The cost of McLiving in Ireland

All of the guide books like the Lonely Planet and so forth say that Ireland is one of the more expensive places to live in the EU, not quite like London, but on its way. They say one of the best ways to work out the cost of living is to use the BigMac as a relative guide.

According to sources in Perth, a BigMac costs around $3.80. Well in Cork it costs around E3.40, which works out to AU$5.80! On the face of it that sounds expensive (and it is!) and a good reason not to eat McDonald's, but the truth is its a tax on the people who eat Fast Food! There is a movement in Cork called the "Slow Food Movement" which is a return to appreciating cooking and eating. For that same E3.40, you can buy 1.5kg of fresh chicken or 2 dozen fresh eggs!

In Ireland there is a 21% VAT on goods, much like the GST at home (only BIGGER!) so fresh food is a fair bit cheaper then it may first appear.

We have had to make some changes to our lives over here, not having a car and having to carry everything we buy back home has made us shop smarter. One very good thing the Irish have here is on every price tag in the shops, they not only have the price, but the cost per unit weight, so you can compare everything (apples with apples so to speak!) Something that would be good at home!