contact me rachel.mason@ic-resources.com
Additional sources
Fees for private schools jump as enrolments return to boom-time high (irishtimes.com)
Cost of Living in Cork. Apr 2021. Prices in Cork (numbeo.com)
