Athlone vs Tullamore: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Tullamore costs roughly 14% less than Athlone. Athlone scores significantly higher on safety and retiree suitability — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Athlone is approximately 1% less expensive than Tullamore based on cost of living including rent. This makes Athlone a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Athlone has a FIRE Score of 82/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 90, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Athlone is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Athlone
Athlone is a small town with a big-town cost of living: $1,498/mo for a city-center one-bedroom against an average net salary of $3,178/mo means rent eats nearly half your paycheck before you buy a single $22 restaurant meal. The upside is real, with a 90/100 safety index, a 10/100 crime index, and excellent healthcare, plus Shannon airport just 20 km away. Digital nomads get the weakest deal here at 77/100, and retirees chasing Ireland Stamp 0 need $4,350/mo in income, more than the comfortable tier of $4,300/mo. Come for the calm and the English-speaking convenience, but do the rent math first.
About Ireland
A city center 1BR at $1,776.90 a month rivals rents in Boston or DC, with no digital nomad visa available. Retirees need USD 4,350/mo proof of income, a real barrier at 20-40% progressive tax plus PRSI and USC. English fluency and a clear citizenship path help, but the math only works if your retirement income clears that bar comfortably.
$-200/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Tullamore
Tullamore is a small town of 15 thousand that punches above its weight for remote workers, with 96 Mbps internet, a 78/100 expat score, and a 76/100 digital nomad score. Rents are the catch: $1,514/mo for a one-bedroom city center flat against an average monthly net salary of $3,420/mo, so a single adult should budget the $2,230/mo mid-range total rather than the $1,404/mo budget tier. The 24/100 crime index and 35 air quality index make it genuinely comfortable day to day, but the small expat community and Stamp 0 income floor of $4,350/mo mean retirees need serious savings. Pick Tullamore if you want quiet, safe, affordable-by-Irish-standards living within reach of Dublin; skip it if you need a big-city social scene or a deep expat network.
About Ireland
A city center 1BR at $1,776.90 a month rivals rents in Boston or DC, with no digital nomad visa available. Retirees need USD 4,350/mo proof of income, a real barrier at 20-40% progressive tax plus PRSI and USC. English fluency and a clear citizenship path help, but the math only works if your retirement income clears that bar comfortably.
$770/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Athlone | Tullamore |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1497.65 | $1513.92 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1371.68 | $1345.71 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2573.53 | $2130.71 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2261.87 | $2074.64 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 76 |
| Internet Speed | 85Mbps | 95.6Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Athlone | Tullamore |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,247/mo | $2,262/mo |
| Excluding rent | $875/mo | $916/mo |
| Rent | $1,372/mo | $1,346/mo |
| Groceries | $207/mo | $246/mo |
| Dining out | $224/mo | $224/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $133/mo | $127/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $311/mo | $319/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Athlone vs Tullamore -- Frequently Asked Questions
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