How expensive is it REALLY to live in Galway, Ireland?

Question

As a prospective traveler and possible american immigrate to Ireland I am wondering how expensive it REALLY is to live in a place like Galway. I intend on applying for a hotel manager position in local hotels in Galway, but before I do I want to know what I'm really getting myself into and whether I can honestly make a comfortable living in Galway. If you could possibly give me a round about answer on how expensive the typical apartment is in Galway that would be great. What is it like in Galway? Are the people relatively friendly and accepting of all types of people? What's the climate like? How different is irish culture from american culture?

Answer 1

Galway is not that expensive. The accomodation is cheap to rent. To buy in the city is a little more expensive than the county. Traffic congestion is heavy depending on certain factors. However Galway is relativly easy to walk around.

Galway apartments can range from 400+ euros per month.

Check out the accomodation pages at www.galwayadvertiser.ie.

Be warned if you want accomodation in the summer months you have to be quick as students in galway put a demand on the accomodation during the summer months.

Galway is a friendly city, crime is there but still safe. I think we have had 1 murder this year and that was front page news. The night life is great and the people are tolerant. The large student population means that there is always a lot to do and a large population of different cultures. Climate is a typical north atlantic climate that is similar to seattle. It can rain alot but on the plus side it is never to warm and never too cold.

Irish culture is different to american culture, but you will find that there are no complexities to irish culture that wont be hard to understand. One difference is the hiberno english, sayings and phrases might be a little confusing at first but you will understand it quickly.

  

Heres an example. "Thats as usefull as **** on a bull". A great saying when you want to imply that something is of no use whatsoever

Answer 2

Galway is a great town.  I lived there for over 2 years.  Accommodation is relatively cheap in comparison to Dublin or other European cities.  My house (which i shared with 3 other guys) cost me only 40 euro a week and this was only last year.  Apartments in town cost 100euro+ a week.

Sharing a house (ie you will have your own room and shower) is the best way to go.  You get to know people quicker that way.  There are some beautiful shared houses to rent on the east and west sides of the city for about 75euro a week.

Despite being a small city (<100,000 people), Galway has everything you could ask for in terms of shopping, entertainment, nightlife etc.  The people are really friendly and there are so many americans living in galway (many going to the university) that you will feel right at home.

The Irish and american culture are similiar.  All western societies seem pretty much the same to me, i doubt you will see much of a difference.  Outside of galway city itself the pace of life will be much slower than what you may be used to back home though.

the climate in galway is pretty mild.  I am not sure what part of america you are from but the climate is almost identical to that of the states of Oregon and Washington.  The summer can be warm but it rarely gets above 80 degrees or below 30 degrees fahrenheit at any time here.  Expect to see alot of rain though, parts of Ireland experience rain 200 days in the year.